Not the next day, not the next week, not for four years. And when Gavin did come back, he didn’t seem to remember me at all. He was wild and fun. A bright light that danced into Romeo for a week or two every few years. I loved those weeks. Seeing him always reminded me of hope and friendship and having someone there even on the worst day of your life.

I pick up my wine glass and raise it in the air.

“I’d like to give a toast.”

Veronica, Chloe and Ferran raise their glasses.

“To finding soul mates, to true love, and to friendship.”

“To friendship,” says Ferran.

“And soul mates,” says Chloe.

“To true love,” says Veronica.

We clink glasses and I swallow the local red wine. It has a bright berry flavor that I like.

Ferran clears her throat. “So, correct me if I’m wrong, but you haven’t interacted with him since you were fourteen, right?”

“You’re not wrong.”

I served him a heart sugar cookie that said “Be Mine” at the Sweetheart’s Day baking contest. He told me it was the best cookie he’d ever had. I blushed and stuttered and he sauntered away.

“So how do you know you actually should be with him?” asks Ferran.

“What?”

She shrugs and plays with the stem of her wineglass. “I know I’m the outlier here, but I think you should be careful or you’ll end up choosing the wrong guy and the wrong life because someone else told you it was what you wanted and you listened when you should’ve questioned.”

I sit still, stunned by what she’s saying. I love my life, my job, and even before Erma confirmed it, I loved Gavin.

“I’ve known since I was a kid. And now Miss Erma has seen it. You should be happy for me.”

Ferran grimaces. “Sorry, Jess. I’m just worried about you. Sometimes when you have an objective you get blinders.”

I cross my arms over my chest, uncomfortable with what she’s saying. Then I admit it. “You’re right.”

Veronica smiles. “Like that time she organized the book drive to raise money for the senior citizen zipline trip and all the seniors hated the idea of a zipline, but she wouldn’t listen?”

I groan. That was a terrible idea. In my defense, I meant well.

“Or that time,” says Chloe, “when she tried for weeks to start a cat-walking business in high school and she wouldn’t listen when we told her a dog-walking business would work better.”

I laugh. “Fine. Yes. I have flaws.”

“We have many examples,” says Veronica. “Don’t make me bring up the tsunami preparedness and hurricane drills.”

They all laugh and I roll my eyes. We live in upstate New York, far, far from the ocean. “I was 10.”

“Still should’ve known better,” says Ferran.