Relieved she wasn’t going to push it, I hugged her back. “As long as Nick and Colton let you two out long enough.”

Abby laughed as she stepped to the side, hitching the strap of her purse up. “As if they could stop us.”

Considering that both couples—Abby and Colton, Stephanie and Nick—were experiencing an extended-honeymoon period, I really couldn’t blame them if they’d rather hole up in the house all weekend.

“See you tomorrow.” I wiggled my fingers and then pivoted around. My cell dinged as I climbed into my car, alerting me to a text.

Cranking the air conditioner up, I reached into my purse and pulled out my cell. My breath caught and my stomach took a pleasant tumble as I saw the name on my screen. I couldn’t stop my lips from curving up at the corners.

Brock.

Opening up the text, I felt a silly little grin tugging at my lips when I started reading his message.

Hey Jillybean, change of plans. A few guys are in town. Meeting up with them at Mona’s for a bit. Can you meet me there at 7?

The smile slipped a bit. Who was in town? I gave a quick shake of my head. It didn’t matter. He still wanted to do dinner at the intensely popular steakhouse not too far from Mona’s. Dinner was still happening. Tonight was still happening.

Texting him back that I was okay with it, I placed my phone in the cup holder and then let out a shaky breath. Tonight was going to be the night I proved to Brock I was no longer a little girl.

Brock would no longer think of me as a little sister.

Dragging myself out of the memory, I stared down at my phone. My eyes began to burn and blur. God, I had been such a foolish love-struck idiot back then, but even so, I’d been happy. I’d been willing to take risks.

Because falling for Brock had been a risk. Love was a risk no matter what, and I had been brave—dumb and blind—but brave. When it came to Brock, I dove in headfirst and didn’t come up for air.