Page 89 of Look on the Bright Side

“I’ll walk you out,” Lark said. “Back in a flash, ladies.”

It was fully dark now, and the fireflies were twinkling over the beach plums. The shell driveway crunched under their feet, and the salty, comforting smell of low tide hung in the air.

“Thank you for the ride, Dante. I…I’m sorry I took up your whole day.”

“Weirdly enough, this has been one of the best days in a long time,” he said. “For me, anyway, if not for you. No apology necessary.”

They looked at each other for a minute, and though she’d talked so much today, there was a lot more she wanted to say. “Thank you, Dante,” she whispered. “For that day, and for this day, too.”

She was the one who kissed him. Without thinking, without knowing she was about to do it, she was suddenly standing on her tiptoes, her hands on his warm, strong shoulders, her lips against his.

A fleeting kiss, almost platonic. Almost. He looked at her a long second, face unreadable, and she remembered that as far as Dante knew, she was his brother’s girlfriend.

“Sorry,” she whispered. “I…um…yeah. Sorry.”

He cleared his throat. “No, I…yeah, it’s been an emotional day for you. Don’t worry about it. I…I’ll see you soon, I guess.”

“Yes! I’m sure you…yeah! Drive safely, okay?” Her face was burning, and she was glad for the dark.

“Good night,” he said, and he got into his truck and backed out onto the street. She waved as he drove off, then stood there a second, her head swimming.

She’d kissed him. And though the kiss had lasted less than two seconds, the impression was that it had been…amazing.

Except that she probably had just made him wonder what kind of person she was, kissing her boyfriend’s brother. Not cool, Lark. Not classy.

But it had been amazing just the same. With a sigh, she headed back into Joy’s.

“I love him,” Joy said. “Come on in, your mom and I are too full to go to bed. Ellie, didn’t we love him?”

“We loved him,” Mom confirmed. “Too bad you’re fake dating his brother.”

“My thoughts exactly,” Joy said. “Can you ditch the doctor and just swap in the firefighter?”

“Uh…no, not really,” Lark said.

Connery leaped up, barking, and ran to the door.

“Hello?” came Addie’s voice. “Can I come in? Calm down, doggy.” She appeared in the living room. “I knew you were having a party without me,” she said. “Hi, Mommy. Hi, Joy.” She sat next to Lark. “What’s up with you? You’re flushed.”

“Oh. Um…the heat?”

“I’ll say,” Joy said, and she and Mom sputtered in laughter.

“I’m glad you two are getting along,” Addie said. “And one of these days, you’ll tell us what exactly you’re doing here, Mom, since you and Dad are usually welded together.”

“I’m staying with Joy because your father has some messes to clean up, and I’m tired of watching,” Mom said. “Ask your twin how she spent her day.”

“Tell me, twin.”

“Oh! I, um…well, I went to Sofia’s engagement party last night.” Addie looked confused. “The sister of my fake boyfriend?”

“Right, right.”

“And I stayed at his place afterward.”

Addie gasped. “You did not!”

“In the guest room. He barely speaks to me. Trust me, there’s nothing rom-commy about him. And then my car got towed, and his brother gave me a ride home.”

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