Page 26 of Romantic

“You’re up early,” my mom says with some surprise as she joins me in the berry patch on the south side of Bumble Cottage.

“I couldn’t sleep, so I decided to do some baking. Is it okay if I steal some berries? Or do you need them all for the cafe?”

“Take as many as you want. There are so many ripe berries right now; it would be a shame to let any go to waste.”

“What do you plan to make?”

“Olallieberry pancakes, plus a berry bundt cake to serve with lunch.” Olallieberries are a local berry similar to blackberries but somehow better.

“Sounds amazing. Let me help”

“And what are you baking?”

“Berry bars. I got in a fight with Brandon last night, and I need to apologize.”

“About Jack?” my mom asks as she picks berries, dropping them in an empty plastic ice cream bucket.

“Surprisingly, no. It was about Pepper.” I tell my mom about the tarantula and seeing Pepper sneak back into her house. She finds it all very funny, which it is. “I just feel terrible, because I shouldn’t have gone over at all. And I said so many dumb things, but the worst was when I accused him of being a bad parent.”

“Annie, how could you?” The shock and disappointment in my mom’s voice intensifies my regret. I kind of hoped she’d say I was making a big deal over nothing. But I know I’m not. Brandon is my friend—and such a good dad. It’s one of my favorite things about him. I can’t believe I said that.

“I don’t know. Probably because he was telling me it was all my fault. And I knew he was right. He was so angry at me, and I hated it. We’ve never fought like that before.”

“Is it because of Jack?”

“I don’t know. Maybe . . . I blame the Narnia closet.”

“What?”

“It’s a funny story, really—except it isn’t.”

I tell her about Pepper locking us up in the small closet. “Brandon also blamed me for that.”

“He has a point. You deserve all this,” my mom cackles. “Why didn’t you tell me about this earlier?” Good question. Probably because the whole incident left me flustered. And also because I feel protective of Brandon. I’m pretty sure he said more than he meant to.

“Because . . . I don’t know . . . before I had resigned myself to being just friends. And now . . .”

“Did he admit he has feelings?”

“Not exactly. And that’s the problem.” Trust me, it’s not easy. I can’t say for sure what he meant by that, but the look on his face as he said those words is seared in my memory. “In fact, he made it clear that he has no plans to date.” I’m mature enough to admit that’s the real reason Pepper’s lie about Brandon setting up a dating profile got to me. Though at the time, I may have wanted to throw something. “He hasn’t asked me out or said anything, but then sometimes he’ll look at me . . . and . . . and he hates Jack. I don’t know what to think.”

“Maybe you’re the one who needs to admit to having feelings.” My mom continues picking berries like she didn’t just toss an emotional grenade at me.

“I . . . no . . . I’m with Jack. If Brandon does suddenly have feelings for me, he’s too late. I’m not risking my relationship with Jack—or my friendship with Brandon and Pepper—over a bunch of nothing.”

“Well, you have to follow your heart. And Jack seems like a great guy, but for what it’s worth, I think Brandon has feelings for you. I would even guess he loves you.” My mom’s words hang in the morning mist. They don’t make me giddy with joy as they might have once. Instead, they make me deeply uneasy and sad. I want them to be true. But I know better. My mom doesn’t know what she’s talking about. Like me, my mom sees romance everywhere. And this time she’s just seeing what she wants to see.

I spent all winter hoping Brandon would notice me. If he were really interested, he would have done something about it, right? Even last night . . . I didn’t mean to put my hand on his chest—that was absolutely an accident. But once my skin was on his, I couldn’t think straight. I blush, thinking about the way his eyes seemed to linger on me. If Brandon had made the slightest move, I would have welcomed it. What if . . . maybe . . . then again . . .

“Brandon doesn’t love me. He’s made that clear, which is fine because I’m not interested.” Until this moment I had no idea I could lie so cooly. I almost convince myself. “Besides, I’m dating Jack. He told me he loved me after two days. I’ve known Brandon for a year, and he’s never made a move.”

“Jack is certainly everything you’ve hoped for.”

“He is.” I pick more berries. “Mom, how do you know when you’re in love?”

“That’s a tricky question without an easy answer. Why do you ask?”

“I always thought I’d know the moment I met my true love. Just like you and dad. But now that I’ve met Jack, I wonder.”