THE DATING PACT

BOOK 1: KNITTING CLUB GALS

GINGER LI

The Dating Pact

(c) 2022 by Ginger Li

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without written permission from the author. Brief quotations may be used in articles or reviews. For permission requests, write to the author at ginger.li.writes@gmail.com.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any similarities or resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or places is entirely coincidental.

Editing by Liz the Error Eliminator

THANK YOU!

Thank you for reading this book. A portion of all profits will go to organizations dedicated to helping children.

A huge shout out to my early readers and super talented editor. You made my book shine!

Lots of hugs and kisses to E, F, and M. You three brighten up my life with laughter, creativity, and love. Thank you for always being my number one fans.

Finally, a giant, squeezy hug to Teacher T and all our preschool friends. I love making art and playing with you.

CONTENTS

Also by Ginger Li

1.  Prologue: Everly

2.  Everly (Ten months later)

3.  Everly

4.  Wyatt

5.  Everly

6.  Wyatt

7.  Wyatt (Senior Year of College)

8.  Everly

9.  Everly

10.  Wyatt

11.  Wyatt

12.  Everly

13.  Everly

14.  Wyatt

15.  Everly

16.  Everly

17.  Everly

18.  Wyatt

19.  Everly

20.  Wyatt

21.  Everly

22.  Everly

23.  Everly

24.  Wyatt

25.  Everly (1 month later)

26.  Joy

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Also by Ginger Li

About the Author

ALSO BY GINGER LI

Knitting Club Gals Sweet Romance Series

The Dating Pact (Everly and Wyatt)

The Baking Pact (Joy and Aiden)

The Faking Pact (Quinn and Ben)

East Beach High Sweet Romance Series

XOXO, Piper (Book 1)

XOXO, Violet (Book 2)

XOXO, Olivia (Book 3)

Light and Fire YA Fantasy Series

Half-Blood Mage (Book 1)

The Lady Thief (Book 2)

Haven of Smoke and Shadows (Book 3)

A Heart So Dark (Book 4)

Light and Fire Complete Boxset (Books 1-4)

1

PROLOGUE: EVERLY

“Let’s see the ring!”

With one foot slightly forward, I turned my body and held up my left hand. A dozen or so photographers snapped photos while I posed.

Smile bigger, babe. Lukas’s admonishment rang in my head. People love weddings, and the more I’m in the public eye, the better parts I’ll get. Don’t you want me to do well?

Of course I did. I brushed back my long blond hair and dialed my smile up another watt, even though the right-hand side of my face had started to ache. Beside me, Indie grinned for the cameras, her eyes sparkling.

“Who’s your friend?” one of them yelled, probably trying to figure out if Indie was some up-and-coming starlet or a social media influencer. With her long brown hair slicked back into a ponytail and short silver dress, she looked the part.

“My best friend from college.” Bursts of light flashed before me, causing me to see stars. Keeping my practiced smile firmly in place, I tugged my thin jacket closer to my body. It was a chilly December evening, and I hadn’t planned on standing outside for very long. But when we stepped from the car and found ourselves surrounded by paparazzi, my plan to dash into the restaurant without being seen fell apart.

“Is it like this every time you see Lukas?” Indie murmured between smiles.

“Just recently.” Lukas and I met almost a year ago, when I was a senior in college and he was an up-and-coming actor living in LA. Back then, he’d only played supporting characters on television shows, but this past summer, they’d cast him as a lead in a new sci-fi show. And more screen time meant situations such as this became our new norm.

“You just got engaged after Thanksgiving, and rumors are swirling that the wedding will take place very soon. Any hints on when that will be?” one of the photographers asked.

I turned and posed the way that Lukas’s PR manager instructed:

Tongue behind my teeth to make my neck appear slimmer.

Hips tilted back to make legs seem longer.

Relaxed hand on hip and my left foot slightly forward to reveal my better side.

