Damn. That really was sad.

“I guess it could be fun to visit you in New York,” Mattie mused.

“We could see a Broadway play,” I said.

“Try every pizza by the slice place there is,” she continued.

“Go shopping.”

Our eyes both sparkled at the possibilities.

“It would be fun,” Mattie sighed, clearly romanticizing it all. “I mean, almost as fun as you staying here.”

“And what? Be a bartender-slash-waitress the rest of my life?”

Mattie pursed her lips. “I mean, you do seem happier.”

I glared at her.

Even though I wanted her to be wrong, she wasn’t. I had a glow about me these days. I noticed it every time I passed a mirror. In a lot of ways, this was the least put together I had ever been. My hair was never straightened, my outfits were always casual, and my makeup was hardly done. But those were never the things I noticed lately. Instead, I saw my worn-in smile and the healthy flush that always graced my cheeks. I’d attributed the change to a vacation glow, but it was likely more of an Oliver glow. That boy had me off kilter in the best possible way.

“I am happy,” I said. I wasn’t blind to that fact so there was no use in denying it, but everyone was happy on vacation. That didn’t mean they should pick up their lives and toss away their dreams to create a new reality.

“You’re happy because of Oliver,” Mattie said bluntly.

I threw up my hands. “Yes, Oliver is one reason, but so are you. It’s been nice spending time with my only sister. And now that I’m finally free of the spell my last company had me under, I can realize how overworked I was. Being here has been the reset I needed.”

“And Oliver made you realize that,” she added.

“Why are you so obsessed with talking about him?” I asked, my eyes narrowed.

The door chimed and a small group walked in from the front entrance to Marie’s. I waved in greeting. “Sit wherever you like. I’ll be right with you.”

When I turned back to Mattie, she was staring at me thoughtfully. “I’m glad you’re finally having some fun. I just hope you don’t forget how to have a life once you land this fancy new job.”

My skin bristled. Even after all these weeks, it still bothered me when people insinuated I had no life. I didn’t care if it was partially true, it raised my defenses all the same.

“I know how to have fun. Oliver isn’t making me fun,” I said. “I’ve done plenty over the years.”

“Uh-huh.” Mattie blinked at me.

“I have.”

“Sure.”

“Ugh!” I let out a frustrated groan. “I have! Remember that time I went to Cancún last year?”

“Wasn’t that a work trip?”

“I also joined a book club right before I left Atlanta,” I added.

“Were the books nonfiction?” Mattie asked.

I snapped my mouth shut. “So what if they were?”