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Maeve couldn’t sit still. Her foot bounced, she jabbed her glasses up on her nose so many times, she was sure the skin was gone, she’d redone her ponytail until her head screamed in protest, and still...she felt like she needed to move.
“What is with you today?” Estelle asked, leaning her shoulder against the doorframe of Maeve’s office.
Since she’d spent several days in a row at Ethan’s, Maeve had taken a break to come back to her own office in order to get caught up on the cafe’s numbers and a few other businesses that she worked with. The plan was to let the social media for Ethan percolate for a few days, then she’d check back in and see where things stood.
“Even when we were getting ready for work this morning, you were twitchy...like you drank a bunch of caffeine or something.” Estelle narrowed her eyes. “What’s going on?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Maeve said, sticking her nose in the air.
“You do realize that every time someone says that, there really is something going on, right?” Aspen said from behind Estelle’s shoulder. She pushed her taller sister aside. “Let me in on the gossip.”
Maeve rolled her eyes. “There’s no gossiping here. Only an accountant working the books, and they aren’t as nice as I’d like them to be.”
“Puh-lease.” Aspen groaned, throwing herself in one of the chairs across from the desk. “The books are fine.” She grinned. “Nice try, though.”
Maeve huffed and folded her arms over her chest.
“Denial,” Estelle said, nodding. “Classic denial.” She pointed between herself and Aspen. “But we’re the older sisters. We invented that technique.”
Maeve threw her arms in the air. “What do you want from me?”
“The truth,” Estelle said simply. She sat down in the other chair.
“Don’t you have customers to be helping?”
Estelle grinned. “Anna is working on her own for a few minutes.” Her grin grew wider. “I love having a helper. I haven’t had a break from that counter in too long.”
Maeve shook her head, pushed up her glasses and went back to the computer. “I have work to do,” she muttered. She didn’t. She was so good at keeping up with the books that it had only taken a couple of hours this morning to catch back up, but her sisters didn’t need to know that.
“Liar.”
Maeve’s head whipped around. “What did you call me?”
“Maeve,” Estelle said in a soothing tone, sending Aspen a glare. “Come on. We’re your sisters. Tell us what’s going on.”
“How is you being my sisters supposed to help this conversation?” Maeve argued. “Maybe that makes you the least likely people to be told what’s going on?”
“Ah-ha!” Aspen shouted. “There is something going on.” She leaned forward excitedly. “Okay...spill.”
Maeve took off her glasses and pinched the bridge of her nose. “You two are impossible.”
“We’re not the ones holding back something juicy,” Aspen accused.
“I’m not holding back something juicy.” Maeve made a face. “Ew. That just sounds wrong.”
Aspen shrugged. “Doesn’t bother me.”
Estelle waved Aspen off. “Come on, Mae. You’re obviously worked up about something. Is it good? Bad? Can we help? Is it about Dad?”
Maeve sighed and fell back against her seat. “It’s not about Dad,” she said softly. “And I guess I don’t know if it’s good or bad.” She wanted to talk to them...sort of. She wanted to talk to someone, but in her quiet, introverted life...Maeve didn’t have a lot of choices. Riley would probably spill the beans to Ethan, since they were close. Harper was busy with her new daughter and store. Jayden, their cousin, would only tease and cause a ruckus. Michael, another cousin, wouldn’t care at all. He probably wouldn’t even listen to what Maeve was saying.
But she was nervous about telling Aspen and Estelle because...well, because...she’d spent so many years pushing Ethan away, Maeve was worried they would give her a hard time about it. She was already really good at giving herself a hard time, she didn’t want it from someone else.
She looked over at Estelle and Aspen’s expectant faces and the words came bubbling out before Maeve could stop them.
“Ethan asked me on a date and I couldn’t say no.”
The room was quiet. Much quieter than any space with three females had a right to be. Maeve found herself holding her breath, unsure what was going to happen next. She bit her lips between her teeth and her eyes went back and forth between Aspen’s wide ones and Estelle’s astute ones.
“It’s about time,” Estelle finally said with a soft smile. “I’m so proud of you.”
That had not been what Maeve was expecting.
Aspen jumped to her feet and did a little dance. “I knew it! I knew it! You’ve liked him for soooo long!”