“You’ll all have to wait and see,” I teased. “Sorry to dash, but I’ve got an engagement party to attend.” The words slipped easily from my tongue, making me sound like a woman with a secret. If I hadn’t known that I’d cleaned up vomit earlier today, I would have believed the playful persona I put out too.

Oh, the perks of being a kindergarten teacher.

“Ready, Indie?”

She must have seen the tiredness in my eyes because she grabbed hold of my hand and gave a cheery wave to the photographers as we stepped inside the restaurant.

My shoulders instantly drooped. Lukas’s surprise of a last-minute engagement party was a sweet, romantic gesture, but I’d had a busy week at work, and the drive into LA, which should have taken two hours, ended up taking four thanks to an accident on the freeway.

You can do this. I tried to soften my features and hide my annoyance. Anyone who handled a classroom full of five-year-olds on a daily basis could handle an impromptu engagement party. Right?

“Babe.” Lukas sauntered over with a wide grin on his face. His pale blue dress shirt highlighted his ice-blue eyes, and for a second, I could have been one of his fans. With a jaw that could cut rock and perfectly gelled blond hair, Lukas was so good-looking that it was near impossible to tear your eyes away.

“You look hot. I’ll have a hard time keeping my hands off you.” He pulled me into a tight embrace and leaned in for a kiss.

I tried to relax, but the long drive and facing the paparazzi outside had left me tense. “Sorry I’m late. Traffic was terrible.”

“That’s fine.” The corners of his lips curled upward, and there was a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. “I figured you’d be late, so I told you the party started an hour earlier than it actually does.”

He looked so pleased with his lie; it baffled me. “Because you suspected traffic would be bad?”

“No, because you’re such a careful driver. I mean, sheesh, Ev. I’ve seen grandmothers drive faster than you. You’re such a rule follower.” He attempted to kiss me again, only this time, I turned my face away.

“Well, don’t hold back.” I bit out a tight laugh. Yes, I followed the speed limit. I didn’t see that as something to be embarrassed about.

Lukas’s eyes met mine, his expression repentant. “Don’t be mad. I put all this together for you. Sure, traffic was horrible but all you had to do was show up. It was a lot of effort to set this up at the last minute.”

I was about to tell him that I would have helped him plan if he’d asked me. But somewhere, a camera flashed, and I reminded myself that we were still in public. We’d discuss this later, but for now, I needed to make it through the night.

“Sorry, I had a busy day at work. Jason, who looked sick when his mom dropped him off, vomited all over me.”

Lukas winced. “That’s awful.”

Oh. It sure was. Especially when you’re a sympathetic vomiter. It had taken me about half an hour to stop feeling nauseous myself. “Then there’s Talia, whose parents are going through a messy divorce, and it’s affecting her behavior in class.”

“That’s a sad reality of our times. My parents got divorced, and I’ve heard that fifty percent of marriages end that way. Talia’s lucky to have you as a teacher. You’re one of the most caring people I know.”

“Well, I’m trying my best to help.”

“That’s my girl. You’ve got such a big heart.” He wrapped an arm around my waist and pressed a soft kiss to my cheek.

I breathed in the scent of his familiar aftershave and sighed. Yes, traffic was annoying, but I was glad that we’d gotten time to spend together. I missed him. Our schedules had been so hectic recently that this was the first time we’d seen each other in person since getting engaged.

He gave me another quick kiss before turning his attention to Indie. “Hey there. Great you could make it.”

“Evening, Lukas.” Indie managed a tight smile. “Glad to be here.”

Thank you, I told her with my eyes. My best friend wasn’t exactly Lukas’s biggest fan, mostly because he’d canceled on our last two dates, so I appreciated her attempt at being cordial. She knew how special tonight was supposed to be.

“Is Wyatt coming?” she asked.

