Page 68 of Banter & Blushes #1

MIA

“ D o you think this is a good idea?” Sophie pins me with a pointed stare that makes me squirm in my seat at the restaurant. Just like we do every Saturday morning, we’re sitting at the window table at the Last Bean, drinking coffee and eating pastries while we people watch.

I point to Mr. Brady and his little Chihuahua named Penny, whose tiny legs move so fast they’re a blur. “Oh, look, Penny has a pink bandana around her neck today.”

I’m not above diversion tactics, especially when I don’t want to answer a question. And I really don’t want to acknowledge Sophie’s because I know what she’ll say.

Because I’m already thinking the same thing. This is crazy. And I’ll probably wind up bawling on her couch at some point, missing Ethan and wishing the universe would get with the program and make things work out for us.

Over the last two weeks, we’ve spent every evening together, going out for dinner and then walking on the beach at sunset.

One evening, when I had too much work to catch up on, he came over and helped me grade papers by reading them out loud when my eyes grew too tired to make sense of any more second-grade scrawl.

I sigh. “I don’t know how to answer that, Soph.”

“Because you already know it’s crazy.” She says this without judgment, just compassion .

“Maybe, but all I can think about is how I’d always wonder what could have been between us if we never even tried.”

She doesn’t say anything. Just nods and sips her coffee.

“I could find another teaching job.” I throw the statement out, verbalizing what I’ve only fleetingly considered.

Sophie’s big eyes widen, making her look like an anime character. “But you waited forever to find the position you have, Mia. And you’ve worked so hard to establish your classroom.”

“I could do it again.”

She considers me for a moment. “Is that something you’d really consider doing?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. Maybe?” I’m practically whining at this point.

“It would be different if you two had been together for a while already, but it’s still so new. What if you did move to be close to Ethan, and then you discover you’re all wrong for each other?”

“Yeah, that’s a possibility, but Soph, I really think Ethan’s my person. It’s like he knows what I’m thinking before I even realize what’s in my head.” I laugh.

A wistful expression coats her face as she stares out the window. “I wonder what that feels like.”

I squeeze her hand. “You know, if I move, and you came to visit, you’d have a whole new pool of men to date.”

Her eyes dart to me. “True, but I’d miss you like crazy the rest of the time.”

“I know.” I stare into my empty coffee cup. “But what if he’s the one?”

She gives me a reassuring smile. “Then you follow your heart. Maybe try a long-distance relationship for a while and see if you two have a connection worth fighting for.”

“We actually discussed that idea.”

“That’s great, Mia.” She acts as if she wants to say something but stops herself.

“What? Just say it.”

She pulls her shoulders up as she tilts her head. “What is he willing to sacrifice for you?”

I blink, my mind shuffling through all our talks at lightning speed, yet finding nothing that broached that direction. “Hockey players don’t exactly have full control over where they play.”

“True, but you can’t be the only one sacrificing for this relationship, Mia.”

I fiddle with the remains of my chocolate croissant. “I know.”

Sophie rests her hand on my forearm. “I’m not saying he should stop playing hockey for you. Just like he can’t ask you to give up your dream, you can’t ask him to relinquish his. But has he really thought through the ramifications for you?”

Again, I remain silent because I can’t answer that. I’ve been so caught up in Ethan and the newness of our relationship—not to mention the kisses that muddle my brain to mush—that I hadn’t fully considered how complicated our situation is.

I groan, staring out the window once more. “Why does this have to be so hard?”

Mr. Brady’s sitting on a bench, chatting with random people who stop to admire Penny’s decorative attire and adorable upturned nose. She eats up every pat, but that little fur ball only has eyes for her owner.

Kind of like me for Ethan. I finally find a guy worth my time, and now I may not get to keep him.

Fickle Fate strikes again.