Page 53 of Perfect Enough

I shook my head. “No, no, it’s okay. You actually gave me something to consider.” Glancing at him, I added, “My mother and I never talk about my father, and I think it’s time we did. Maybe together we can answer some of the questions that are haunting us. It doesn’t do us any good to pretend it never happened or continue to stay angry at him.”

He gave me a soft smile.

“What plans do you have for today?” I asked, ready to change the subject.

His smile grew bigger. “I was going to ask you the same thing. Are you free today?”

I looked up as if giving it a lot of thought. “Let me mentally check my busy schedule. Nope. Nothing going on.”

“How would you like to take a little tour of the ranch? Maybe do some horseback riding?”

“I think that would be a great idea, if I had the right clothes for riding.”

“I can drive you home and you can change. Then we can drive to the ranch together, and you’ll still have your car here to go home later this evening.”

I fought to keep a wide grin off my face as I said, “Why, Josh Shaw, are you asking me out on a date?”

He winked. “I am.”

My chest fluttered, and I tamped down the urge to giggle. “I would love to spend the day with you.”

The way Josh’s eyes beamed with happiness caused me to feel like I was in high school all over again.

“Let’s finish breakfast then and head on out.”

I nodded, and for some reason, knowing that Josh wanted to spend the day with me made me feel…special. I wasn’t surewhy, but something about the moment made me think that everything was about to change. And in a good way.

“What should I wear, Chloe?” I asked as I stared at my closet.

“Well, considering I’m not there, it’s going to be hard for me to help you pick out an outfit, Soph.”

I rolled my eyes. “It’s horseback riding. So I should wear jeans?”

“And boots.”

“Should I go super casual, T-shirt with a sweatshirt for backup?”

“No, this is the first date…you need to make an impression.”

I sighed. “I think I’ve already made the impression by talking to him for the past few weeks, and with my crazy family dynamic on full display last night at the wedding.”

“We need to have drinks when you get back. I want to hear aboutallof it.”

I pulled out a light, long-sleeve shirt. “What about the long-sleeve we got up at Glacier?”

“Oh, thatisa cute shirt. It’s light enough that you won’t be too hot.”

I shook my head and said, “No, it’s too casual. I need something with a bit more punch.”

“I know!” she cried out. “The long-sleeve light blue shirt.”

Spying the very shirt she was talking about, I pulled it out. “Perfect!”

“What time do you need to leave?”

“He’s waiting for me in the living room.”

There was silence on the phone.

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