“You were right. I need to learn more about this soul mate thing. Take me around town, introduce me to some couples. Help me understand.”

She studies me, clearly skeptical. “You want me to help you understand soul mates?”

I nod.

“On one condition.” She holds up a finger.

“Okay.”

“If I convince you, you stop interfering in my love life.”

She watches me and waits for my response. Finally, I hold out my hand. “Deal.”

There’s no way she’ll ever convince me that this soul mate scheme is real and that she’s meant for Gavin. No way on earth.

We shake on it.

12

Jessie

Winning this bet is going to be like taking candy from a baby. As soon as you start chatting with anyone in Romeo about love, they’ll have a story to share about their brother or cousin or best friend who was matched by Miss Erma. It’ll take a couple hours max to win this bet and get Will to leave me be. I frown and sneak a quick glance at him. To be honest, him letting me be isn’t all that appealing.

He’s in jeans and a Henley that stretches over his shoulders. He looks comfortable and hmm…happy? There’s a shadow of dark stubble on his face and his hair is messy from what looks like a long night of combing his fingers through it while thinking. We’re walking side-by-side down Main Street, and there’s a looseness to his gait and a small smile on his lips. His smile is barely noticeable. Maybe it would be missed by anyone who doesn’t know how to read his face and his subtle show of emotions.

“You like it here, don’t you? You like Romeo,” I ask, surprise in my voice.

"Why do you say that?” His stiff response doesn’t fool me.

“I can’t believe I never noticed before.”

He gives me a sharp look. “Noticed what?”

“Gavin told me you own a penthouse in New York City, a place in London, an apartment in Tokyo, a villa in France, a beachfront home in the Caribbean, and—”

“Gavin was feeling talkative.”

“He said, with all those houses, you choose to spend your weekends and free time in”—I hold my fingers to make air quotes—“‘this boring, musty, empty old heap in the middle of nowhere.’ The question is, why?”

I stop walking. Will slows and turns to face me.

“Why?” he asks, and I’m distracted by the blue of his eyes. They look like the chicory flowers that grow wild in the meadow. I smile. They’re my favorite flower.

“It’s because you like Romeo. Maybe even love it.”

“Is that so?” He raises an eyebrow, and I hold back a smile.