Feeling like she was wading through hip-deep mud, Emma moved through the motions of getting dressed and finishing packing. She had zipped up Simone’s suitcase and was working on her own when Lucy appeared at the door.

“Help has arrived,” her sister said.

“You’re about twenty minutes too late.”

“I wish you guys didn’t have to go,” Lucy said, pouting as she stretched out on the bed Emma had stripped of sheets and recovered with the down comforter.

“So do I. Believe me.”

“It’s like that, is it?”

Emma sat on the bed next to her sister and rested her head on Lucy’s shoulder. “Did it hurt this bad when you met Colton and had to leave him?”

“It hurt so bad any time we had to be apart. Still does. Have you talked about trying to keep it going?”

“He said he wished we could move here, and that he’ll be coming to visit next Friday.”

“That’s so awesome, Em. He’s totally into you.”

“And vice versa. I feel like I’ve lost my mind or something, talking this way about a guy I hadn’t said more than hello to a week ago.”

“When it’s right, it’s right.”

“Like you and Colton. Did you talk to him?”

“Not yet.”

Surprised by Lucy’s unprecedented reticence where Colton was concerned, Emma raised her head and looked her sister in the eye. “What’s that about?” Lucy further surprised her when her eyes went shiny with tears. “Lucy! What’s wrong?”

Lucy spun her engagement ring around on her finger. “I don’t know what the hell is wrong with me. Why can’t I bring this up with him? Why don’t we ever, ever talk about actually getting married or anything beyond what’s for dinner or when we’re going to the city or… Logistics. We talk about logistics.”

“Why is it that you don’t feel you can talk to him about this?”

Lucy sighed. “We both agreed to our current arrangement. I worry that he’d think I was changing the rules on him, and he’d be right.”

“You have to tell him this, Lucy! He’d want to know that you’re unhappy.”

“I’m not unhappy. He makes me so happy.”

“You’re ready for the next step. There’s nothing wrong with letting him know that.”

“What if he’s not ready?”

“If you’re wondering if he still wants you, the answer is yes. Emphatically yes. The guy never takes his eyes off you if you’re in the room. The second you walk through the door, he’s looking at you and only you.”

“I’ve never noticed that.”

“Well, I have, as recently as last night at Will and Cam’s. He loves you, Luce. If something’s bothering you, he’d want to know.”