Page 48 of The Sweet Spot

“Good, because we’re gonna have fun tonight.” He glances at me as he turns into a swanky residential area. “They go overboard, Wren. Like, in the best way.”

He’s not kidding.

Walking into the Morgans’ New Year’s Eve party on Dallas’ arm is like something out of a movie.

Waiters in tuxedos meet us at the door, offering petit fours and hors d’oeuvres. Others float by with champagne, but Dallas pulls me along, promising we’ll get some later.

“Trust me, I’ve tried,” he laments. “But they know we’re not twenty-one. My mom has them trained.”

A live band plays music in the solarium—they burst into “Rock Around the Clock” as we pass by. Everyone is dressed for the occasion, and it feels as if we’ve been transported back to a sock hop.

Dallas grins at me, nodding toward the back of the bright, spacious house. “C’mon. I want you to meet my parents.”

Mr. and Mrs. Morgan, who look suspiciously like Danny and Sandy fromGrease, are holding court on the back deck, surrounded by their friends. The deck is enormous, emptying out into an endless backyard. It’s surprisingly balmy despite the sharp temperatures tonight, and when I look, I see several outdoor space heaters. Christmas lights and fancy lanterns line the perimeter, creating a cozy glow.

“Mom, Dad, this is my friend Wren. Wren, these are my parents,” Dallas says, his hand resting on the small of my back.

“Welcome, sweetie!” Mrs. Morgan says, clasping my hands. She’s a beautiful, lithe blonde. I see where Dallas gets his looks. “Do enjoy the party. There’s plenty of food and drink, and oh! Make sure you visitla chocolaterie!”

“Thank you! It’s so nice to—”

“Yes, yes, we’re glad you could come,” Mr. Morgan’s booming voice interrupts. He has an infectious grin, red cheeks, and a dark mustache, curled at the edges. I wonder if it’s always like that. He claps Dallas on the back. “Keep out of the wine cellar this time, eh, boyo?”

They laugh uproariously as Dallas leads me away, chuckling. “Looks like they’ve been hitting up the wine cellar, themselves.”

“Aw, they’re having fun.” I poke his belly. “And what’s thechocolaterie? Because I’m all over anything involving chocolate.”

“Then you’re in for a treat. Literally.” He throws his arm around me. “Come on, I’ll show you.”

We step off of the deck and into the backyard. Opulent, white tents surround a swimming pool, where white flowers float serenely across the glowing, blue water. Like the deck, each tent is lit with fairy lights and lanterns. Some feature sitting areas with low couches and chaise lounges, while others boast charcuterie boards of every possible combination. I’ve never seen so much food in my life.

“This is why I told you to come hungry,” Dallas jokes. “Anyway, there’s your chocolate.”

“Holy shit.”

In front of me is a bona fide celebration of chocolate—truffles, brownies, cookies…there’s even a chocolate fountain. A pair of bow-tied bartenders stand at a smaller table nearby, serving chocolate cocktails. “Do those have alcohol? You have to get me one,” I whisper, grabbing Dallas’ arm. Everything is so over the top, and I love it.

“I will.” He gives me a small push. “Go ahead and go nuts…I’ll be right back, promise. I just saw someone I know.”

Nodding, I wander over to the table, unsure of where to start. My mother would love something like this, the creativity, the whimsy. I’m tempted to sneak my phone and take a few pictures so that I can show her later, but I don’t. Heaven forbid I come off as gauche in a crowd like this.

Instead, I pick up a delicate, porcelain plate and begin filling it with treats. I’m reaching for a plump, juicy chocolate strawberry when someone quickly plucks it up. I turn to chastise Dallas for his mischief, but it’s not him.

It’s Luca.

My heart pangs sharply in my chest, letting me know it missed him farmore than I gave it credit for.

The thing is, Luca is friends with Kellan…and Kellan is Dallas’ older brother. I realized this when I started following him on social media and saw the two of them together in pictures. Dallas had mentioned his brother several times, had even told me his name, but I didn’t put two and two together until then.

I couldn’t believe it. Santa Cruz is small, but it’s not that small.

And yet, despite the fact that Kellan and Luca both attend UCSC, our paths never crossed. When Dallas did finally introduce me to Kellan, I didn’t ask about Luca and Kellan didn’t offer any info. Maybe it was guy code, or maybe it seemed irrelevant seeing we’d only met a couple of times way back when. Kellan remembered me, though. I wonder if Dallas told him he was bringing me tonight.

“I thought that was you.” Luca’s light brown eyes twinkle as he puts the strawberry on my plate. “But I wasn’t sure.”

Laughing softly, I glance down at my dress. “I guess I look a little different.”

“You look incredible,” he says, his gaze drifting down the length of me. “Just like Ava Gardner.”

---