Her gasp was audible. “You said it wasn’t like that! And wait, those are two different things. He kissed you? Or you simultaneously kissed each other?”

“What difference does it make?”

“You’re not seriously asking me that, are you? It’s a huge difference! Who made the move?”

“He did.”

April squealed so loud I had to hold the phone away from my ear. “Details!”

“There aren’t that many. We were standing in the dark next to the tree, and he said something really sweet, and then the next thing I knew, he kissed me.”

“Did you kiss him back?”

“Um, yes. Very enthusiastically. I’m actually a little embarrassed at how enthusiastically I kissed him back.”

“Why?”

“Because I totally grabbed his ass.”

Another squeal, possibly louder than the first. “So what happened after that?”

I closed my eyes and shook my head. “Grandma Sawyer’s clock on the mantel went off and scared the shit out of us.”

“No!”

“Yep. We jumped apart, he apologized, and then he practically bolted out the door.”

“God, it’s like Cinderella! The clock struck midnight, and the spell was broken.”

“Pretty much.”

“So what are you going to say to him today?”

“I don’t even know exactly what yet—I just feel like something needs to be said. I don’t want things to be awkward between us. We’ve gotten to know each other so much better over the last few days, and I really do want to be friends.”

“And there’s no chance you could be more?”

“No way. Not right now. I have so many other things I need to focus on—finding a house, a job, getting the kids settled . . . and the thought of starting up a relationship again absolutely terrifies me. Not just with Henry, with anyone.”

She sighed. “I get it.”

“I agree he is a great guy, and very attractive, and such a good kisser, but I need to keep my head on straight and my feet on the ground.”

“God, you’re so mature and responsible. Anyone else would be like, ‘Give me all the hot rebound sex right now!’”

Laughing, I put the car in drive. “Yeah, that is not my style. But I better go. I have to be back by noon.”

“Okay. I’ll see you at Mack and Frannie’s for dinner.”

“Bring wine. And wish me luck!”

* * *