Page 98 of Sunsets & Slow Dances

“Okay, now details: was this the first time?” Zoe questioned.

I shook my head no.

“How long has it been going on?!” Daphne demanded.

“Um, pretty much since he started working on my house.”

“Awe, I love that journey for you.” Zoe put her hands over her chest as she quoted one of our favorite lines fromSchitt’s Creek. “You know I’ve always been Team Callum and wanted you guys to get back together.”

“I’m not sure that’s…we haven’t made anything official. It’s not that simple.” All week we’d talked on the phone every night. Callum woke up the day after the bachelor/bachelorette party sick as a dog, so I hadn’t seen him, but we’d been texting and talking just as much as we used to when we were together.

But he was feeling better, and he said he would definitely be here today.

“Why not? You still love him,” Ashley pointed out. “He clearly still loves you; it’s so obvious the way he can’t take his eyes off of you every time you’re in the room.”

“There’s just a lot going on in his life right now. He lives in Arizona and has a career. He got offered a fight. If he takes it, he needs to move back.”

“Would you consider moving to Arizona?” Daphne posed a question I’d never thought of.

“He didn’t ask me to.”

“That’s not what I asked.” She grinned. “What I asked was, would you consider moving to Arizona?”

Would I?There wasn’t anything holding me here. I did love Firefly Island, but I’d never dreamed of living here my entire life.If anything, it had been the opposite. The only reason I ended up back here after college was because of my mom.

“Yeah. I think I would.”

The girls all looked at me, then at each other, then back at me; then without saying a word, they bum-rushed me for a group hug.

“No, donotmess up your hair and makeup!” I warned Zoe.

“Sorry.” Zoe put her hands in the air and slowly backed away from the hug.

There was another uptick of raised voices and the sound of cameras. This time Ashley looked out the window. “It’s Felicity. Did you invite Felicity?” she asked Zoe.

“No.” Zoe shook her head. “But the whole town knows, and it’s not like there’s a guest list or anything.”

“Honestly, I never thought Felicity and Callum were a good match,” Daphne commented.

“Did you know them?” Ashley asked.

“Not personally. I met Felicity a few times at events, and I interviewed Callum before his last fight with Martinez. I mainly know them through social media,” Daphne explained. “He always seemed so grounded, real, and hardworking, and she’s…not. Also, and I know this might sound petty, but I remember thinking it wasweirdthat she celebrated so many anniversaries. She would always plan elaborate trips, purchase her own gifts, and write gratitude posts for herself to celebrate significant events such as the day they met, their first date, the day they became official, the day they moved in together, and the day they got engaged. I remember that one because it’s my birthday, and every year when I’m getting birthday posts, people are congratulating her for the anniversary of her engagement. Which is fine; I love love, but I mean, come on, I just feel like when people have to make such a big deal and a big show abouteverything,it’s like, what are you trying to prove? Most of thetime she’s ‘celebrating,’ he’s not even with her; it’s just her. So it’s weird.”

“Wait, you said your birthday is the day they got engaged?” I knew the day sounded familiar when Callum said it; I just couldn’t put my finger on it.

“Yeah, why?”

My hands were tingling, and my pulse started racing. “Your birthday is May tenth.”

“May tenth,” she said at the same time I did.

Holy shit.The conversation I had with Callum played in my head again.

“When did you get this again?”

“I told you about six years ago.”

“What was the exact date?”

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