Page 58 of You Had Me at Merlot

“Fancy cheeseburgers will be my downfall.” Courtney’s blue eyes held regret. “Answer the question.”

“There was a time when I wanted more with Jamie. Yes. For a long time. But I think working on our friendship is the right move. For everyone.”

“Objection. Nonresponsive.”

“The cheeseburger attorney is just gonna have to live with that answer because I do.” Leighton grabbed her bag and came around the desk. Courtney gave her hand a squeeze.

“Just don’t lose that hope entirely. There’s always someday.”

“No. I can’t do that.” Leighton squeezed back and let go. She touched her heart briefly. “Too dangerous to think that way. I’ll be crushed by a semi if I stand in that road.” The night she and Jamie spent together all those weeks ago still hadn’t left her brain. She’d had trouble moving on from the feelings it had so intensely ignited, even when her head knew better. Leighton had spent the following week daydreaming about holding Jamie close, kissing her, and so much more. Turning off those thoughts when they sprang up had been her only recourse. At this point, she was actually getting quite good at keeping Jamie in the friendship box. They’d gotten drinks a couple of times since. Dinner once. It had been really nice. She had no intention of blowing the chance she had. Jamie was too important, and in light of the fact that Jamie didn’t want more, she planned to protect what they did have.

Courtney nodded, serious now. “Standing in that road. I know exactly what you mean. Been there myself once.”

“I remember. Earned you a marriage that never should have happened.”

Courtney sighed. “Don’t remind me.” A pause. “I love you, you know. And you’re going to be okay.”

“I believe that, too. I also love you back. Shall we go get those really expensive cheeseburgers?”

“God, yes. I’ve been counting the hours.”

“Ever count cheeseburgers? To get to sleep, I mean.”

“What?” Courtney asked, whirling back.

“Nothing,” Leighton said with a laugh.

Thirty minutes later as they waited for their food—the double Wagyu cheeseburger for Courtney and the honey peppered king salmon for Leighton—she exhaled in happiness. “I’m so excited you’re here.” In actuality it was more than that. Until laying eyes on Courtney, Leighton hadn’t understood how alone she’d felt lately. This was a startling spotlight. She had friends here and there in the city. Mindy was great, but she had a family of her own. Jamie fit the bill, but theyweren’t exactly in that spot. She’d needed to see Courtney, her own family, badly. “How are things? How’s Maggie?”

“Tearing up the small town real estate world with her charm. We’ve been thinking about a family.”

Leighton’s heart squeezed. “Soon?”

“It’s looking that way. I think I’ll carry, and take a little time off. The rest of you can run this little company, right? At least until I’m back.”

“I’ll do whatever you need me to do as long as I get to hold that little baby for as long as I like.”

Courtney’s cheeks went pink, a sign that the topic made her both nervous and excited. It was incredibly sweet.

“Enough about my hopes and dreams. Tell me your updates. I need any and all Leighton news.”

She had one distinct one that she hadn’t planned on telling anyone. Until this very moment, when she felt the need to release a bit of that burden. “I’m thinking of reaching out to my father. Sending a letter.”

“Oh, wow.” Courtney’s eyes went wide and she sat back in her chair, absorbing. “That’s a big move for you.”

“I’m a little surprised myself.” She’d actually written the letter five different times, throwing the first four away. The fifth, well, the fifth she’d actually addressed and placed in a drawer until she officially decided whether she wanted to send it. “Ever since I moved to New York, I notice myself searching for his face in the crowd. I get angry and wonder if maybe that’s the whole reason I moved here, to prove some kind of point. I just don’t know. Maybe I need some closure on that front.”

Courtney reached for the bread basket. “The last time we touched on the topic of your father, you said you had no interest. Given, that was years ago.” She tilted her head. “What do you think changed?”

“My mom died. Something shifted on that front. I was all of a sudden parentless. Yet I’m not. He’s here, living his life, celebrating birthdays with his kids, his real family.”

“He does know about you, right?”

“Oh, he knows everything. My mother tried to get him to meet me many times when I was young. He refused.”

“He sounds wonderful,” Courtney said wryly. “Are you sure youwant to do this? Sounds like a can of worms you might want to think hard about opening.”

Leighton tapped her chin and took a sip of the wine they’d ordered. Courtney’s treat. “I know. I haven’t fully decided if I’m going to send it yet.”

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