Page 89 of The Winslow Brothers

Belle just grins and tosses her napkin onto the table. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to head to the ladies’ room. But don’t worry, you guys. It’s just to pee. Not to shit myself silly.”

John shakes his head on a laugh. “Sometimes, Belly, you are so sexy I can hardly stand it.”

“You love me,” she retorts and blows a little kiss in his direction.

The responding smile that consumes his face pulls at my heartstrings.

“That I do.Madly.” He slides out of the booth, places a sweet kiss to Belle’s lips, and snags the check off the table. “I’ll go cash us out.”

My heart aches a little at the whole scene. The loving relationship that John and Belle have is exactly what I hope to have one day. It’s what I’ve become obsessed about having for what feels like an eternity. But it’s also what I need tostopfixating on.

Belle didn’t find John because she was a neurotic lunatic with a mile-long checklist of expectations. She found him because she was open to dating and giving men an actual chance. She found John because she was letting herself live in the moment and have fun. Not because she was writing off every man from the start without even getting to know them.

And Katelynn was the same way with her husband Todd.

Both of my sisters found love when they weren’t even really looking for love. They were just open to the idea of it, not onsome CIA-style search that always led them to a dead end and a lonely Friday night.

You could probably learn something from them…

I sigh, and while Belle and John are away from the table, I busy myself by pulling my cell out of my purse and looking at my missed messages again.

The first thing I do is send Julie a quick text back.

Me: Great news about the caterer. Glad that pulled through so we didn’t have to ruin the bride’s wedding by serving the guests McDonald’s chicken nuggets. LOL. Meet me at the venue at 5pm tonight.

Once I hit send, my finger hovers over the one text exchange in my inbox that’s been on my mind since the moment I saw it this morning.

Yes or no?

Do I go to The Champagne Bar, or am I asking for trouble by messing around with a guy like Jude?

He’s not a commitment kind of guy, so I know what I’m getting myself into. Last night, I knew. And yet, I’m still here, questioning it all over again.

I reread his message.

Monday, 8 pm. The Champagne Bar, Plaza Hotel. Wear another sexy little dress.

So… which is it? More Jude-flavored fun on Monday night or the stability of the predictable?

I don’t even have to think about it.

Me: Okay.

And then I lock the screen of my phone and shove it back into my purse before I can give myself time to second-guess.

But my phone vibrates in my purse, and I can’t resist the urge to check it.

Jude: I still have your panties. And I’m keeping them, by the way.

A thrill of excitement creates a path of goose bumps up my arms. And his hot and dirty words are all the confirmation I need to stay resolute in my decision.

Sophie 2.0 isn’t going to obsess over the future. She’s only going to enjoy the present, and she’sdefinitelygoing to be at The Champagne Bar on Monday night.

If there’s one man who makes the present the most fun this girl has ever had, it’s Jude.

Monday, March 19th

Jude

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