I turned to Lukas, hoping the answer was yes. Lukas’s brother, Wyatt, Indie, and I went to college together, but Wyatt had taken a job teaching English in Oakland after graduation, and we’d lost touch. That was one of my biggest regrets, as he and Indie had been my best friends in college. They’d even stayed with my family during a few holiday breaks.

Lukas scowled. “He couldn’t make it. You’d think the guy would at least come down for his brother’s engagement party.”

“To be fair, it’s Thursday, and you only told us about the party on Tuesday.” I tried to hide my disappointment. “I would have loved for my parents and brothers to be here too, but they couldn’t come either.”

Lukas frowned. “He had two days to make it happen.”

Indie’s eyes met mine, and I shook my head slightly. Although coming across as selfish, Lukas was just upset. He missed his younger brother. Since their grandfather’s and mother’s deaths, Wyatt was the only family Lukas had left.

“Thank you for making the trek, Indie,” Lukas said, seemingly regaining his manners. “You’re a loyal friend.” He turned to me and held out a hand. “Ready to make your grand entrance as the future Mrs. Alexander?”

Grand entrance? I raised my brows and wrapped my fingers around his. “Just how many people did you invite?”

“Only our closest friends.”

We walked through the restaurant and into a private room in back. As we entered, about fifty or so pairs of eyes turned to us. Frozen in place, I swallowed hard, searching for a friendly face.

Who were all these people?

“Guess who finally showed up?” Lukas announced as he tugged me forward. A camera flashed in front of me, making me stumble backward in surprise. Lukas caught me in his arm and angled us toward the photographer, tucking me in close to his side.

More photos? I groaned inwardly but posed dutifully while the man snapped a dozen or so pictures. Why was I surprised? Of course Lukas would arrange for a professional photographer to be at the event.

“Evening, Everly.” Thom, Lukas’s agent, joined us and gave me a side hug. A middle-aged, slightly overweight man, he always reminded me of my father. “Care for a drink?”

Grateful for the familiar face, I gave him a genuine smile. “Just the one, thanks. I’m driving.” I planned on nursing the same drink the entire night.

“Better make that two,” Lukas chimed in. “It might help her relax. Ev seems kinda uptight.”

Every muscle in my body stiffened, but I pretended his comment hadn’t stung. When we were alone, Lukas was sweet and understanding. He was only acting rude now because he was stressed out about everything going perfectly.

“You go have some fun, Ev.” Indie shot Lukas a dark look, telling me that she didn’t condone his behavior. “You deserve it.”

“Tough week at work?” Thom asked as we headed over to the drink table.

“You could say that. I’m counting down the days to Christmas break.”

He handed me a glass of white wine. “My mother was a schoolteacher too. Middle school. Anyone working in education has my absolute respect.”

“Thank you.” I clinked glasses with him. “To the future.”

“The future,” Thom repeated with a grin.

More guests came up to congratulate me, and I kept a smile glued to my face while speaking to them all, never knowing when a photographer might appear. So much as a single image of me looking anything less than the joyful bride-to-be, and they’d skewer me online. I’d learned that unfortunate lesson when photos taken straight after our engagement surfaced on the internet. With the whole thing catching me off guard, the shock they’d recorded on my face had been genuine.

OMG. I would totally die if Lukas Alexander proposed to me. He’s such a sweetheart.

Why doesn’t his fiancée look happier?

She should be grateful. Any girl would jump at the chance to be with him.

Who does she think she is anyway? The girl’s a seven at best.

AFTER A WHILE, I had to stop reading.

In my defense, his proposal had taken me completely by surprise. Sure, marriage always loomed in our future, but we’d only been dating for ten months, and I’d wanted a couple years of teaching under my belt before settling down. I’d assumed Lukas was on the same page.

Apparently not.

“This place is swarming with scrumptious men.” Indie slipped in beside me when I finally had a moment to myself. She fanned her flushed face and adjusted her slinky dress. Indie and I were similar heights—five foot four—but whereas I was slim and straight, she was all curves. “I just met Viktor Trumhill from that vampire show, and, spoiler alert, he’s every bit as sexy in real life as he is on screen.”

