“He is a man,” Chi-Chi said plainly, causing everyone to howl. “And I have seen the way he looks at you. His eyes smile.”

“Do you know when you’ll see him again?” Ellie asked.

“No idea. Once the case is closed, he’ll have to make up time with his son. Plus, he’s still working on renovating his house. Plus he lives a hundred and twenty miles away.”

“Sounds like a good situation. What I mean is, it could be promising. For the future.” Ellie was trying to be reassuring. “Eventually, he’ll finish his house, and his son will be in high school with plenty of things to do.”

“And, from what I’ve noticed, in America, teenagers want little to do with family. They don’t have many rules.” Chi-Chi had been raised in a strict but loving household. Family first, which meant chores, church, school, and more chores.

“That’s true. Even Cullen and I had certain responsibilities. Then again, we didn’t have all the technology either. Twenty years ago, there wasn’t an iPhone to drain your brain, and social media was in its infancy.”

Luna thought for a minute. “Too bad it grew into the monster it is now.”

“Just like so many teenagers.” Chi-Chi laughed.

“I think you’re changing the subject.” Ellie sat up taller. “So you haven’t done the thing yet. Has he kissed you?”

Luna’s eyes went wide. “Why, Ellie Stillwell. How bold of you,” she joked.

“Answer her question.” Chi-Chi resumed the position with her arms folded, knowing the answer.

Luna was full-on blushing at this point. “Yes. And yes, it was won-der-ful. Sweet. Tender.” Her eyes glazed at the memory of the first kiss, the first real kiss in his truck. “But that was the second kiss. The first one was a nose-knock.” She shook her head. “You know the kind when you both go in for it and miss?”

“Do I ever!” Ellie was laughing. “That happened to me and Richard. More than once. The first time we were in a movie theater. I had a bin of popcorn in my lap. He turned sideways. I thought he was reaching for the popcorn and I leaned back. He lost his balance, and our heads banged into each other’s. Popcorn went everywhere.” Ellie smiled at the funny memory.

“Now, that’s funny.” Luna chuckled.

“I have also had a mishap,” Chi-Chi offered. “One time when I was on a date, we were slow dancing. When he tried to kiss me, his hands got tangled in my braids. The more he tried to unravel them the more tangled he became. He spun me around and we almost fell on the floor.” Chi-Chi demonstrated by pulling on several of her two dozen braids, yanking her head from side to side.

At this point, the women were doubled over. “What’s all the hilarity?” Cullen’s voice was heard coming through the adjoining door.