I hold up a cute floral dress for Lena’s approval. “What do you think of this one?”

“That’s quite the neckline. Someone you’re trying to impress?” She casts me a knowing glance.

I place the dress back on the rack and lean against it, looking down at the ground with a guilty smile. “Are you trying to ask me something?”

“You know damned well what I’m asking you, Sophie. Have you seen Cole again? You’ve got that cat that ate the cream look on your face. That’s your ‘I’ve been with Cole Tanner’ face, and it’s a look I haven’t seen in a while.”

I run my hands through a rail of midi-skirts to avoid looking at Lena. My sister has always been able to read me like a book, and I don’t want her to read my mind on this occasion, in case she guesses at exactly what Cole and I have been up to.

“As a matter of fact, I have seen him. We met for dinner.”

“Sophie!” Lena scolds. “What would make you want to see him again? It took you forever to get over him. Scrap that—you never got over him. You’re looking to get yourself hurt all over again.”

“This is why I didn’t tell you,” I retaliate. “You’re so judgmental.”

“I’m not judging you. I’m trying to protect you. You get completely blinkered when you’re around that guy. You let him suck you into his little world, yet your own life falls apart.”

“I was twenty-one when we got married. I’m thirty-one now. My eyes are a little more open than they were back then. I’ve been standing on my own two feet for the last decade. He’s not going to sweep me off them that easily.”

Lena shrugs. “You’re a grown woman, Sophie. It’s not my choice. But please, think about what you’re doing and if it’s worth it.”

“Things are different now. He’s changed. He’s grown up a lot. He’s actually taking responsibility for his mistakes. Plus, he’s not with the paper anymore. I don’t have to worry about him jetting off to some hellhole and getting himself blown to smithereens.” I pick up a pair of jeans, check the label, and place them back on the rack. “Did you know that a building collapsed on him in Haiti?”

“Jesus Christ. And to think, you were almost married to that man.”

“Excuse me? I was married to him.”

“I’m not counting it.”

I roll my eyes. “You guys were always so dismissive of the whole relationship.”

“Because we saw the problems coming a mile away. You two were young and caught up in the excitement of traveling the world together. He was the first guy you ever really fell for. You both had these big dreams, but nothing to tie them to. You were star-crossed lovers trying to mash together a married couple’s life.”

“You’re right,” I agree, “and that’s why we have a chance this time. We’ve both gone and done our own thing, and now we’ve found each other again. We can make it work.”

“Are you sure you’re not infatuated with the memory of him? I mean, you haven’t seen Cole in so long—can you really still say that there’s something between you? There can be no way you’re still the same people now.”

“We’ve both changed, but only in ways that will bring us closer together. He’s more stable, I’m less needy.”

“Are you?”

“Yes.”

“I’m not so sure. Cole calls, and you come running. That’s pretty needy.”

I frown at her. “I don’t think so. I’ve missed him, that’s all.”

“Is it really Cole you’ve missed though, or just, you know, being with a man in general? You haven’t really been with anybody, truly been with anybody, since you two split up. Everyone feels good when a handsome man makes them feel special. Cole doesn’t hold the monopoly on pushing women’s buttons.”

“I’m not completely helpless, Lena! I know the difference between feeling flattered and feeling—something else.”

Lena shrugs and casts me an affectionate smile. “Then I won’t say anything more about it. You’re a big girl.” She picks up a dress in my size and holds it up against me. “If you’re looking for something to make his jaw drop, go for this one. Low-cut doesn’t suit you. You’re classier than that.”

It’s a sleeveless chocolate-brown wraparound dress with a tie at the waist; not the sort of thing I’d have picked for myself, but Cole’s words ring in my head: You look sophisticated. Amazing.

The dress looks like something a sophisticated woman would wear. I accept it from Lena with a smile. “Thanks.”

“I’ll say one thing, Sophie. As much as I can’t stand Cole for how he treated you, it’s good to see you smiling again. You’re right. You’re a lot older and wiser now, and I trust your judgment. Maybe I'm too much of a cynic. I’d like to believe that sometimes fate gives us a second chance.”

“It means a lot to me for you to say that.”

“Do Mom and Dad know?”

I make a face. “Of course not.”

Lena laughs. “I think it would give Dad a heart attack. I’ve still got the pictures from the courthouse that day. Dad’s face is livid in every one. You can practically see the daggers he’s staring at Cole.”

“I remember!” I say. I put on my dad’s voice. “Are you nuts, Sophie? You’re twenty-one years old and haven’t even gotten a college education! What’s the rush? Where’s this guy going that you’ve got to tie him down so fast?”

“Sudan, apparently,” Lena quips.

“Oh, haha.”

“What would his parents say?”

“His mom has passed away now. I saw the obituary a few years back.”

“That’s a shame.”

“She was lovely. His dad is so nice. They had a completely different reaction to our parents. I think Cole probably got his impulsive nature from them.”

“At least that’s something. It always helps if family is on board.”

“It does.”

“When are you next seeing him?”

“I’m not sure, but I’m looking forward to it.”

Lena grins. “You look happy.” She rubs my shoulder. “Protect yourself, Sophie. That’s all I say.”

“I will.”

* * *

Lena doesn’t say much as she plaits braids into my hair. Still, I prefer her silence to Mom and Dad’s objections.

“You don’t have to go through with this,” Mom says for the hundredth time. “There’s plenty of time to get married.”

I clasp my necklace into place and stand up. I’m wearing a simple white dress that I bought at a prom shop. It’s nothing special, but I had to wear something.

“As far as I’m concerned, we’re already husband and wife,” I say. “Fiji was amazing.”

Mom purses her lips. “I’m sure it was, in the moment. Vacations can make us lose our inhibitions like that. The thing is, sweetheart, we’ve got to screw our heads back on once the vacation’s over.”

“This isn’t just some holiday romance,” I insist. “We love each other.”

“Then where’s the fire? If Cole loves you, he’ll be there for the long run. This all seems a little impulsive. You’ve had your Fiji ceremony. Isn’t that symbolic enough for now?”

“I want to be his wife.”

Mom pinches the bridge of her nose. I can see the tears welling in her eyes. “I simply don’t want you to do something you’ll regret.”

I turn to face her and take her hands in mine. “I know what I’m doing.”

She sniffs and nods, bowing her head so I won’t see her tears. “I’ll go find your father. We’ll see you there.”

Mom leaves the room. Lena finishes fixing my hair and then pulls me into a hug. “She’s worried about you, that’s all.”

“I don’t get why everybody hates Cole.”

“Nobody hates Cole. It’s all very sudden.”

“When you know, you know.”

“Even if I don’t agree with you, Soph, I admire your guts. The logical part of me wants to shake you and tell you to wait a damned minute, but the romantic in me thinks it’s kind of beautiful. Mom and Dad aren’t on board now, but however things go with Cole, you know we’ll always be right here. We love you.”

“I love you too.”