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“Well, it must be tough when your children grow up,” Cami mused. “Some parents probably enjoy having empty rooms to fill. But I doubt ours will feel the same way.”

“Not all the rooms are empty,” I reminded her. “I won’t be going anywhere for a while.”

My twin sister shot me a searching look. “Don’t do that.”

“What?”

“Don’t be too hard on yourself, Cass. You’re figuring things out.”

“I’m trying,” I sighed.

“You’re taking a class this summer, right?”

“Just one evening class. Statistics, to fulfill that pesky math requirement. Otherwise I’m full time at the bookstore.”

“Did you give anymore thought to what I said about transferring to ASU?”

“One step at a time. I’ll stick with community college for at least one more semester.”

Cami poked me in the side. “You know I will always believe you are awesome.”

There was nothing insincere about the comment. My sister was my biggest cheerleader.

“I know,” I said and gave her a grateful smile before I slowed for a right turn. “Now get out your cash because you’re buying me a burger and strawberry milkshake.”

“I thought you said you were beginning a health food regimen?”

“I am. I’ve just decided it can begin next week.”

We ate in the car with the air conditioning on high and then drove to Cami’s new apartment. The apartment complex was an upscale place on the edge of a desert preserve. I wasn’t surprised to find Dalton Tremaine casually leaning against the building. Cami emitted a girlish squeal of excitement and jumped out of the car before I came to a full stop. She flew into his strong arms without hesitation. I still couldn’t help but be charmed over the way my brilliant, beautiful, incurably sarcastic twin sister had fallen so completely in love but I guess that’s the way it happens. When it happens.

“Welcome home, honey,” Dalton said and Cami responded by kissing him passionately.

Dalton offered me a polite greeting once he managed to disconnect from my sister. He was a good guy. I’d figured that out the first time I met him just about a year ago. I couldn’t think of another man I’d rather see my sister with. And even though my dad grumbled under his breath now and then, especially now that Cami was moving into Dalton’s place, I knew he held Dalton in high regard.

I ended up following Cami inside because Dalton was adamant about unloading the car himself. His broad shoulders and muscled arms were far more effective than I could ever be and it only took him two trips to haul Cami’s eclectic mix of possessions into the apartment. They both tried to get me to stick around for a while, but I gracefully bowed out, figuring they deserved the chance to be alone together.

Cami hugged me on the way to the door. “Thanks for making the trip.”

“It was nice to take a break from the bookstore,” I said, trying to dismiss a nagging sense of melancholy.

Of course I was thrilled for my sister. She’d graduated with honors, secured a fantastic job and was now taking bold new steps in life and love. Yet this still seemed like the end of an era. We’d never again live side by side in the lilac bedroom where we spent a happy childhood.

“I guess I’ll see you at dinner tomorrow?” Cami asked, opening the door.

“Naturally,” I said. “I get off work at six and I’ll come right home.”

She smiled. “Good.”

Before I stepped out into the blazing sunlight I turned my attention to Dalton. “Treat her well or I’ll find a way to kick your ass.”

Dalton looked amused. That was probably an appropriate response when being cheerfully threatened by a blonde chick who barely reached your shoulder and was wearing pink flip-flops. I knew I’d never have to make good on the threat. Dalton worshipped Cami.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” he said. Then he grinned at me as he slung a casual hand over Cami’s shoulders. “Thanks for bringing her home to me, Cassie.”

The door had scarcely closed at my back when I heard Cami squeal. “Put me down you animal!” Then she laughed.

I didn’t hear what came next nor did I want to guess. My phone pinged with a new message as soon as I got behind the wheel of the Toyota. Earlier, while standing in the parking lot at Scratch, I’d texted my boss to confirm my schedule at the bookstore for the upcoming week and I expected this was the response. Remembering that also brought to mind a certain Angry Hot Guy. I hadn’t given a thought to leaning against his car while I set my cup down and tapped out a message on my phone. But he’d come out of nowhere and delivered a penetrating glare that made me feel both uncomfortable and thoroughly undressed. I was not proud of myself for being intrigued.

The interaction was slightly embarrassing but it didn’t matter. My father’s tattoo parlor saw all kinds of people and the chances were almost nonexistent that I’d ever run into him again. There were plenty of other things to think about. Summer loomed ahead and maybe one of these days I’d bite the proverbial bullet and say yes to one of the nice guys who came into the bookstore pretending to be looking for an obscure Tolstoy translation as a way to start a flirty conversation.

As expected, the text was from Davida, the bookstore general manager. I read it, paused to crank up the air conditioner, then reread it in the hopes I had misunderstood the first time.

I hadn’t misunderstood.

“Well, that’s just fucking great,” I said to the empty passenger seat.

And just like that, summer was off to a shitty start.

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