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I laughed. I realized it didn’t matter how many years had passed. We were Emily and Sierra. Best friends for life.

“We ran into each other and one thing led to another and we’ve been seeing each other.” I left out a majority of the story. My eyes went to hers. “And I told him the truth, Emily. I told him I was pregnant.”

“Oh. Wow. How did he take it?”

“Ehh. I think ok. We haven’t really talked about it much. The baby that is. I think he needed the truth. He deserved the truth. But it hurt him about his dad.” I lowered my eyes. “And now I’ve screwed everything up again by not agreeing to move to Florida with him.”

“What? He wants you to move to Florida?”

“Yeah. Don’t you think that’s a little fast? I mean we just reconnected. And it’s heavy. Right? Our past is heavy.”

She leaned in toward me and I realized how good it felt to unburden myself to someone. Especially someone who knew who I used to be. Someone who knew Blake before he was an iconic playboy.

“First of all … how did you say no? Second of all …he is sexy as hell. How did you say no?”

“Because.”

“Not really an answer. He is basically the hottest guy on the planet. A guy who used to be very much in love with you. And he wants you to move in with him?”

I nodded. “Yes.”

“And it’s too fast, why?”

“I have a career. I have a life in Dallas. I have people.” Although I couldn’t think of any of them at the moment.

“Right. And you’re going to tell me for the past eight years you haven’t thought about Blake Wyatt?”

I shook my head. “Every day.”

“Then go with him.”

“I wish it was that easy.”

“Maybe it is, girl.”

I looked at my friend. From her view it was simple. But from where I was sitting, it was anything but. Life with Blake couldn’t be more complicated.

24

Sierra

A few hours later I looked up from one of the cardboard boxes I had packed full of salt and pepper shakers. Emily was knee deep in casserole dishes.

“I had no idea your aunt had so much stuff.”

“Me either.”

The sun was starting to go down.

“How about a glass of wine?” I offered. “We should take a break.”

Emily smiled. “That sounds good, but what do you think about going to the Dock House?”

“Really? You want to drive over there?”

“Yes. Let’s go. We could never get in when we were in high school. There’s always music.”

“I might have gone earlier in the week with Blake.”