That had been what Maeve was expecting.
“Aspen,” Estelle ordered. “Sit down.”
Aspen obeyed, but the wild delight in her eyes never dimmed. She clasped her hands and leaned in. “Tell us everything.”
Maeve shrugged. “There’s nothing to tell.”
“Has he kissed you?”
Heat, which Maeve was starting to get used to, rushed up her neck and into her cheeks. “No,” she said succinctly. And if he ever does, I certainly won’t be sharing it with you. Aspen would tell everyone everything and Maeve preferred her life be kept a little more private.
“Bummer.” Aspen groaned. “I’ll bet Ethan’s a good kisser.”
“Aspen!” Estelle scolded. “You’re married!”
Aspen rolled her eyes. “I didn’t say he would be better than Austin.” She grinned. “But Ethan’s always been a cute kid. Even you, Ms. Stoic Older Sister, have to admit that.”
“So, what? Cute means he has to kiss well?”
Aspen shrugged. “Why not? I don’t look at less attractive people and think they’d be fun to kiss.”
Maeve slapped her forehead. “This is why I didn’t want to tell you.”
Aspen laughed and stood up. She walked over and leaned in to give Maeve a kiss on the cheek. “Hang in there, Little Mae. Good things are ahead.” She straightened, having no idea that her use of Maeve’s nickname brought Ethan immediately to Maeve’s mind. “I’ll leave you to the considerate sister. She’s better at these types of things.” With a wink, Aspen disappeared back into her sanctuary.
Estelle took a deep breath and pinned Maeve in place. “Okay...now that the Aspen shenanigans are out of the way...why don’t you tell me everything.” She hurried to add, “From the beginning.”
Maeve blinked hard. Why was she suddenly so emotional? Estelle had no idea what that really meant...to start from the beginning. Why dredge it all up now? Would it help to talk about it? Maeve had held it all in for so long, she wasn’t sure how she felt about saying the words out loud. “I...don’t know if I can.”
Estelle nodded encouragingly. “One word at a time. Let’s get it off your shoulders.”
Maeve returned the nod. “Okay.” She took a fortifying breath. Maybe it was time. Maybe it would help. Maybe...she’d finally heal.
*****
ETHAN RAN A HAND THROUGH his hair, ruining all his hard work only a half hour before. “Idiot,” he muttered into the cool evening. He’d stood on this porch a million times during his twenty-plus years of life. So why was he freaking out now?
His hand went through his hair once again, but this time Ethan didn’t even care. His heart was about to come out of his chest and sweat was trickling down his spine. He was going to show up for his first real date with the girl he was in love with looking like he had come straight from the gym. Awesome. Just what every girl wanted in a date.
He tugged on his collar. Why had he worn a collared shirt? He probably looked like a dork. He was a T-shirt and board shorts kind of guy. Collared shirts were for the accountants she probably should be dating.
Before Ethan could turn tail and run, the front door opened. “Oh, hey Ethan.” Estelle stood there smirking, a little too smugly.
Ethan gave her an unimpressed look. “What?”
She shook her head, looking him over. “You look like you’re all dressed up. What’s the occasion? Going to a funeral?”
Ethan spun around. “That’s it. I’m outta here.”
Estelle laughed. “Come on, come on,” she said. “I’m only teasing. It’s what older sisters do.”
Ethan glared while walking over the threshold. “You’re not my sister,” he muttered.
“Yet,” Estelle quipped.
Ethan hung his head back and moaned.
Still laughing, Estelle waved him off. “Hang on. I’ll go get her.”
“I’m here,” Maeve said. She gave her sister a look and walked up to Ethan. “If we hurry, we might be able to avoid her taking pictures like it’s senior prom or something.”
Ethan couldn’t move. Maeve had always been beautiful to him, though she wasn’t one to dress herself up very much. She wore very little make-up and was simple in her clothing choices. She always looked put together, just in a very natural way.
Tonight, however, she had taken a new step. Her lashes looked about a mile long now that there was mascara on them and they weren’t hidden behind those fake glasses she wore. Her hair was down and soft instead of pulled out of her way and the large glossy curls made Ethan’s fingers twitch with the need to touch. And the lipstick she had on her lips? It was going to make it extremely difficult for Ethan to wait to kiss her like he planned.
