Sally had a restless sleep and woke up tired. She envied Rusty, who was still snoring beside her as she stirred.

With a groan, she reached for her phone to check the time and noticed a missed call notification.

From Nate.

She blinked to clear her vision. She rubbed her eyes and blinked again to make sure she was reading it correctly.

She was.

And her heart skipped out of rhythm.

Why was he calling her? What did he want to say?

Part of her was desperate to call back and find out, but her fragile heart was scared.

“Sally Richmond, you’re not up yet?” Her mother breezed into the room and snapped open the curtains. “You better hurry. Oscar’s due here in less than half an hour.”

Sally swallowed, watching her mother pull a dress from the closet. “This is my favorite one of yours. It always has been. You look like such a dream in it. Oscar won’t know what to do with himself.” She laughed and Sally suddenly felt ill.

Oblivious to her doubts, her mother grabbed Sally’s overnight bag and walked it to the door.

“I’ll take this down for you. Hurry up and shower, get dressed and I’ll make you a peach and blueberry smoothie. You can drink it on the drive over.” Her smile was bright and sunny. “I’m so happy for you, baby girl. You deserve such a sweet, kind gentleman. And you’re going to have a lovely weekend.”

Her mother’s wink stayed in her mind as Sally slipped out of bed and got ready. She didn’t linger in the shower, and although she wasn’t a huge fan of dresses, she didn’t hesitate slipping into her mother’s selection. It was just easier to go with the flow.

Her family was right.

Going away with Oscar for one night would be a good test and would hopefully help her sort out her feelings.

She glanced at the phone on her rumpled bed, thoughts of Nate searing her.

“You okay, sis?” Xavier popped his head into her room. “You look worried.”

Forcing a bright smile, she crossed her arms. “No, I’m fine.”

His keen eyes narrowed in on her. “Not having second thoughts about going away with King Clump Nugget, are you?”

“Get out of my room.” She picked a cushion off the floor and threw it at him.

He snickered and used the door as a shield, slamming it shut before the cushion could hit him.

It fell to the floor and Sally stared at the colorful design—bright and happy, just the way she usually felt.

Turning her back on it, she stared down at the phone and nibbled her thumbnail.

Rusty, woken by the door slam, greeted her with a little whine. She grinned at him and walked around the bed. Sitting on the edge, she petted him until his tail was going crazy.

“Everything’s fine, right, boy?” His tail thumped on the bed. “It has to be. I mean, what choice do I have? Calling Nate back is a bad idea.” At the sound of Nate’s name, Rusty’s tail picked up even more. He jumped to his paws and licked her face. She giggled and moved out of slobbering range. Standing tall, she held his face and reminded him, “I know you still love him. So do I. But calling would only open up a bunch of unwanted feelings. I mean, right? I’m trying to move on. That’s…that’s what I should do.” Her voice trailed off as she gazed around her room, suddenly pining for a different bedroom in a little bungalow for two.

“Sweetie, Oscar’s here!” her mother called from the entryway.

Sally could hear her mother’s joy, her anticipation. She could picture the look that would cross her mother’s face if she knew Nate had called.

Rubbing her forehead, Sally whined in her throat and gave Rusty a quick kiss before heading for the door.

She couldn’t take Nate with her to the cabin. So she left her phone beside her bed and walked down the stairs.

Oscar was waiting for her in the doorway, a dreamy smile on his face.

“You look amazing.” He pecked her cheek like a gentleman, then greeted Rusty. “Hello, boy. Mind if I borrow your mummy for the night?”

Rusty barked his protest, which made Oscar laugh and quickly lead Sally out the door.

Before she slipped into the passenger seat, her mother passed her a purple smoothie and kissed her cheek. “You have fun, darling.”

“Will do, Mom.” She nodded, feeling like a ten-year-old being sent off to camp.

Oscar finished his brief chat with her father before sliding behind the wheel. “Ready to be my navigator?” He grinned.

Sally nodded and sipped her smoothie, licking the sweet milkiness off her top lip before looking straight ahead.

That was what she had to focus on.

Looking ahead.

Not behind.