Page 28 of Our Scorching Summer

“We could, but we’re not going to. You have a gondola to ride.” Her brows raise in a stern expression.

“Right, we’re not going to do that because of the gondola.”

“And every other reason under the sun.”

“Uh-huh.”

Her face conveys an undeniable I’m-not-going-to-budge-on-thisexpression, and I respect her stubborn front.

But I’m also going to have so much fun trying to prove her wrong.

We follow the line of people until we’re on the landing.

“Have you thought about any plans for when you’re back? Your birthday’s next month, right?”

Lily’s green eyes stretch with surprise. “Did you put together a profile on me?”

I tilt my head toward her. “What do you mean?”

“Memorizing my tea, and now my birthday. You got a crush on me, Navarro?”

Something like that.“We’ve been friends for two years. It would be weird if I didn’t remember those things.”

“Some of my hookups barely remember my name.” Lily scoffs. “Well, I’m not much better, but y’know what I’m saying.”

“All this time I thought your name was Lucy,” I tease. A sharp nail jabs my side, making me spasm with laughter. I clasp the rail for dear life. “Okay, okay, I’m kidding.”

“I don’t wanna think about it. For once in my life, I don’t know what I’m doing tomorrow, let alone a month from now.”

“We could think of all sorts of fun things to do if you stayed for the rest of the summer.”

“I can’t stay.”

“You—”

“Com licença.” The gondola attendant looks at me.

“Uh,você fala inglês?” I stumble out in my kindergarten-level Portuguese.

“Oh, yes. We have room for two more. The couple in the front, please come down.”

Lily takes a step away from me. “Oh no, we aren’t a—”

“Come on, sweetie pie.” I wrap my arm around her waist, tucking her under my shoulder, and step forward. “We don’t want to hold up the line.”

“Please forgive my husband.” A forced smile plasters on her face as she decides to play along with my schtick. “His faculties are not operating at capacity today. All that drinking.”

“Oh, wife.” I squeeze her tighter into me. “I know you don’t want me to tell everyone how late you kept me up last night with that wicked sex drive of yours.” I shoot the attendant a knowing grin. “We’re newlyweds.”

“My baby muffin, I had to keep you up because you were struggling to finditfor hours.”

I lean down and whisper into her neck. “Finding things is a specialty of mine.”

Lily’s glare is a terrible distraction as she ushers us toward the creaking glass cabin.

I’m going to be sick.

“Maybe we don’t need to do this at all,” I croak.

---