I grinned at my friend, glad at least one of us was enjoying tonight.

Indie took a sip of her wine. “Where’s your fiancé?”

I pointed to where Lukas and his publicist, Seline, were engaged in a lengthy conversation. Poor guy. He couldn’t even enjoy the party he’d worked so hard on. No doubt the woman would be talking his ear off about work. “I should go check on him. See if he needs rescuing.”

As I crossed the room, several more guests tried to draw me into their conversations, but I politely declined. Part personal and part networking, this was definitely more Lukas’s idea of an engagement party than mine. These types of events were important for his career, but I’d suggest throwing another smaller party in Sunnyvale later so my family and friends could attend.

“Everly, you look stunning tonight.” Seline stepped away from Lukas and leaned forward to air-kiss my cheeks. “That shade of blue’s definitely your color; it brings out your eyes.”

“Thank you.”

“Although it’s a shame you aren’t wearing red,” she said with what appeared to be a slight frown. It was difficult to tell since the skin on her forehead didn’t move. A result of Botox, I assumed. Despite being only a couple years older than me, she’d already had one or two cosmetic procedures done.

“It’s Christmas in two weeks. You’d have looked more festive in red.”

Lukas chuckled. “Don’t worry. We’ll soon get you caught up on what to wear and when. Sel gives great fashion advice.”

I eyed her sequined black dress, its plunging neckline leaving little to the imagination. Seline was gorgeous, with tan skin, long red hair, and legs that went for miles. Her dress fit her like a second skin, making my outfit seem almost prudish in comparison. Next to her, I looked like a young girl playing dress-up.

“You joined us at a good time,” Seline added. “Lukas and I were planning out his schedule. The first thing on the agenda is getting professional engagement shots, so we have something formal to release to the media. What mornings are you free next week? I have a fabulous photographer in mind. She’s only in LA one week a month. The rest of the time she’s in New York.”

My stomach tightened into a knot. “Next week won’t work. The kids and I are practicing for our holiday show. Won’t the photos we took at the park be enough?”

Lukas squeezed my shoulder. “Babe, those informal engagement shots are a great start, but they’re just a teaser. Fans need more exclusive access to Leverly.”

“Leverly?” I raised a brow.

“Sel and I were tossing around some possible couple names. Leverly sounds better than Everkas, don’t you agree?”

Who did they think we were? I highly doubted anyone would be making up couple nicknames for us.

“Lukas hasn’t even told you the most exciting news,” Seline said. “A couple of magazines reached out. They want to showcase young stars in love. It’s not a cover shot, but you’re guaranteed a two-page spread if they can get engagement and wedding photos.”

Hold on a moment. I took a step back. A conversation with Lukas and Seline was like riding one of those magnetic levitating trains that currently infatuated some of my students. Things moved by so fast that everything became a blur.

“I thought we’d agreed to do things privately. Just family and close friends at my parents’ ranch.” An hour north of where I currently lived, it was where I’d always pictured getting married, high on my favorite hilltop overlooking the mountains and ocean.

Seline and Lukas exchanged pointed looks before she finally spoke. “Their place is perfect for a small-town wedding. But we need a venue that can comfortably accommodate four hundred guests. We want to make this the event of the year.”

Four hundred?

As the floor swayed beneath me, I turned to Lukas for support. “Weren’t we thinking something small and intimate? I wanted to try my hand at sewing my own dress and designing the wedding invitations.” I’d always enjoyed being creative ever since I was a child.

Lukas took my hand and rubbed his thumb along my knuckles. “This is going to be a highly publicized event. We’ll hire professionals for everything. Schools don’t let just anybody teach, do they? Of course not. They hire pros. You understand, right?”

Sort of. But I was a decent artist, and I’d sewn my own clothes before.

