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“We can go somewhere. Stace raves about this diner she and Hunter are always going to. I guess they have great pie or something.” Cake was better, but I wasn’t going to argue with Hunter or Stace about it. Stace could absolutely and unequivocally kick my ass.

“Oh, that sounds good.”

Sophie hummed along with the radio as I drove us to the diner. It was kitschy, but fun with a ’50s feel to the decor.

We ordered and talked about books and college and random shit. It didn’t really matter. We just liked being with each other.

She fought me for the bill, but I ended up paying. I knew I had more disposable income right now, seeing as how she was only working part time, and she’d just spent all her money on moving and rent.

The two of us had just gotten back and were hanging out at Sophie’s while her laundry was in the washer when she got a message.

“Oh,” she said, a little exhale of sound.

“What is it?” I asked from my position on her couch.

“Kaylee read the message I sent her.”

A boulder dropped into my stomach at the mention of her name. I’d been doing my best to avoid spoiling everything by not thinking about her.

“Do you want to hear the response?” Sophie asked and I felt sick that I’d made her the middleman in this. I shouldn’t have done that. It was my responsibility to find a way to get closure with Kaylee without her involvement.

“What did she say?” I asked.

“Just thank you for the message and that’s she’s sorry for everything. Here, you can read it.” The message was short and to the point, like mine had been.

“I’m sorry,” I said, giving Sophie the phone again. “I shouldn’t have used you to get in touch with her. That wasn’t fair to you.”

She leaned her forearms along the back of the couch and gazed down at me.

“It’s okay. I don’t mind, seriously. I wish I could change it, but I can’t. All I can promise you is that I’m not Kaylee.” I knew she wasn’t. I’d known pretty much from the first few minutes I’d actually spent with her instead of being angry.

“I know you’re not. I know, Sophie. This is complicated, but I don’t care. I want to be with you.”

Her smile was bright as the sun. “Really? Even with everything?”

I nodded. “You’re worth it.”

She leaned down and kissed me. “You know you’re pretty much my favorite person. Don’t tell Larison or Juniper. I will deny it if they ask.”

She was absolutely my favorite person. I grabbed the back of her neck to make her stay close so I could keep kissing her.

“I’m so happy you moved here, Sophie.”

“No regrets?” she asked.

I shook my head slowly. “No regrets, baby.”

She liked it when I called her that. I’d have to do it more often.

“Me neither. No regrets.”

She kissed me again and then crawled over the back of the couch so she could lay on top of me.

“Wanna make out?” I asked her.

“Hell yeah,” she said. “I feel like I missed so many of those classic teenage relationship experiences. Making out. Fooling around in a car. Hooking up where you could get caught.”

Her eyes sparkled with interest.