It had taken so long to get to this point that he didn’t want to press his luck and scare her off, so he’d determined that he wouldn’t kiss her on their first date. Date number two, however...she might just have to brace herself... He’d been waiting a long time for this and if she willingly spent more time with him, then all bets were off.
He jerked when a very sharp elbow landed in his rib cage. Turning, he found the amused eyes of Estelle.
“You’ve got something,” she whispered, pointing to the corner of her mouth. “I think I’ve got napkins in the kitchen.”
“And on that note,” Maeve announced loudly, “we’re out of here.” She grabbed Ethan’s arm and practically dragged him out of the house. Once they were outside, she let go and bent over, breathing heavily. “I don’t ever want to do that again.”
“What? Agree to a date with me? Or have me pick you up at your house?” Finally his tongue was working, but it was a little late.
“Next time I’m just walking across the lawn,” Maeve said firmly. She stood. “Families are the worst.”
The ice finally broke and Ethan grinned, taking her hand. She said there’d be a next time. Those kissing fantasies will yet come true. “Families are the best and the worst. Yours is pretty nice most of the time.”
“Most of the time is right,” Maeve said, following behind him. “Estelle, however, enjoyed that a little too much.”
Ethan opened the passenger door. “It would have been worse if she’d made us wait so your dad could come to the door with a shotgun.”
Maeve groaned and plopped unceremoniously into her seat.
He chuckled. The move was much more like the normal Maeve.
“Hurry. We’re not safe until the house is out of sight.”
Still laughing, Ethan walked around to his side of the car and got into the driver’s seat. “We’re going to take a little drive. That okay?” He had wanted tonight to be special and in their tiny town, there was very little that could easily be seen as special. At least not to two people who grew up there.
Maeve gave him the side eye. “What did you have in mind?”
Knowing he was pushing his luck, Ethan reached over and took her hand, bringing the back of it to his mouth. Her skin was just as soft as he thought it would be as he left a light kiss near her knuckles. “Did I tell you how stunning you look tonight?”
Maeve cleared her throat and tugged her hand back. “Can’t say that you did,” she said airily, looking out the window.
Ethan grinned. He hadn’t missed the emotion in her voice. He knew she was probably still embarrassed from the situation at the house and the bridge between them was still delicate and new, but knowing she was affected gave him hope. “Well, you do. Estelle was right. I was practically drooling right in your front entryway.”
She laughed softly. “You were not.”
“I was,” he said dramatically. “You’ve always been beautiful, but tonight you took things to the next level and I’m going to be the luckiest man at The Point tonight.”
She whipped around. “You’re taking me to The Point!”
Ethan nodded. “Is that alright? I know it’s mostly seafood, but I was pretty sure you liked fish.”
Maeve glowered. “Ethan. You’re supposed to be watching your budget. You’re trying to save your business!”
He gave her a look. “Maeve, the day I can’t take a beautiful woman to a nice restaurant is the day I officially give up.” He took her hand again, this time entwining their fingers so she couldn’t get away as easily. “I’ve been waiting eight years for tonight. I missed prom for at least two years of high school, I missed countless Friday nights spent eating hot dogs on the pier or licking ice cream from our fingers on the boardwalk. I didn’t get to take you to any anniversary dinners or splurge and buy you fake jewelry. All in all, one night at The Point is far cheaper than the last eight years would’ve been.”
He waited, but she didn’t respond. Glancing over, Ethan’s face softened. He had probably gotten a little carried away in his response, but from the tears in her eyes, he hoped she understood.
“Okay,” she said hoarsely.
Ethan raised his eyebrows. “Okay? No more fighting me about budgeting?”
Maeve wasn’t looking at him, though he could still see the moisture in her eyes. She shook her head. “No more troubles from me...this time.”
He squeezed her hand. “Thank you,” he said sincerely. He wanted tonight to be perfect and if she was going to worry about him spending money, then she wouldn’t soften enough to enjoy herself. Her capitulation was just what he needed. Yeah...she was right...he probably couldn't afford to do this a bunch of times unless business picked up, but tonight? Tonight he was pulling out all the stops because he had a sinking feeling it might be the only time she truly gave him the chance he’d been angling for for so long.