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“And then what?” Lori asked.

“Gabe walked you to your door, you went in, and we left.”

Rosie glanced off screen, and Lori saw a look she never wanted to see on her best friend’s face. She was clearly with someone from last night, and she hadn’t finished with them yet.

“I have to go. I’ll see you later in the week for lunch with your mom,” she said.

Rosie ended the call before Lori could ask who she’d—Shay? No wonder she looked like the cat who’d gotten the proverbial cream.

Lori’s phone pinged with a message.

Is it still okay for me 2 visit Max today or aren’t u up for visitors? I bet ur hangover is epic.

Lori’s fingers hovered over the keyboard, trying to decide on the tone of her response. She was desperate to know what Gabe thought of her after her “vampy” act. So I should be an adult and ask her.

Pain pills took care of that. I’m not quite as bulletproof as I was in my twenties. And yes, of course you should still come over. We have to stick to Max’s schedule, or he’ll get grumpy with us. I have a question I need to ask you though…

She didn’t have to wait long before Gabe is typing appeared below her name as Lori stared at her phone.

Cool thank u What’s ur question? U can ask me anything

Lori closed her eyes for a moment, hoping that might help her figure out how to word it. She decided she was overthinking the whole thing and should just get it out. Gabe had been straightforward with her to this point; why would she change now?

Did I do anything to make you feel uncomfortable last night? I don’t want to ruin our friendship. Please tell me if I messed up.

There. It was said, and she wouldn’t pull it back. While Gabe is typing flicked on and off the top of the screen repeatedly, Lori’s stomach churned with the notion that she had acted inappropriately. It didn’t matter that she’d never done anything like that before; she had to be responsible for her own behavior, and she definitely couldn’t blame Gabe for being so unbelievably sexy and apparently, utterly irresistible, like some kind of lesbian catnip driving her wild.

U haven’t messed anything up. U were funny drunk & it was great 2 c u having such a gr8 time. U were more relaxed than I’ve ever seen u. I loved it. Trust me u couldn’t ruin our friendship. I think only I could do that.

Gabe was right; she’d had the best night she could remember having in a long time. And Gabe had been the catalyst. From the moment she’d entered Lori’s orbit, her world had begun to spin on a different axis, and she’d been able to see her life from a new perspective. And once she’d said the words out loud last night, the moment her intentions toward Gabe were out in the Universe, Lori had felt like she’d released herself from a self-imposed prison. Sure, the lawyer had helped weld the bars shut, but Lori had forged the iron herself.

Thank God for that. I don’t want to think of losing or hurting you. I have to go. See you at 3 x

She deleted and reinstated the kiss three times before sticking with it. She wasn’t a text kisser, not even with Rosie, but she was finding that she was changing in all sorts of ways and embracing it was feeling more and more like the most natural thing in the world. Satisfied that was settled and she could still forge ahead with her birthday and hotel plans, Lori went to the bathroom to put on makeup and get ready to pick up her parents. She smiled and touched her fingers to her lips. She hadn’t smiled like that in a while either. She couldn’t wait to see her mom, as usual, but a visit from her dad made it even more special. Everything’s fine. We’ll talk when we’re all settled in with you. Lori hoped there was nothing sinister going on, and everything really was fine.

Lori went faster than she ought to up the gravel drive back home. She hated being late for anything at the best of times, but she definitely didn’t want to keep Gabe waiting.

“Careful, honey,” her dad said and chuckled. “I don’t think these cars are built for cornering at this speed.”

“Where’s the fire, sweetheart?” her mom asked, clinging to the dashboard and the door handle.

She rounded the corner and saw Gabe leaning against her truck with her hands in her pockets. God, why did she always have to look like she’d stepped directly out of Lori’s fantasy world? Was the Almighty tormenting her just for kicks?

“Ah, there’s the fire, Hank.”

“Mom…” She could say little else. Her mom knew her too well for her to protest too much.

Gabe waved and pushed off her truck as Lori pulled up beside her. “Sorry, I’m a little early.” She opened the passenger door for Lori and held out her hand.

Without thinking—or maybe it was just without caring—Lori accepted Gabe’s offer. She still stumbled slightly in her heels on the uneven ground and had to catch herself against Gabe’s chest…Gabe’s incredibly hard chest.

“Have you thought about getting a section of this paved?” Gabe winked and held Lori’s weight like she was a feather. “I’d hate for you to sprain an ankle or worse in your cute shoes.”

Lori laughed. “Is that the first time you’ve ever used that word? Did it feel strange as you said it? Like you were speaking a foreign language?”

Gabe shook her head. “I’m learning a whole new language being in your company, hustler.”

Lori stayed in Gabe’s arms for a moment longer than she needed to but nowhere near as long as she wanted to. She’d all but forgotten her parents were in the car until they threw open their doors and emerged, all greetings and big smiles. Her mom pulled Gabe into a hug, and Lori laughed at Gabe’s look of total surprise and awkward body language.