Page 11 of Wanting Happily Ever After

Sarah hesitated and turned to look up at Nicole. “Why would you say it like that?”

“What?”

Sarah stood. “Well, you just said that you’d bring Amy, because the two of you are seeing each other, and then you mentioned Brody the same way. Why?”

Nicole shook her head and laughed. “It’s okay, Sarah. Really, you don’t have to be scared to tell me.”

“Tell you what?”

“I’ve been trying to tell you for years,” Nicole continued. “It’s okay to date. I’m not going to think that you’re cheating on my brother or anything. It’s not like that. It’s totally—”

“I’m not dating Brody.”

Nicole stared at her, a question in her eyes before she tilted her head and grinned. “You can tell me.”

“I would. If there was anything to tell.” Sarah crossed her arms over her chest. At least, she thought she would. Nicole had become one of her best friends in the last few years, and she told her everything. Well, almost everything. She hadn’t told her about the feelings she’d started to have for Brody, the attraction that seemed to be growing more and more every day. Although, clearly, Nicole already thought something was going on. Too bad she was wrong, considering Brody obviously didn’t feel the same way about her. She’d also never mentioned to Nicole she was envious of the new relationship butterflies and that she missed the excitement and passion in her life. And she’d definitely never told Nicole that she’d never actually had that with her brother before he’d died.

Sarah sighed. There was a lot she hadn’t told Nicole.

“Okay.” Nicole smiled. “But I need you to know that it’s okay if you were. I’d be happy for you.Reallyhappy for you.”

“Well, I have a date with Byron Smith.”

At least that wasn’t a lie. The day after blurting it out to Brody, she’d run into Byron in the grocery store, and he’d once again asked her for a coffee. Sarah had suggested dinner instead. After all, if she was going to try the whole dating thing, she might as well go all in. Maybe an actual date was what she needed to feel like moving on was the right thing after all. There was only one way to find out.

“You have a date?” Nicole’s eyes widened in surprise.

Sarah nodded.

“With Byron Smith?”

“He’s the dad of one of Rory’s soccer friends,” Sarah said as way of explanation. “He’s asked me a few times and so I finally said yes.” Nicole was still looking at her strangely. “You think it’s too soon, don’t you?”

Her friend shook her head. “Too soon? For what? To date?”

“Yeah.”

A moment later, Nicole burst out laughing and for the life of her, Sarah could not see what was so funny. She waited her sister-in-law out until, finally, Nicole’s laughter died down.

“Oh,” she said. “You were serious.”

Sarah tipped her head and groaned. “Yes. I was serious. I’ve never dated anyone besides Josh and…well…”

“It isnottoo soon, Sarah. It’s been almost six years. And I literally just told you that you should start dating. Did you miss all that?” Nicole tucked her hands into her back pockets. “Josh wouldn’t have wanted you to be alone. As Josh’s older sister, I think I’m in a unique position to tell you exactly what he would or wouldn’t want. And he would definitely want you to be happy.”

She nodded as she let Nicole pull her into a quick hug.

Despite how sure Nicole was, Sarah couldn’t be sure her moving on was what Josh would have wanted. If the last conversation they’d had was any indication…well…it didn’t matter anymore. At least that’s what she was desperately trying to convince herself of.

“But you looked kind of surprised,” Sarah finally said. “It’s okay to tell me the truth, Nic. If you have an issue with me going on a date with Byron, tell me.”

“Okay,” Nicole said without hesitation. “I have a problem with you going on a date with Byron.”

She was not expecting Nicole to be so blunt, and her friend’s candor took her off guard. Sarah walked to the edge of the porch before turning back.

But before she could speak, Nicole beat her to it. “My problem is you going out with this Byron guy,” Nicole said. “Who—don’t get me wrong—is probably a perfectly nice guy,” she added quickly. “And if you want to go out with him, I’ll happily support you. But please, answer me one question.”

Sarah stared at her friend.

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