“And obviously, the guest list was bound to get bigger,” Lukas continued. “We’ll need to invite the rest of the cast, of course, and some social media influencers for the free publicity. Do you remember me telling you that Thom’s putting out some feelers for leading roles in romantic comedies?”

My mind swirled. Vaguely. Most of our video calls were late at night, and I struggled to stay awake after long days spent teaching.

“We’ll need more guests to get better shots at the wedding. It will help movie producers envision me in a romantic lead role. Show the public a gorgeous wedding of Lukas Alexander and his perfect girl, and I’ll be a shoo-in.”

This time, I didn’t fight back the frown. Forget what other people wanted. What about what I wanted? “From the way you’re describing it, this whole thing sounds more like a publicity stunt than two people exchanging vows. You know how important marriage is to me.”

My parents had a rock-solid relationship, and that’s what I wanted. A best friend. A partner in life.

Lukas sighed. “Marriage is also about give-and-take. I’ve given you what you wanted. You live in the burbs, while I live in LA. If I had my way, we’d be sharing my apartment by now.”

He rested his forehead against mine and gazed at me with such a gentle expression that my tension dispersed. “Please don’t be upset. At the end of the day, no matter who attends our wedding, you know that what really matters is this. Us.”

I could never stay mad at him for long. “I guess we can work out a compromise. As long as we’re together, nothing else matters.”

A photographer’s camera flashed, and Lukas grinned, pulling me against him for another few shots. Great. What I’d thought was a special moment between just the two of us had turned into yet another photo op. Was this how our life would be from now on?

By the time we sat down to eat, my stress had soared to an all-time high. Despite my gentle urging, Lukas had indulged in a few celebratory shots with his friends, and I wasn’t looking forward to being on guard all night. Sober Lukas was fun and thoughtful. Whereas Lukas after a few too many drinks was more… unpredictable.

After we had finished our meals, he stood and called for everyone’s attention. “I’d like to propose a toast to my wonderful fiancée, Everly Knight.” By now, there was a slight slur to his words, but, hopefully, no one else noticed. He pulled me to stand beside him. “Look at my future wife. Everly is like my own personal bite-sized doll.”

I cringed when I caught the whiff of alcohol on his breath. He swayed, and I wrapped an arm around his waist, hoping that would be enough to keep him upright. But who was I kidding? With his six-foot frame, he’d easily take us both down if he fell.

Oh, please let that not be the case. I could already imagine the headlines:

Relationship on the rocks. Lukas Alexander drinks to cope with the pain.

Seline, who sat on Lukas’s other side, stood and forced out a laugh. “We can all appreciate the special connection you two share, but it’s getting late, and the servers are handing out dessert.” She placed an arm through his, perhaps to guide him back into his seat, but Lukas jerked away. Seline’s lips pursed, and her dark eyes briefly met mine before she sat.

Guess we were all going to hear what he had to say.

“My future wife is the complete package, the sexy girl next door. Many of you don’t know this, but Everly knew my younger brother, Wyatt, first. They were best friends in college, and freshman year, Wyatt kept saying ‘Ev this,’ and ‘Ev that.’ I assumed Ev was short for Evan because my brother never talked about girls. But when I eventually met Everly, everything clicked into place. It became obvious why Wyatt was infatuated.”

My cheeks heated. I’d heard this story before, but the way Lukas told it now made it sound like Wyatt had feelings for me, which he hadn’t. “There was nothing romantic about our relationship.” Sure, I might’ve had the teeniest crush on him for a while, but since he’d only treated me like a friend, I’d never acted on my feelings.

“Right.” Lukas picked up his glass of wine and drained it. “You’re my good luck charm, Ev. I can’t wait to create a life with you by my side. The sky’s the limit, baby.”

“Everly,” one of his costars called from the crowd, “what do you love about our man Lukas?”

I relaxed my shoulders and slowed my breathing, working to calm my racing heartbeat. “I love that he’s funny, sweet, and talented.”

