“They can come,” Via said, in that quiet, calm, easy way that just slayed Seb. “I obviously have plenty of food.”

“Oh. Are you sure? You’re going to cook for all of us on your birthday?”

She leaned forward, her voice low and conspiratorial. “Don’t you kind of want to see Fin and Tyler in the same room again?”

Seb grinned. Well, she made a good point.

She turned and let Matty capture her attention as they chatted about the hummus and the potential for birthday cake. Seb just watched her. Her color was back and the dullness in her eyes had faded almost completely. Maybe they were overstaying their welcome, he wasn’t sure. He was just glad they got to stay.

FIN ARRIVED AT 5:30 with a backpack full of cheap wine and fancy grape juice for Matty. She’d kissed both Seb and Matty full on the mouth, smelling like sage and lavender, and whisked through the house in a skirt that went to the floor.

She was blindingly beautiful, but Seb found himself completely comfortable around her now that she was simply his friend.

Mary and Tyler arrived together at six, when they would have arrived at Seb’s. Mary had a small gift in tow, and Tyler had delighted Via with a handful of pink carnations. Seb wished he had something to give to Via that would make her whole face go long and open and lit up like that.

He’d settled for being her sous chef while she cooked for everyone. Though he had to admit that it was probably more of a gift for himself than it was for her, standing hip-to-hip at the counter, his elbow brushing hers every so often. Seb held his breath and butchered some tomatoes he was supposed to be dicing when she laid one hand on his shoulder to boost herself up to an overhead cabinet.

He studied his handiwork. “I really can’t tell if I’m making this easier or harder on you by offering my cooking skills.”

She gave up on reaching the spice she’d been grappling for and bit her smile back as she peered at his gelatinous mess of tomato on the cutting board. She looked up at Seb, her eyebrows raised and her bottom lip between her teeth.

“Well, it’ll still taste the same, won’t it?” he asked anxiously.

Via burst out laughing. Seb couldn’t help but drop his eyes to her mouth. “You’re doing fine, Seb.”

He laughed with her but a truth had just come crashing down around his ears. He liked her so much he was willing to torture himself by being around her. His mother-in-law’s advice echoed in his head. Her voice was spooky and ominous, and he knew Muriel would have rolled her eyes at how melodramatic he was being. But he wondered if she was right. He wondered if maybe, just maybe, the adult thing to do here would be to respectfully tell Via of his feelings. No pressure, just information.