Absolutely Not in Love (Sweater Weather, #7; Appies, #2)

by Jenny Proctor

“Felix, Gracie,” Summer says, gesturing with her fork. “Let me hear it.” I quickly summarize the last few interactions I’ve had with Felix. The underwear encounter. The thing with the mail. The increased frequency with which we’ve been running into each other in the hall. “Then there’s other stuff too,” I say. “Like, my brother just randomly called me last weekend and told me Felix is Maddox’s favorite player. And while I was at the grocery store the other day, I saw Felix in the parking lot, loading this old lady’s groceries into her car like he was an actual bagboy. Suddenly, it feels like he’s everywhere. Coming up in conversations even when I’m not running into him.” “Maybe the universe is trying to tell you something,” Summer says. “And then there’s the fact that he…” I pause, knowing if I finish this sentence, Summer will know exactly who was leaving the symphony concert in a black Audi. “The fact that he what?” Summer asks. I pour myself another glass of wine and take a slow slip. “He was at my symphony concert tonight,” I finally say. “I knew it!” Summer says, her expression triumphant. “I knew there was someone important driving that car.” “I just don’t know what he’s trying to do,” I say. “I’ve told him I don’t date hockey players. Why would he come to my concert if he knows I’m not interested?” Summer taps her lip. “Good point. So, was everyone at the concert tonight only there to see you?” “Summer. You were there, and you saw the crowd. There might have been te...