Lukas tilted his head. “You failed to mention that I’m also devastatingly handsome.”

“That too.” I chuckled. “You make my life more fun.”

“Aw, thanks.” He kissed my shoulder. “She’s right about the fun part. If it weren’t for me, this girl would be at home by nine p.m. sharp every night. Ev’s such a homebody; I wasn’t even sure she’d drive into the city to attend her own engagement party.”

The weight of the crowd’s attention shifted back to me, and I struggled not to look like a deer in headlights. “That’s because it’s a long drive, and I wake up at six to get ready for work.”

“That’s why you’re the best little kindergarten teacher I know. All the boys probably have massive crushes on you. I sure would have.” He playfully grabbed my rear end.

I laughed uncomfortably and swatted his hand away. “Maybe it’s time we get that dessert.”

“That’s my Ev. Always keeping me in check.”

Thankfully, there weren’t any more impromptu speeches, and dinner wrapped up soon after. Once most of the guests left, Lukas pulled me aside and nuzzled my ear.

“Are you sure you can’t stay overnight? We haven’t seen each other since getting engaged.” He slid a hand along my shoulder and down my arm. “Don’t you miss me?”

I let out a small sigh as he trailed kisses along my jaw. As much as I wanted to say yes, I couldn’t. Leaving at eleven meant Indie and I wouldn’t get home till around one in the morning, which made tomorrow a very long day.

“I’m teaching tomorrow,” I murmured. “Why don’t you come home with me since you have Friday off? We could spend the weekend together.”

“Can’t. Jeff’s throwing a party at his place on Saturday. Just call in sick, babe. No one’s going to die if you don’t teach tomorrow.”

My blood turned to ice in my veins. “And no one will die if you don’t attend a party in the Valley,” I snapped. He knew how important my career was to me; those kids were my life.

Lukas raised his hands. “Whoa. Someone’s touchy tonight. Is this a hormonal thing?”

Seriously? I scowled. “No, it isn’t. It’s called expecting you to be a considerate boyfriend. Grow up, Lukas. And call me later, when you sober up.”

I stormed from the restaurant and found Indie outside, scrolling through her phone. Thankfully, the photographers had already left. I couldn’t muster up another fake smile tonight.

“Everything okay?” Indie asked when she saw my face. “Did Lukas say something?”

More like, what didn’t he say? I ran a hand through my hair, which I’d specifically worn down for the party because that’s how he liked it, but he hadn’t said a word about it all evening. “It’s nothing. He just gets a certain way when he drinks. He doesn’t mean half the things he says.”

“Mm-hmm.” Indie studied my face. “Or perhaps the alcohol loosens his inhibitions enough for him to speak the truth.”

I rubbed my temples. It had been a long night, and I was in no mood for this conversation. “Things will improve once our schedules stop being so busy,” I said, trying to reassure myself as much as Indie. I took a few steps toward my car but then paused. Who was I kidding? With work and wedding plans now looming over our heads, things would only get more chaotic from here. If Lukas and I wanted to fix whatever was wrong between us, we needed to work things out now.

I retraced my steps. “Sorry, Indie, but I can’t end tonight like this. I’m going back to talk to him. I hate it when we fight.”

She sighed. “That’s fine. I’ll wait out here.”

Although the restaurant had closed the main dining area, a handful of waitstaff were still in the back room, clearing tables and putting chairs away.

“Have you seen Lukas anywhere?” I asked one of them.

When the man pointed to the hallway leading to the bathrooms, I headed over. I didn’t see Lukas there, but I did spy a couple indulging in a serious make-out session in the corner. The lighting was too dim to recognize them, but I presumed they were guests from our party.

At least someone was enjoying tonight.

Turning away, I pulled out my phone and was about to text Lukas when Indie appeared in front of me.

“Figured I should use the bathroom before we leave, since my bladder’s the size of a pea.” She glanced over my shoulder. “Didn’t realize there was an after-party. Do you know those two?”

