Page 37 of Ever After Between the Lines (Montgomery Ink Legacy)

Chapter Two

DEMI

“So you met her years ago? And now you guys have been texting for two weeks. I don’t know, it seems kind of fast for you to get all bubbly and happy like this.”

I paused in the action of buttoning up my top as my sister droned on and on about the timeline of my…whatever this was with Jess.

Considering Jess and I hadn’t had a true first date yet, I wasn’t quite sure how this was moving too quickly.

“It is our first date. It’s not moving at the speed of light, as you call it. We’ve been texting because I’ve been out of town. You know I’ve been working, so this is our first entrance into the dating world. It’s going to be fine.” I wasn’t sure if that last part was for her or me.

Elena just raised a brow. “You always get so gaga over anyone you date.”

“I don’t know why that’s a bad thing. And I do not go gaga . Not that I even know what that means.”

“You put everything into it. You trust them with your whole heart. And then when they break you, all you do is mope around, and I hate seeing you in pain. Maybe just protect yourself a bit more with this one.”

Frowning, I finished getting dressed before going to push back my hair and figure out what to do with it. It had been down to the middle of my back for as long as I could remember. I had learned how to braid it, work in countless ponytails, curl it, straighten it, and just have fun with it.

And then on a whim, I had decided to do the big chop. Shave the sides of my head, and let the front come down over my face. Meaning I was constantly pushing it back and trying to figure out if I wanted a pixie cut, a short haircut, or something in between.

While it didn’t feel like me, it totally felt like me at the same time.

Then again, moving back to Denver after spending so much time in England felt like coming home.

Which was odd, considering I had been born in England.

I had only come to Colorado for a two-year program to work with a certain professor, and now I was back, once again working with that professor but as a colleague, rather than a student.

I wasn’t in the university program, rather working in industry, but he was the person I went to for advice, and quite nicely, vice versa.

“I really like that haircut,” Elena said after a moment, and I met her gaze in the mirror.

“Really? You kept trying to curl it and play with it when I first got it.”

“Because I’ve never seen you in that kind of style. I’m used to you looking all girly.”

I rolled my eyes. “I still look girly, just with a short haircut. Way to be rude.”

Elena cringed. “Sorry. I do like the haircut. You look hot.”

“And that’s so something I want to hear from my baby sister.”

She laughed before hugging me from behind and kissing cheek. “I adore you. Have fun tonight and be safe.”

“I don’t know quite how to take that,” I said after a moment.

“I just want you to protect yourself. I mean, you guys just happened to meet in a tattoo shop the day you’re both getting ink? It feels a little too like fate, and you know I don’t trust that.”

I pressed my lips together since this was the same woman who, not five minutes ago, was worried I was moving too quickly. Now she was bringing up fate. “No, you’re even more analytical than me. Don’t worry, it’s just a date. The fact that I’m even getting out there should make you happy.”

“That is true. I was starting to think you were a hermit once we moved back here.”

“Well, make up your mind. Am I supposed to be the hermit, or go out and have fun and get my heart broken?”

“How about you do neither?”

With that, Elena left me alone to my own devices, and I grabbed my wallet and keys, knowing that I was going to be later than late if I didn’t get out of there in time.

In the two weeks since I had seen Jess, we had texted every day. Probably a little more than I had ever texted in my life. It had been surreal seeing her again after all that time.

We had known each other in school of course, but not that well.

And then one night at a party, we had sat up for hours, and I had bared my soul in a way I’d never done so.

We hadn’t even kissed, hadn’t even made a move on each other in any way.

But there had been a connection soul-deep that should have scared me but hadn’t.

But I had moved the next week and had been scared to do anything that might lead to something more.

Not that I’d been so into myself I’d thought it was a sure thing.

But I knew deep down, I’d catch feelings.

And worse—what if she hadn’t? And she had known I was moving as well, so it wasn’t as if I had ghosted her.

Whatever could have been…just hadn’t happened.

Now it felt as if maybe everything was happening for a reason. Maybe I was leaning way too much into this fate thing.

I got into my car and drove down to the ball field, holding back a laugh at the date we had decided to go on.

Parking was a breeze thanks to my valet pass from work, so I got out quickly, slid my sunglasses back on, and searched the crowds for the woman with auburn hair and deep-set brown eyes. I could gaze into those eyes for far too long, and while that should worry me, it didn’t.

