Gray: Colorado wasn’t fun.

Gray: It was lame.

He sent it seven minutes ago. Should I play it cool? Keep him guessing?

Evie: Charleston is boring, and Colorado was lame? Is there anywhere you like being?

Three dots appear immediately. I reread what I sent.

Evie: Don’t make it dirty.

Evie: I’m not sexting you.

Gray: I was going to answer Vancouver.

Gray: Went there once.

Gray: Cool city.

Evie: I can’t tell if you’re kidding.

Gray: And I have a new appreciation for Malone’s restroom.

Evie: Okay, now, I can tell.

“He’s hot, right?”

I startle at the sound of Sloane’s voice. “Who?”

“The bartender, Evie.”

“Oh. Yep.”

Gray hasn’t responded, so I click on Noah’s name. He sent me one of the photos our mom sent earlier of her and my dad in front of the Colosseum, looking like total tourists. He added the two of us over their shoulders, appearing wildly out of place.

Noah: Family Christmas card?

I laugh and show it to Sloane. She requests she be added to the photo, which I pass along to Noah.

Gray still hasn’t replied. I reread what I sent him last, debating if I should text him again. I check the message from Logan instead.

Logan: You’re welcome!

Logan: Glad it works.

His graduation gift arrived this morning. It’s a book seal that imprints a circular design, reading From the Library of Dr. Evie Collins. I have a huge book collection I accumulated in Boston and lugged south, which Logan knows. It’s sweet and thoughtful and exactly like him. I sent him a photo of the seal pressed onto the title page of a novel earlier, thanking him and telling him how much I love it.

The bartender reappears with our drinks. Sloane hands me mine before striking up another conversation with him.

My phone lights up with a text from Gray, and I almost upend my cocktail in my haste to grab it. Sloane gives me a weird look before she continues talking. Because I’m acting strange, I hope, not because she saw the name on the screen.

Gray: Are you having fun?

I bite my bottom lip, trying to decide how to respond.

Evie: Yes.

Evie: Would I have seen you this week if you hadn’t been in Colorado?

I regret the message as soon as I send it. Why has no one come up with an Unsend option for texts yet? The regret fades when I read his answer.

Gray: Yes.

Gray: Will I see you tonight?

Evie: Yes.

Gray: Charleston is growing on me.

Evie: What about Colorado?

Gray: Nope. Still lame.

“Come on. Let’s grab a table,” Sloane says.

I look up to see the bartender has disappeared.

“Sure you don’t want to stay by the bar?” I wink.