“Nope. And we should probably give them some privacy.” I returned my attention to my phone, trying to ignore whatever was going on behind me.

“Uh, Ev?” Indie muttered.

“Yeah—”

“Oh, Seline,” the man moaned.

I sucked in a sharp breath and, against my better judgment, peered over my shoulder to study the couple embracing in the shadows.

Dark-blue slacks.

Mussed-up dirty blond hair.

A pale blue shirt straining over broad shoulders.

No. My heart stuttered in recognition. It couldn’t be.

“Lukas!” I said, my voice sharp as a whip.

The moaning stopped, and the man jerked away.

“Ev?” He untangled his body from Seline, who stood slumped against the wall, a bright smear of red lipstick staining his mouth. “What are you doing here? I thought you left.”

As my eyes shot from Lukas to Seline and back again, I struggled to get my head around what I was seeing. It was like some horrible nightmare. How could he betray me like this?

“It’s not what you think.” Lukas held up his hands as if to placate a wild animal, which, given how much I wanted to scream, wasn’t too far off the mark.

“You mean I didn’t just see you making out with your publicist?”

“Yes. I mean, no. Shoot.” He scrubbed a hand over his mouth, smearing the lipstick even more so he looked like some kind of bizarre clown. “We were discussing strategies to get my name out there and one thing led to another. It was an honest mistake.” He took another step closer, and I backed away, shaking my head in disgust.

How could I have been so stupid when the signs were all there? The canceled dates; the terse, “I’m busy, talk later,” text messages; the phone calls ridiculously late at night because he’d been stuck at a “work” event. How many of those lame excuses revolved around Seline?

Sick to my stomach, I tore the engagement ring from my finger and flung it in his direction. “It’s over.”

“You can’t mean that. Wait!” Lukas lunged forward, but I slapped his hand away.

“Don’t message or call me ever again.”

His face crumpled. “Please. You have to forgive me. We’re supposed to be a team.”

I shot him a dark look. “Looks like you have a new teammate.” With that, I turned and allowed Indie to lead me away.

2

EVERLY (TEN MONTHS LATER)

How many Christmas trees are too many?

Two?

Five?

Nine?

Some might say that owning nine Christmas trees was a tad… excessive, but for me, it was the perfect number.

I adjusted one of the stars on the miniature tree (number five) sitting on my coffee table and stepped back to admire its sparkly gold ornaments.

Perfect.

Indie placed the obligatory tray of carrot and cucumber sticks on our dining table, next to my porcelain tree (number four). She always put out a plate of veggies, despite knowing everyone would ignore them and focus instead on the real star of the night: Joy’s cinnamon buns. When Joy messaged knitting club earlier this week to say that she’d perfected the recipe, I’d insisted she bring a batch to our meeting.

“Looks good, Ev.”

I shot Indie a grateful look. That she didn’t make a fuss about our house already looking like a craft store vomited all of its Christmas decorations inside when it was still only October made her one of my favorite people.

Indie and I had been best friends ever since we were roommates in freshman year. She knew everything about me, including my favorite color (pink), my shoe size (same as hers), how I took my coffee in the morning (ninety percent oat milk with a splash of coffee), and why I currently owned nine Christmas trees (my ex-boyfriend).

After breaking up with Lukas, I deleted my social media accounts, avoided gossip websites like the plague, and completely ignored the magazines at the checkout line. But last week, when I caved and flipped through a magazine to read an article about my favorite musician, I spotted him: Lukas Alexander.

My no-good, lying, cheating, pain-in-the-you-know-what ex.

It was a half-page spread of celebrities photographed at movie premieres, and there he was, front and center, getting all cozy with some up-and-coming model. It had been almost a year since we broke up, and I was definitely over him. Still, that didn’t mean that seeing him again didn’t send my heart through the shredder and my feet straight to the nearest craft store.