Things happen for a reason, and what if it was okay to just lean in.

I spotted Jess quickly, and my heart raced.

“Keep it cool,” I whispered to myself, as Jess came forward, wearing cut-up jeans and a jersey for the local team.

She had on tennis shoes that didn’t tie up but looked untied at the same time, and sunglasses perched on the top of her head.

When she put her hand over her eyes to block them from the sun, I just shook my head.

“Hey there. You made it.”

I smiled and tapped her sunglasses down so they perched on her nose.

“Oh. I always forget.”

“So says the woman with a fairer complexion than me.”

“I’m not quite sure about that. You’ve been in England for a while and out of the sun. Though I am slathered in sunscreen.”

“Same. Thankfully, we should be in the shade for most of the game. I know where to choose my seats thanks to my coworkers.”

“That sounds like a plan.” We stood there for a moment, just staring at each other, and yet awkwardness didn’t settle in. It just felt normal. As if we had just been waiting for this moment.

I reached out and took her hand, twining my fingers with hers. “Ready to head in?”

She beamed, a single dimple on her right cheek peeking out. “Yes. But I do need a hotdog. It’s tradition.”

Moving across the arena, I pulled her in the direction of the food and merch areas. “You know, usually I hate hotdogs. I mean, what’s in them?”

“You don’t ask those things.”

“Exactly. However, it is a sporting occasion. And we are watching our state’s major league softball team kick some ass.”

Warmed, we made our way to the line, the number of people surrounding us growing as we got closer to the first pitch. “That’s what I like to hear.”

“A hotdog it is. Because it is some form of sports ball.”

“What do you get on your hotdog?” Jess asked, her gaze on the menu in front of us as we waited.

I paused as we stood in line. “I feel like this is an important question I don’t have a good answer for.”

“I’m a purist. Which I know is crazy. I either go plain or a full chili dog.”

“That sounds disgusting,” a tall man said from beside her, but we ignored him.

“Well, I don’t feel so bad then,” I said with a laugh.

“So what do you get?”

“I like mayonnaise and mustard,” I mumbled, and Jess burst out laughing.

The same guy shook his head. “Not a single layer of ketchup between you. However, that just means more for me.”

I fist-bumped him, and then Jess did as well, and we ordered our dogs and beers.

“There’s nothing better than a hotdog and beer at a softball game.”

“I can think of a few things better,” I said, meeting her gaze.

“Look at you,” she whispered, though her cheeks matched her hair in that moment.

We took our seats, and I did indeed try a taste of her chili dog, and it wasn’t that bad. And she was hesitant at first to try the mayonnaise but liked it in the end.

“I cannot believe I just ate that,” Jess said with a shudder, and I slid my arm behind her in the seat, and we watched the game, talking and laughing the entire time. By the end of it, we were still hungry, but it wasn’t quite time for dinner yet.

Jess smiled over at me as the game ended. “There’s this gelato place in easy walking distance. What do you think?”

“I freaking love gelato. However, now I’m afraid of what your favorite flavor is.”

“I don’t have a favorite flavor. I go for whatever sounds good in the moment. Usually the special. As long as it’s not bubblegum.”

I nearly gagged and glared at her. “There’s such a thing as bubblegum gelato?”

“I didn’t think it was an American thing,” she said with a laugh.

My stomach revolted at the thought, but I let it go. Sort of. “The horror. The actual horror. However, I really only like pistachio.”

“That’s okay, but I guess that means you’re not going to want to share?”

I took her hand, laughing. “Of course I’m going to share. That’s the whole point of getting different flavors.”

“Okay, so I will be the wild card, and you’ll be the steady one.”

“That doesn’t sound too bad.”

We walked hand in hand and ordered our gelato. She ended up with this rocky road peanut butter monstrosity that tasted amazing. The flavors burst on your tongue, and I couldn’t help but smile as she fed me off that little spoon.

“See? You have to try new things.”

My tongue darted out, licking gelato from my lips, and her gaze went straight there. “I really don’t mind trying new things,” I said softly, my voice going slightly deeper.

We stared at each other for a moment before Jess finally broke the silence. “I can’t believe you’re back in town.”

I paused, trying to formulate my answer. “It felt like home. Which is weird to say, but I love it here.”

“I don’t think I could be anywhere else. Though I’ve never been to England.”