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“Okay,” Melinda interrupted. “I get it.” She held up her hands in defense.

“I’m not trying to bring you down, Mel,” Bridgette said.

“I know. It’s just a lot.”

“You said you didn’t want to go fast anymore.”

“I’m aware. But it’s not like I was planning on meeting someone. I’ve given probably thousands of tours at this point, and I can’t recall one tourist who I walked around this place and thought I wanted to date them. Bridge, I know you technically saw Kyle first, but when I saw her at the pub, something clicked.”

“You didn’t tell me that.”

“Because you were interested in her, too,” Melinda said.

“Yeah, sleeping with her. But nothing clicked for me like that.”

“It did for me. She’s beautiful, and there was something in her eyes and that smile she had when she looked up at me.” Melinda smiled at the memory. “I was smitten. Then, she showed up on the tour, we started talking, and last night, it was perfect. It was the perfect first time. It’s a night I’ll always remember even if she and I don’t work out.”

“You just met her, though, Mel. Are you sure?”

“I’m sure that I want to try. When she leaves, I know I want to do long-distance.”

“You said you didn’t want a long-distance relationship,” Bridgette reminded her.

“I don’t particularly want one now, but if she doesn’t live here, I know I still want her.”

“Do you think she wants that?”

Melinda looked down when a message buzzed on her phone and checked the screen.

“Speaking of the best sex I’ve ever had.”

“No one was speaking about that,” Bridgette said, rolling her eyes.

Melinda unlocked her phone and opened her messages app.

Kyle Schafer: I miss you. Lame or not lame?

Melinda smiled and messaged her back. Within seconds, Kyle replied.

Kyle Schafer: Good, because I can’t help it anyway. How’s work going?

“You two are already annoying,” Bridgette stated.

“You just want to be annoying with someone, too, don’t you?” Melinda replied, texting back a quick reply that she’d call Kyle later before she returned her attention to her friend.

“Yes. I like relationships, Mel. I hate being single. I’m not really interested in hooking up. It’s just that I miss sex. Good sex. The best sex of my life kind of sex.”

“I know. And you’ll find your someone, too.”

Bridgette lifted an eyebrow at her and said, “Your someone? Kyle is your someone?”

Melinda looked down at her phone for a few seconds when another text came in.

Kyle Schafer: I’ll bring wine for dinner tonight. Red or white?

It was a simple message. Nevertheless, it had Melinda’s butterflies flying around in her stomach and her heart pounding. Kylewasher someone.

CHAPTER 23