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Feeling a renewed sense of hope, Jo took a deep breath. “Thank you,” she said, then smiled. “Let’s do it.”

“Yay,” Evelyn said, reaching for Jo’s hand, and then hesitating. “Sorry.”

She started to pull her hand back, but Jo caught it. “Don’t be,” she said, lacing their fingers together. They sat in silence for a few moments before Jo ran her other hand through her hair. “I’m sorry I didn’t text you back sooner.”

Evelyn squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry I dropped everything on you like that,” she said. “That wasn’t fair.” Not sure how to respond, Jo simply nodded, letting Evelyn continue. “I know the job changes things. But I think we can figure it out. If you’re willing to try.”

“Okay,” Jo said, not sure what Evelyn was asking. “Try how?”

“A long-distance relationship for four or five months,” Evelyn answered in a rush. “I know it’s not perfect, but people do it all the time.”

A long-distance relationship, Jo thought, working through what that meant.Committed, serious… after only a couple of weeks.Still, the idea of not being with Evelyn made her chest tighten. She had never felt these emotions toward anyone.So, what does that mean?Is a relationship what I really want?She simply wasn’t sure. “I need to think about it,” she said softly. “But I’m not saying no.”

A relieved smile crossed Evelyn’s face. “That’s all I can ask.”

Twenty-Four

Juggling her laptop tote and shoulder bag, Evelyn shouldered the apartment building’s front door open with her hip. She took the stairs up to her apartment two at a time. Her mind churned as fast as her legs. The past two weeks had passed in a blur. Long days spent in back-to-back meetings at the new job, followed by evenings spent helping Jo prep for the block party. But tonight it was Friday, and there was lots of fun planned.Or it’s supposed to be fun, she thought as she reached the third floor and power-walked down the hall. Jo was picking her up in less than an hour.Plenty of time.Maybe.If I don’t let myself get distracted.There had been a lot of that lately.

Her keys jingling in her hand, Evelyn reached her door and unlocked it, stepping inside with a deep exhale. She dropped her bags by the door and kicked off her shoes, already loosening the buttons on her blouse as she crossed into her bedroom. Her phone rang as she peeled off her work clothes. She gave it a quick glance. Jasmine. She nearly ignored it, knowing she needed every second if she wanted to shower, fix her hair, and squeeze into that dangerously short black dress Jasmine lent her. Still, it was her sister who always meant well. With a sigh, she grabbedthe phone. “Hey,” she answered, pinning the phone between her ear and shoulder as she opened her underwear drawer.

“Well, hello to you too,” Jasmine said, voice playful. “I thought I’d check in before the big night. You know, one last reality check before you strut off to your glamorous job and leave us commoners behind.”

Evelyn rolled her eyes, tugging a black lace bralette from the drawer. “It’s not glamorous,” she said. “It’s reviewing data from a half dozen different sources and a running tally of who’s behind on submitting their monthly field reports.”

“Mmm. Sexy.” Ignoring her, Evelyn moved to her closet, pulling out the little black dress. Just holding it up made her pulse quicken. It hadn’t been very long ago that wearing a sexy blouse to the bar felt overwhelming.But Jo should really like this,she thought.And I need that now more than ever.

She laid the dress on the bed. “What time are you getting toSapphire?”

“Leaving within the next hour,” Jasmine said. “I even talked Sophie and Brooke into dressing extra sexy. We’ll be sitting near the DJ.” There was a pause. “Are you okay, though? You sound… I don’t know. Frazzled.”

Evelyn headed to the bathroom. “I’m fine,” she said, turning on the shower. “It’s just been a long two weeks. Transitioning into the new job, then the block party planning on top of it.” She forced a smile into her voice. “Don’t worry. Really.”

“Okay,” Jasmine said, her tone sounding like she wasn’t entirely convinced Evelyn was fine. “And how’s Jo?”

That one made Evelyn pause.How is Jo?she wondered and looked at herself in the mirror. “She’s good. I think. We’ve been working together a lot, but honestly, she’s been kind of distant.”

“Distant how?”

Sighing, Evelyn leaned against the counter. “She’s still sweet,” she said. “She texts me first thing every morning. But it’sbeen... I don’t know. Surface-level? Ever since we talked at the park.” Evelyn bit her lip, trying not to overthink everything, but it was hard. “And she hasn’t stayed over. Or asked me to stay there. In fact, it seems like we are never alone with Mica or Mr. Diaz or someone else around helping to plan the block party.”

“Really?” Jasmine said, and Evelyn watched her bathroom mirror start to fog.

“Yeah,” she said softly. “We’ve had a couple of goodnight kisses, but they weren’t like before.” She hesitated, thinking of how to describe them. “They kind of felt polite. Very PG13.”

Jasmine was quiet for a long beat. “Have you talked to her about it?”

“No,” Evelyn said, frustrated with herself. “I don’t want to pressure her. Everything’s already changing. She’s dealing with the shop and the break-in fallout, and now the block party. I don’t want to add to her stress only because I miss touching her.”

“Evie, it’s okay to want to be close to someone you care about,” Jasmine said gently. “That’s not pressure. That’s vulnerability. Huge difference.”

Evelyn let the words settle in. “Maybe,” she said. “I’m just hoping tonight can bring us back to how we were.”

“Then wear the black dress.” Jasmine’s smile was practically audible. “It stopped traffic when I wore it at our cousin’s New Year’s Eve party two years ago,” she said. It will work tonight. Wear it and remind Jo exactly what she’s missing out on.” With a laugh, Evelyn hung up and set the phone on the vanity. She stepped out of her underwear and into the hot spray, washing off the day inch by inch. Beneath the mounting stress, the pressure of change, and the dull ache of uncertainty, there was still a hope that tonight Jo would look at her and remember everything they hadn’t said yet.

The GTO purred down Burnside like it had something to prove. In the passenger seat, Evelyn adjusted the hem of her black dress, and Jo felt it happening again. That crazy flare of chemistry in her chest.And let’s be honest, a few other places on my body, she thought. It happened every time Evelyn was near her. The woman was beautiful, intelligent, and more thoughtful than anyone had a right to be, and all Jo could think about was how she had no idea what she was going to do.Or how to not screw everything up.

She gripped the wheel a little tighter. They hadn’t said much since Jo picked up Evelyn. Only a quick “You look amazing” and a light kiss on the cheek. For a beat, Evelyn looked like she wanted to initiate something more, but then she settled into the passenger seat. As Jo pulled away from the curb, she was never more confused. It was Friday night.My night,she thought.Where I walk throughSapphirelike I own the place.She clenched her jaw a little.Walking in solo.But tonight she was not walking in solo. She was walking in with Evelyn.