CHAPTER SEVENTEEN #3
I lifted one brow, and my mouth opened in confusion.
“Hedgehogs have spikes. But women don’t really like being associated with anything to do with pigs.
” He nodded like we were having a full-blown, back-and-forth conversation.
“Then I thought, ‘No, she’s a plant person. Maybe I should stick to plants.’” He lit up with excitement.
“Thistles, and nettles, and blackberry bushes definitely have prickles. And have you ever heard of the Chinese Angelica tree?” His eyes bugged out as he held out both index fingers about six inches from each other.
“They have spikes this big on them. I may have fallen down a rabbit hole the other night. There is a distinct difference between thorns, spines, and prickles. Did you know that?”
Nodding slowly, I blinked a few times, still struggling to process this entire exchange.
He shrugged again. “So, you want to go on a date with me, Angelica ? Angelica Porcupine Lionfish.” This time, his smile was on the verge of cheesy, but definitely playful.
My eyes fell to his mouth, and my core clenched involuntarily.
All I wanted to do was say yes. But a voice in the back of my head told me to be cautious. That our families were vying for the same piece of land, and this could only end badly.
“No,” I said softly, hating the way the stars in his eyes shattered. “I’m sorry. But I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
Even his nod was sad. “Can’t blame a guy for trying.
” He turned to go. “Let me know about the subscription box, hmm?” He opened the door and stepped out onto my winter-themed doormat with all the snowflakes on it.
“I like all the plants, by the way. I bet you have really clean air in your house.” He graced me with one more of his killer Jagger McEvoy smiles, then left—his steps quick, like he couldn’t get away from me fast enough.
Fair enough, I just turned him down. He put his heart out there, made himself vulnerable, and I shot him down. I’d want to get the hell away from me too.
I stood in the doorway, the frigid breeze whipping my hair into a frenzy around my head as I heard his truck start up, then back out of the driveway.
Danica appeared as if summoned. “Was that Jagger again?”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
“Did he bring you another plant?” She rubbed her hands back and forth over her arms to keep herself warm since she wore just a long-sleeve gray sweater and jeans.
“Yeah.” My throat grew tight as the cold settled into my toes.
She linked her arm through mine and tugged me back into the house, closing the door behind us. “What happened?”
I clenched my molars tight because I absolutely would not cry over this. I made the right decision saying no. I know I did.
Danica’s hazel-green eyes turned worried. “What happened, Raina?”
“He asked me out on a date,” I whispered.
Her brows lifted in surprise. “Really? What did you say?”
As I hard as I tried to fight them, tears still welled up in my eyes. “I turned him down.”
“And you did that because …?” she dragged out that last word.
Pushing past her, I went to my kitchen and turned on the kettle.
I needed some tea. Tea always settled me when I was agitated.
Within seconds, the gentle roar of the water heating up filled the silence between us.
Danica was the shiest and quietest of the four of us, but she was also the most emotionally rational.
She seemed to have a sixth sense when one of us was spiraling, and suddenly just appeared, acting as the voice of reason, or our shoulder to cry on.
She also had a very gentle way of telling us when we were being stupid and messed up.
Once I had poured us both a cup, and added the oat milk and stevia we both liked, I made my way into my living room.
Normally, if I went this long without speaking to someone who just followed me around the house, it’d be weird.
But this was Danica. So it wasn’t weird at all. She had the patience of a saint.
We settled down on opposite ends of my couch, cradling our mugs.
“I did the right thing, right?” I finally asked.
“Did you?”
“I’m asking you.”
She tucked a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear, hitting me with those expressive green-hazel eyes with the constellation of white specks around the irises. “And I can’t answer that because it isn’t my life. Do you feel like you did the right thing turning down Jagger?”
“Yes?” I exhaled a quick huff though my nose and my shoulders slumped. “No?”
“Both of those were questions.”
“Argh!” I set the mug down on the coffee table and stood up, only to start pacing. “I know. Which is why I need you to tell me if I did the right thing or not. Because I don’t know.”
“The two of you have been at odds with each other for as long as I can remember. Do you remember why?”
“Because we met on a dating app when I lived in Seattle for a few months—and thought I was ready to date—then when we decided to meet in person, I saw him sitting in the café and realized he was way too hot, and probably way more experienced than me. I panicked and ghosted him.”
“Okaaay …”
“Then, when he approached me about it when he recognized me on the island, I turned into this colossally mean, frigid bitch in order to forever keep him away, and that was basically the start of our feud.”
“And have you told him all of this?” she asked, gingerly taking a sip of her tea.
“Most of it,” I said sheepishly, stopping my pacing but not ready to sit down.
“And yet, he still came ’round to ask you out. Because he likes you enough to forgive you.” Her lips twisted, and she shrugged. “I dunno, Raina, it seems like he thinks you’re worth the hassle. I guess the question is: do you feel the same about him? And also, are you ready to move on?”
My shoulders sagged, and I pouted. Reaching out, I gently stroked a leaf of my beautiful, healthy ficus tree, Ferdinand. “I like him,” I whispered.
“Okay …”
I lifted my gaze back to Danica. “I’m just scared.”
Understanding shone back at me in her eyes. “I know you are, honey. But you deserve happiness. You deserve love. You also deserve to experience a real, honest, healthy relationship—we all do—and maybe Jagger McEvoy is the man to give you that.”
“But what if he breaks my heart?” I asked, my jaw aching from how hard I tried to keep my emotions in check.
My cousin shrugged. “Oh, sweetie, but what if he claims it and gives you his in return?”