replied at last. “We’re kind of taking things slow. I don’t want to rush him,” she added.
“Of course.” Alice agreed quickly, but Jenny turned, looking surprised.
“You mean, you haven’t had the talk yet?”
“What talk?” Stella asked.
“You know, the ‘what is this and where is it going?’ talk,” Jenny pressed.
“Oh.” Stella gulped. “That talk.” She shrugged, looking away evasively. “Not exactly…” she said, busying herself with arranging some gourds on a store stoop, but when she looked up again, her friends were still staring at her expectantly.
Stella sighed. “Fine. Not at all,” she admitted.
Alice looked surprised. “You don’t usually beat around the bush, not when it comes to this stuff. Not with Matty.”
“I know, but… I don’t want to rush things,” Stella said, feeling a twist of insecurity in her chest.
“It’s been, what, three months since your first kiss?” Alice asked.
“That doesn’t count!” Stella protested.
“OK, two months since your second kiss,” she corrected, grinning. “That seems like plenty of time.”
“Maybe,” Stella said, biting her lip, “but I don’t know how Aidan’s feeling about everything just yet.”
“You could always ask him,” Jenny pointed out. “A revolutionary idea, I know.”
Stella sighed. She knew she could just ask him. The questions had been dancing on the tip of her tongue all week, ever since that evening beside the fire. Questions like, ‘where is this going?’
‘Are you going to stay in town?’
‘Is this thing between us for real?’
But every time she came close to saying the words out loud, she bit them back – or smothered them with another heart-stopping kiss.
Because what if he said ‘no’?
If Stella was going to have her heart broken, she didn’t want to know just yet. She’d never felt this way about any guy before, and now she desperately wanted to stay in this bubble, enjoying the haze of lust and laughter for as long as possible.
Alice caught her eye, and gave her a sympathetic smile. “I was the same with Jackson when we were dating,” she confided. “I wanted to know if he planned on staying here, but I dreaded getting the answer.”
“So, what did you do?” Stella asked.
“Waited way longer than I should have to ask him how he felt.” Alice replied. “Trust me, when something really matters, you can’t just leave your feelings hanging.”
“And there I was, hoping you’d say denial is absolutely the right plan,” Stella quipped ruefully.
Alice laughed, and gave her shoulder a squeeze. “For what it’s worth, I really like you two together. I’ve been waiting for a guy who sees just how amazing you are.”
“Cosign!” Mackenzie called, from over by the corner.
Stella had to smile. But the questions lingered for the rest of her day, as she finished up her decorating shift and got back to work. Luckily, she only had routine maintenance calls scheduled, work she could have done with her eyes closed.
Or her mind somewhere else entirely.
Could she keep pretending like the future didn’t matter? Stella wished she was that kind of woman: a ‘take it as it comes’, ‘live in the moment’ girl who thrived off being spontaneous, and not worrying what tomorrow might bring. But who was she kidding? She had too many responsibilities to throw caution to the wind like that. She’d spent the past fifteen years fighting for stability and structure, to know she’d built a solid foundation for her and Matty. And even though laying wrapped in Aidan’s arms felt like the safest place in the world, Stella knew it was just an illusion.
At least, until he made a promise she could count on.
“The best table in the house, huh?” Aidan commented, as the hostess led them through the restaurant that night. He gave Stella a knowing grin. “When I called to book, they said they could only squeeze us in at the bar. I’m guessing this is your doing?”
“What can I say? I have friends in high places,” she teased. “Or rather, loud, steamy kitchens.”
They took their seats, and sure enough, Jenny had been true to her word. Their table was nestled in a dim, romantic corner near the fireplace, with heavy linens, silverware, and a gorgeous centerpiece of dark red roses. Stella looked around happily, taking it all in. Sage was the hottest restaurant on Cape Cod, and she’d been here for events with her friends, but never on a date before. It was usually too pricy – and way too public – for her, but tonight, she took a deep breath and tried to relax. Thanks to their Halloween dance, and the town