Page 3

Not that I have a clue.

Neither of us speak until the slamming front door makes us both jump. Theo’s shoulders tense up under his gray tee after his girlfriend just left his house without saying goodbye.

He doesn’t comment, though. He just turns around and asks me, “Eggs and toast or pancakes?”

“Pancakes,” I answer without hesitation.

“Good choice,” he says. “I’ll text Ryan and ask him to cover my cases today so we can spend the day together.”

“Thank you, Teddy,” I reply, my eyes watering again, this time with happy tears. “I’m sorry if my being here causes you problems with Natalie...”

“You’re my best friend,” he says, his back to me again, the muscles flexing as he reaches into a cabinet for pancake batter. “I’d do anything for you.”

Theo has always been the person I run to when things fall apart.

Which might be the problem.

He’s more than my best friend; he’s my everything. The person I can count on to be there for me, no matter what.

And now I realize that I would be a fool to say or do anything to mess that up.

2

Maggie

Two months later…

Finding a pastry chef job in a beach town before tourist season apparently requires either divine intervention or three years of experience making artisanal croissants.

First, they told me to check back in May.

Now it’s almost June and suddenly everyone wants me to check back in July instead.

It’s so frustrating.

Living with Theo was only supposed to be temporary. Two months later, my suitcase is still sitting beside his guest room dresser like a very judgmental roommate.

While I love crashing with Theo, I still feel guilty about Natalie dumping him the day I showed up in town unexpectedly.

Well, that’s not really true.

She never deserved him. But I do hate that it wasn’t his decision to kick her to the curb once and for all.

And knowing the two of them, it’s only a matter of time before they’ll be back together.

When my cell phone rings in the middle of the day on a Monday while Theo’s at work, I answer it out of sheer boredom.

“Hello?” I answer with more cheerfulness than I feel.

“Have you booked your flight yet?” Kendall, my best friend from my old job working for Wyatt’s friend Monty, asks.

“Hey! I was going to do that today,” I assure her.

“Liar! You know, Maggie, I understood when you said you weren’t sure you were up for being my maid of honor after your breakup with Wyatt, with him being the best man and all, but you’re my best friend. I need you at my wedding!”

“I can handle it. I’m doing better,” I assure her. “And I’m sorry I haven’t called lately.”

“It’s fine. You’re going through a tough time, starting over in a new city,” she replies. “But I hope you’re not going to back out. I already paid for your room, by the way.”