Emma and Elliott were coming out of the Chocolate Lounge when we got there. Emma smiled wide when she saw me and stepped forward to give me a hug. “Lane! It’s been so long! It’s so great to see you,” she said.

“You too! I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to the wedding this summer. I was right in the middle of a move, and I couldn’t get away.”

She waved away my excuses. “Don’t even worry about it. This is my husband, Elliott.” She grinned at the word husband like she still wasn’t used to saying it out loud.

I shook his hand. “It’s great to meet you.”

“Likewise,” he said.

I realized almost too late that I needed to introduce Simon. Which meant I needed to introduce Simon as someone. And probably not a “fill-in fiancé.” I was home, with people who went to church with my parents and needed to believe Simon was the real deal. “This is my boyfriend, Simon,” I blurted out.

Emma gave me a funny look. “Um, that diamond on your hand says more than boyfriend.”

I froze, looking at my hand like I didn’t know what she was talking about.

“It only happened yesterday,” Simon said, coming to the rescue. “I guess we’re still getting used to the new status.”

“Sorry. Yes. Fiancé.” I looked at Simon. “I swear you shouldn’t read anything into that.” I took a step closer and wrapped an arm around his waist. He pulled me close, his arm resting across my shoulders. It was the first time we’d really touched. Ever. Maybe handshakes and a random touch here and there, but never a hug. Never anything this personal. Aside from the delicious waves of heat the contact sent coursing through my body, what I felt more than anything was safety.

“You guys are a really cute couple,” Emma said. “Congratulations.”

We said our good-byes, then settled into a back booth of the Chocolate Lounge, Simon leaving John and me alone while he went to order for all of us.

John leaned across the booth. “What. Was. That?”

“What was what?”

“What was the way you looked all glowing and happy in the arms of the guy you are not supposed to be in love with?”

“I was not glowing and happy.”

He only raised his eyebrows, his look saying just how much he didn’t believe me. “Are you sure?”

I hesitated. “Yes?”

“Oh, Lane, what have you done? You were supposed to let that spark die!”

My shoulders slumped. “I have no idea what I’ve done, but it keeps getting messier and messier. I swear when I’m with Jamie I love him. I’m happy. Most of the time, anyway. He’s a great guy.”

“Wait a minute. What’s with the ‘most of the time, anyway’ disclaimer? Why are you qualifying your happiness?”

“I’m not.”

“You just did.”