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“Bye.”

“Bye.”

Nearly bolting over to Brayden’s truck, Ellie climbed into it as Bridget and Brayden both looked at her. She buckled her seatbelt, then shrugged.

“What?”

“Are you two chickens?”

“What are you talking about?”

Unfortunately, she knew what he was talking about.

“You just pecked her cheek like a chicken.”

“Shut up.”

“Do we need to show youhowto kiss someone?”

“Ew,” Ellie pretended to gag, “shut up.”

Brayden, of course, did not shut up the entire way home. Even Bridget joined in on the teasing, but Ellie secretly enjoyed it. She’d never liked anyone like she liked Sadie. And she definitely hadn’t ever been teased about it.

After Bridget got into her car and left, Ellie pulled Brayden aside before they went their separate ways for the night.

“Can you not tell the moms or the sisters about this? At least not yet?”

For a moment, Brayden’s sparkling eyes worried her. But he playfully punched her shoulder and smiled. “Tell them what?”

“Thank you.”

After a goodnight hug, Ellie took the stairs to the garage apartment two at a time as she pulled her phone from her bag to read the messages from Sadie. There was no way she was going to read them in the truck with Brayden and Bridget. And her uncontrollable smile and giggle told her that was a good thing as she read Sadie’s three messages.

I’m home. :)

I had a great time tonight. We will have to do it again soon.

Especially that last part.

Chapter 18

Sadie

Sadie had overthought every single piece of clothing she’d pulled from her closet and subsequently tossed onto the floor. Nothing was right. And shehadto find something right for the occasion. Not only was the Mackenzie’s twentieth wedding anniversary party set to be the biggest event of the summer, but it would also serve as the next time Sadie saw Ellie after their kiss.

Ellie kissed me.

She could nearly float on those three words alone.

Granted, it wasn’t akisskiss. Not the one Sadie had thought was going to happen. But there was something so sweet about the simple kiss on the cheek that Sadie couldn’t get over. When she closed her eyes, she could still feel the way Ellie’s lips felt quickly pressed against her skin.

They had been texting back and forth constantly since then, and Sadie was giddy with excitement over seeing her again. It didn’t matter that they would literally be surrounded by Ellie’s entire family and half of the Cove. All that mattered was she was going to get to see Ellie.

If she could find something to wear.

Normally Sadie would haveneveroverthought what to wear to an event, especially one that six months ago she would have tried to get out of. But now, things were different. She wanted to look good for Ellie. Well, notforEllie.

Okay, well, yes. She was overthinking everything because of Ellie.