Page 11 of Thanks for the Memories
“Although Evan will be really upset. He hates not sleeping next to me.”
Hello, TMI. After living with Kennedy and Evan, I saw how in love they really are. I can’t remember a time when they weren’t touching or holding hands or kissing. Don’t get me wrong—it was sweet, sometimes. I wonder if they act like that with his mother around. Yuck. How cringey is it to make out with your mother sleeping in the next room?
My sister is very lucky. I hope I find a man who loves and adores me as much as Kennedy’s husband does her. We should all be so lucky to have someone who thinks the world revolves around us.
“Reagan, you still there?”
“Yeah, I was just thinking that Evan will survive without you for a few nights,” I suggest. “And that will give him time with his mom.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“Oh, speaking of houseguests. Guess who’s coming to visit?”
She guesses three random people before I finally tell her that it’s Bethany.
“That’s interesting. I guess she’s finally over her tantrum,” she says.
“Be nice.”
“I am nice,” she insists. “But she acted like a child when you left. She should’ve been a good friend to you like you’ve always been to her through every disaster.”
“She was just sad,” I remind her. “Anyway, I’m sure she’d love to see you too. We should do dinner.”
“Sounds good. I just got to Trader Joe’s. We’ll talk later.”
After we get off the phone, I grab my bag and my keys and rush out the door to my class. I’m definitely in need of some good stretching and breathing today. For some reason what Lila said about the calm before the storm keeps popping in my head. Hurricane or not—I’m not looking forward to it.
Chapter Four
After what feels like the longest two days of my life, Sunday has arrived. I’ve been checking my phone since seven o’clock this morning to make sure Dante didn’t cancel. I need to be realistic—the man does own a restaurant. Something could blow up or catch on fire at any moment. It happens.
Gabby leaves early to head to Orlando for her father’s birthday, and Lila is getting ready to go to her friend’s beach house for the day. I admit that I’m totally envious of Lila’s social life. It seems so glamorous and fun. But things aren’t always as they appear. I know for a fact that she still has some unresolved feelings for the one she believes got away. She doesn’t like to talk about him though, and it doesn’t help that he and Gabby’s boyfriend are tight. Unfortunately, he’s happily involved with someone else.
“What are your plans for the day?” Lila asks, leaning against my door frame. She’s wearing a cute, black, one-piece swimsuit with a sheer maxi-length coverup. Her black hair is pulled into a side braid over her left shoulder.
“We didn’t make specific plans,” I tell her. “It’s the man’s first day off in months, so I’m up for anything.”
“I bet you are,” she says, flashing me a wicked smile.
“Very funny.”
“Well, you look great. Chef Dante will be very pleased.”
“Thanks. I only changed my clothes three times.”
After quite a bit of deliberation, I finally chose a pair of white denim shorts, a blue peasant blouse, and nude wedges. Who would’ve thought picking out clothes would give me so much anxiety? Especially with a man who’s seen me in baggy sweatpants, face masks, my retainer—college was an awkward time for me.
“Of course you did,” she exclaims. “You’ve pined for this man for how many years?”
I shrug. I lost count of the years. All those feelings I thought were long gone came flooding back the first time I saw him again.
Lila throws her arm around me. “If it makes you feel any better, I would’ve changed more than three times.”
I give her a grateful smile.
“Good to know because I feel really stupid for acting like I’m going on a first date with someone I just met.”
“I think you should enjoy every second of it. Don’t worry about the little details.”
