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  “I’m so sorry—”

  “Hey, it’s not your fault. It happens. The sad thing is, I think Mom and Dad still love each other. They just got so busy with careers and community and one thing and another, they had no time to remember that they loved each other. It’s easier to start over than to work to make something last.”

  “Well, my parents have definitely worked at it. I think Sarah will be fine when it comes to the marriage. I think it’s a question of surviving the wedding.”

  “Guess you’ll go home for the wedding.”

  He said it like a statement, not a question, but I answered anyway. “Definitely. I’m the maid of honor.”

  It suddenly got very quiet beyond the house. The rain had stopped. I shivered. It was really silly of me to be standing out here in jeans and a long-sleeved shirt, because the rain had brought a definite chill to the air. Everyone else had been smart enough to wander inside where they actually had a fire going.

  “Here,” Parker said, shrugging out of his jacket.

  Before I could protest, he’d draped it over my shoulders. It enveloped me in a cocoon of warmth. “Thanks. I guess I really should go in, but it’s so nice out here.”

  “Feel free to come visit anytime. The beach stays a lot less crowded than the one in front of the hotel.”

  “Thanks for the offer, but I don’t have a car—”

  “You have a cell phone?”

  I wrinkled my brow. “Yeah.”

  “Can I see it?”

  “Sure, it’s nothing fancy. Doesn’t take pictures or anything.”

  I dug it out of my front pocket, handed it to him, and watched in amazement as he began punching buttons.

  “What are you doing?” I asked.

  He handed it back to me with a grin. “Programmed in my number. Now you can call me when you want to come over and I’ll come get you. I do have a car and it’s a lot more reliable than Jordan’s.”

  I took my phone, shoved it back into my pocket. “I’m not going to call you. That’s too much trouble for you.”

  I turned away, looking out on the lake.

  “It’s only too much trouble if I think it is,” he said. “And I wouldn’t.”

  “You might change your mind. Maybe I’ll call every day,” I said without looking at him.

  “I wouldn’t change my mind if you called every hour.”

  I spun around and faced him. “I can’t believe you keep flirting with me.”

  “Why not? I’m interested, and I think you are, too.”

  “No way am I—”

  I don’t remember him moving toward me, or me moving toward him, but we were suddenly kissing….

  And he was skillfully revealing that all my protests were a lie.

  Chapter 13

  Thursday Night Possibilities

  Watch Alicia perform at the Summit Theater

  Pros: Not have a boring night writing to Nick, telling him how much I miss him. Be with people, laugh, have a good time.

  Cons: Possibility of running into Parker, who I actually ran away from Wednesday night after he delivered that incredible, mind-numbing, mouth-melting kiss.

  Stay in my room

  Pros: Lots of time to try to remember what Nick’s kisses are like. They’re hot. I know they are. Not see Parker.

  Cons: Be alone. Lonely. Living what my mother assures me are the best years of my life in isolation.

  I was sitting on my bed, staring at the words I’d written in my decision-maker. After the park closed down at ten, there was going to be a special performance at the Summit Theater, open to all the staff, so we could enjoy the show that we normally might not be able to see because we were working during the performance time.

  I really wanted to go. After all, Alisha would be performing, and everyone I knew planned to be there: Patti, Zoe, Lisa, Jordan. And of course, wherever Jordan was, Ross, Cole, and Parker were sure to follow.

  Which was what originally caused me to pull out my decision-maker. Parker. I so did not want to see him.

  I sat there trying not to relive the humiliation of not pushing Parker away when he latched his mouth onto mine. The humiliation of actually moving closer to him. I could still smell the rain mingling with his tangy scent. I thought I would never be able to smell rain without thinking of him.

  When our mouths had finally unlocked, I’d been breathless and hot and shaking and terrified. And guilty. So guilty.

  I kept telling myself that it was no big deal, that it was just a kiss. But I knew that if I ever learned that Nick had kissed a girl the way that I kissed Parker, it would be so over between us. Would Nick know when he looked at me that I had kissed someone else? Would he be able to tell when he kissed me that another guy had branded his unique taste on my mouth?

  I snatched up my phone and punched his speed-dial number. He answered on the second ring.

  “Hey,” I said, and thought I sounded guilty saying it.

  “Hey, Megan.” I heard him yawn. Had I woken him up? “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. I just wanted to hear your voice.”

  “That’s cool.” He yawned again.

  “Did I wake you?”

  “Yeah, but it’s okay. I was out late last night.”

  “Doing what?”

  Did I sound suspicious, like a jealous shrew?

  “When I got off work, I went to Steak ’n Shake with some of the guys.”

  “Who?”

  “Just guys from work. We got a lot of new summer help. I don’t even know if you know them. Besides, what does it matter?”

  “I just feel like I’m not part of your life right now.”

  “Because you’re not. That was your choice.”

  “I don’t want to fight, Nick.”

  “I don’t either, but this is hard, Megan. I see guys with their girlfriends—”

  “And I see girls with their boyfriends. Look, Nick, I don’t want to get into this. I just wanted to hear your voice and know that you love me.”

  “’Course I do.”

  Not exactly a resounding endorsement.

  “Can you say it?”

  “I love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  We talked a little more about nothing in particular, but I didn’t feel much better than I had before I called. I stared at the pros and cons again.

  There was a knock on the bathroom door and Alisha walked in. “So are you coming to watch the show tonight?”

  She looked so excited, so hopeful, and maybe a little nervous as well. Tonight was a dress rehearsal. Tomorrow night would be the big opening for her. I wanted to be supportive, I really did.

  Pro: Be a good suitemate.

  Con: Be a jerk. Okay, be a coward.

  “I wouldn’t miss it,” I said, giving her a smile that threatened to unhinge my jaw.

  And hoping I wouldn’t live to regret it.

  The afternoon and night seemed to take forever, probably because I spent so much of my time looking over my shoulder. I kept expecting Parker to show up and to suggest we take up where we left off the night before.

  I was sure the slow progression of hours had nothing at all to do with the million and a half people who were wandering through H & G, unfolding T-shirts to look at what was on the front—even though we had samples displayed on the walls—picking up a stuffed toy to purchase, changing their mind halfway to the cash register and putting it on the shelf with the shot glasses. (I still couldn’t figure out why any kid who visited Storybook Land would want a shot glass.)

  There were bells and spoons and thimbles. Little collectibles. And we rotated between the cash register and cleanup, putting everything back so it didn’t look like we’d been invaded by hordes—even though we had been.

  So this particular day was going exceedingly slowly. I told myself that it wasn’t because I was disappointed that Parker hadn’t shown up. I wasn’t disappointed. I was glad.

  So why did I feel so let down?

  It was usuall