“Wait, did he kiss you?” Alyssa doesn’t look the slightest bit ashamed by her nosy question.
“Maybe.” I dip my head, blushing as they hoot and holler.
“Was it everything you ever dreamed of?”
“Do his arms feel as muscular as they look?”
Alyssa and Shayna ask questions at the same time while Mallory sits silently beside me, her lips tilted up in a smirk.
“I’m not usually one to kiss and tell, but yes, it was very dreamy, and his whole body is as muscular as it looks.” I fan my face. “He lifted me and put me on the counter.”
Alyssa pauses the music. “On the counter? Where exactly did this kiss happen?”
“That was our first kiss. It was, uh, in the broom closet at Sunrise Springs.”
“Firstkiss?” Shayna squeals. “As in, there’s been more than one?”
“Did you just say it was in abroom closetat your job?” Alyssa turns around to face me.
“Yes to all of the above.” I hold the back of my hands to my warm cheeks. “We might’ve kissed again behind the dog shelter and another time when he walked me to the door.”
Alyssa claps. Shayna giggles in delight. Mallory nudges my elbow and asks, “Are y’all officially a thing?”
I’m shocked that she’s the one to dig in with a question about my romantic life. Especially since she’s sworn off romance since some guy—whom she makes us call the-man-who-must-not-be-named or hot cocoa man—took her on the best date of her life and then ghosted her.
Shayna parks in the packed lot of the school where the dance recital is taking place. The car is silent as my friends wait for my response.
“We haven’t defined the relationship yet. It was only one date.” I drop my voice to a whisper, saying words that both terrify and excite me all at once. “But I think I’d like for there to be more.”
Alyssa and Shayna grab each other’s hands, squealing happily for me.
Mallory’s face remains completely serious as she says, “If he breaks your heart, I’ll cut off his—” She cuts herself off with a shrug. “Well, you know.”
We get out of the car, and Shayna grabs the bouquet from my hands. Next thing I know, I’m in the middle of a giant group hug.
“I love y’all forevermore.”
“Forevermore,” they echo.
We pull back enough to cross our arms, making hand hearts with each other in a circle. These girls right here are my family, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Once we’re back inside, I glance around the space, trying to find Tyler. When I finally spot him, he’s kneeling on the ground, hugging Evie in his manly arms.
“I’ll be right back,” I tell my friends. When I reach Tyler and Evie, she immediately jumps from his arms into mine, sniffling quietly. I shoot him a questioning look, but he goes wide-eyed and shrugs. Well, he’s no help.
I crouch down to her level. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m nervous that I’m going to mess up during my solo.”
I run my hands up and down her arms. “Evie, you are so dedicated and talented. You’ve practiced every day for weeks; you know that dance inside and out. If you’re on stage and you forget a step, that’s okay because some of the best things in life aren’t perfect.”
She hiccups. “Like what?”
“Winston, for one.” I blow out a dramatic breath. “He accidentally knocks things over with his wagging tail all the time because he’s not perfect. But he’s still the best, right?”
Evie nods her little head. “He’s my bestest friend.”
I smile. “And what about s’mores?”
