Page 2 of Starry Night Kisses

“No, but it was pretty clear on your face. Plus, you were shaking your head and then nodding like you were weighing your pros and cons.”

“Well, that’s embarrassing,” I deadpan.

“I found it adorable.” His voice is soft, and he gently moves a strand of hair off my face. “I meant what I said earlier, you know. If you want to be friends, I’m okay with that. Because of the circumstances, we can call the kiss a heat of the moment thing,” he echoes my earlier thoughts, and thosedamn minty butterflies break out their newly formed wings again. “We just met, so I get it. No need to make anything awkward…which I may have done earlier when I wrapped my arms around you. So, I apologize.”

Eric holds my gaze solemnly, as though trying to drill in his words with the weight of his stare. Suddenly, I feel bad about being so weird afterI’mthe one who decided to kisshim. “No, there’s nothing to apologize for. Like I said earlier, I’ve just gone through a lot in the last year. I’m sorry for being weird.”

“Well, Evie, if you decide to stick around, I’d love to take you out for coffee and hear all about it…that is, if you want to talk about it.”

Throwing caution to the wind, and knowing it’s about to give us both whiplash, I smile and say coyly, “I thought we were going hiking?”

Eric mentioned doing the Oregon coast for Easter, but that’s months away.

He lets out a loud laugh that sounds like warm marshmallow fluff to my ears. It’s a weird thing to liken a laugh to, but the thought of food is never far from my mind, and it’s literally the first thing I think of. “Sure, we can do that. I’ll take you wherever you want to go.”

evie

“What do you think, Bagel?” I fluff the large burgundy bow in the floral arrangement I made, the last of the finishing touches. I don’t know Daphne or Henry or their style very well, but you can’t go wrong with silk flowers and pampas. The neutral pinks, magentas, and beiges will be a perfect aesthetic addition to any nursery.

Once more, I ponder about whether Daphne even likes the color pink. However, she and Henry did just name their new baby girl Roselyn.

If she doesn’t like pink, it’s an easy fix.

Bagel lets out a woof of approval as I browse the silk flowers and artificial embellishments I’ve collected over the last two weeks. My kitchen table is messy with wrappings and ribbons, vases and fish bowls, and different colored decorative rocks and stones.

I’ve always liked decorating, and the travel blogplus the social media account I started when I was abroad is at a standstill with adventures for now. So, I decided to pivot. I’m going to merge my travel accounts with staging and decorating ideas, and hopefully, some brands will want to work with me so I can keep my life schedule-free and come and go when I want to.

There’s still money left from the sale of my parents’ house, and for some reason, after the holidays, I decided to rent a condo in the city instead of looking into a travel van so Bagel and I could cross-country road trip and stay wherever we wanted for as long as we wanted.

At least it’s just a month-to-month lease.

A buzzing sound comes from underneath a pile of ribbons. I hurriedly shove random silks and chiffons in a rainbow of colors out of the way until I find my phone and see Eric’s name flashing across the screen. A photo of him and Archer stares up at me as I swipe my finger to answer the call.

“Hey!” I greet over-enthusiastically, wincing as the pitch of my voice resonates through my tiny kitchen.

“Hey there, I’m about to leave my house, and I was wondering if you’d like to go to Daphne and Henry’s with me?” Eric’s tone is hopeful, and there’s a slight pinch in my chest before a flood of warmth encompasses my lungs.

“I would love that.” Reaching up to rub my sternum, my knuckles graze the Northern Star pendantaround my neck. I still haven’t taken it off, thinking of Jonathan whenever I touch it or glimpse it in the mirror, but the more Eric and I talk, the less and less the other man enters my thoughts.

We hang up after he tells me how long it will take him to get to my apartment. Panicked, I run to my room to try and find a presentable outfit that isn’t just the leggings and oversized sweater I’ve been living in for the past week.

It’s been two weeks since we’ve seen each other—not for lack of trying. While my schedule is wide open, Eric’s job is demanding, and he travels a lot. Honestly, it reminds me a lot of my ex-husband, Steven, and by the third time Eric had to cancel our plans, it left me with a lousy feeling—despite our long text conversations that have become our way of getting to know each other.

Emerging from my room dressed in black skinny jeans and an off-the-shoulder red sweater, I rush into the bathroom to brush my hair, using at least half a can of dry shampoo to eliminate my oily roots.

“Thank God I curled it yesterday,” I mumble aloud, hairspraying a few random strands so they’ll stop sticking straight out.

Behind me, Bagel wags his tail while watching me get ready, no doubt thinking that we’re about to go for a walk.

“I’m sorry, buddy. We’ll go as soon as I get back, I promise.” I bend down and kiss him on the little peanut on the top of his head.

He gives me a woof of approval and turns to graba squeaky toy in the shape of a shark, shaking his head back and forth as he bites into it before padding over to his bed. It takes no less than three full circles before he plops onto the red and black flannel throw I laid down for him, and he props his head on the raised edge with the toy still in his mouth.

“Such a good boy,” I coo. His tail wags in appreciation, and he closes his eyes, falling asleep in that manner only cats and dogs have the ability to do.

Returning to my kitchen table, I grab another beige pampas for the bouquet, fussing with it for another few minutes before deciding there are too many neutral tones and the colors aren’t balanced.

Just as I put the finishing touches on my gift for Daphne, a text comes through from Eric.

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