Page 60 of Wrapped in You

"Is this guy really worth it?" Cindy asked.

"There's something about him," Sophie offered.

The light turned green, and Cindy pressed the gas. Sophie gazed out the window to see a group of mother deer and their babies near the line of trees, peering back at her.

"The fact is," Cindy said, "he's still reeling from the death of his wife. Right?"

Sophie nodded. "I can't blame him for that."

"Nobody should," Cindy agreed. "But maybe we should consider what's going through his head right now. Soon, it'll be the anniversary of Georgia's accident. He's literally making a film based on the script Georgia wrote. He probably feels her all around him right now. And you—beautiful and kind Sophie Masters—are complicating things for him."

Sophie scrunched up her face. "Gosh, I'm so selfish," she offered.

"You're not!" Cindy cried, then winced, checking in the rearview mirror to make sure Annie and Peter were still asleep. She lowered her voice. "You're really not. You're falling for this guy. And who wouldn't? He's shown you he likes you. He's kissed you. He's come over to your house unannounced. And he's handsome and successful."

"He even helped set up Christmas decorations," Sophie said.

"Despite the fact that he supposedly 'hates Christmas,'" Cindy reminded her.

"But he clearly wants space," Sophie said.

"He doesn't know what he wants," Cindy said.

Just then, Sophie's phone buzzed with a text.

"Jeremy's texting me," Sophie groaned.

Cindy grumbled, "I couldn't believe Dad invited him over like that! How clueless can you be?" She eyed Sophie, adjusting her hands on the steering wheel. "Are you going to read it?"

Sophie's heart pattered. "People on set think maybe Jeremy didn't lay the salt on purpose. That he wanted to cause chaos on set," she said. "Do you think he'd do something like that?"

Cindy's eyes widened. "We've known Jeremy since we were kids," she said finally. "I think we have to give him the benefit of the doubt."

Finally, Sophie read Jeremy's message.

It simply read:

Can we talk?

Chapter Nineteen

When Cindy dropped her off, Jeremy was waiting for Sophie on the front porch. Her face scrunched with worry, Cindy squeezed Sophie's wrist and asked, "Do you want me to come up with you?"

Sophie shook her head. "I need to do this alone."

But what was it she was doing, exactly?

Sophie walked up the front walkway with her hands in her pockets. Jeremy watched her, his eyes alight. A part of Sophie could pretend it was four years ago, and they hadn't yet broken up. Jeremy was waiting for her at the home they shared, and their wedding was still on the horizon.

But today, I kissed Derek Brownlee.

Even if Derek never talks to me again, I believe in something else now.

I know there's more love out there.

More love beyond Jeremy.

It felt like an important lesson.

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