And that’s how I ended up with Christmas trees six, seven, eight, and nine.

As Indie placed four identical white pillar candles on the table, the doorbell rang. “I’ll get it,” she trilled. “That’ll be Quinn and Joy.”

I adjusted the garland above the fireplace before making my way over to the fridge to pull out the white wine. Our knitting club consisted of four gals who met weekly to knit or, in my case, sew. Indie officially started the club six months ago. As an avid knitter, she always got excited whenever she noticed fellow enthusiasts “knitting in the wild.” So when she saw Quinn working on a blanket in a café, she invited her over to hang out. And when I found out that my brother’s tenant, a single mom named Joy, enjoyed knitting as well, I invited her to join us.

“The place looks amazing.” Joy curled me into her arms and gave me a hug. “I have to bring Jasper and Leo over some time. They love everything Christmas.”

I took a long sniff and smiled. Joy always smelled delicious.

“Actually, on second thought,” she said, “perhaps I shouldn’t bring them over. They’d probably destroy this place within minutes.”

She wasn’t exaggerating. I’d babysat her six-year-old twins a few times, and although they were the sweetest, it did feel as if they were constantly on the verge of breaking something.

“Thanks for hosting tonight.” Quinn straightened her cream blouse and gazed around the living room. She was already tall, but in her heels and with her hair tied up in a high ponytail, she towered over Indie and me. Quinn ran her hand over the mural of pink peonies I’d painted on the entryway walls. “This is gorgeous. It looks like expensive wallpaper.”

“Thanks.” Her compliment made me glow inside. I loved flowers, and peonies—with their showy, romantic blooms—were my favorite.

“Would you be interested in painting something for the shop?” Joy asked, standing next to Quinn to admire my work. She owned a plant store in Mermaid Cove, a town just south of Sunnyvale. “It’s always nice to change things up a bit. Plus, it’ll bring people inside for Instagram shots alone.”

“Sure, I’m free most nights,” I said.

That’s my Ev. She’s such a homebody.

I shook my head, attempting to dislodge Lukas’s digs from my thoughts. Was that why he’d cheated on me? Because I wasn’t as exciting as Seline?

“Perfect. Let’s do it sometime after Thanksgiving, then. That’ll give me some time to figure out what I want.” Joy set her bag on the dining table and pulled out a plate of swirly sweet treats. “Who’s ready for some cinnamon rolls? They should still be warm since I pulled them out of the oven just before coming over.”

I followed the tantalizing aroma, picked up a bun, and took a bite. It was delicious—sweet with icing and gooey warm.

Joy sat across the table and tied up her black hair into a ponytail. “I can’t tell you how much I needed knitting club tonight. Well, that and some serious carb therapy. A difficult customer came into the store today, demanding to return two dead plants. Not almost dead. We’re talking crispy-brown-leaves-dangling-over-the-side-of-the-pot-ain’t-no-one-going-to-revive-them dead.”

Quinn took a seat beside Joy while Indie sat next to me and pulled the candles on the table closer.

I poured Joy an extra-full glass of wine. “What did you do?”

She sipped the wine and sighed. “Told him it wasn’t my fault he annihilated his houseplants. Pothos and snake plants might be hardy, but they still need watering. But that wasn’t the worst of it. When I got home, the babysitter told me that the boys had clogged the toilet. Again. It was disgusting.”

We all pulled a face.

“Have you talked to my brother?” I asked. “Maybe he needs to check out your plumbing.” Aiden owned a duplex and rented out one unit to Joy and her two boys while living in the other.

Joy’s dark brown eyes lit up. “Oh, what I wouldn’t give for that Viking of a man to come over and fix my plumbing.”

Beside me, Indie snorted. I wrinkled my nose. Gross. “That’s my brother you’re talking about, and I don’t want to think about him working on anyone’s plumbing.”

Joy laughed. “Don’t worry. Aiden’s a good landlord, and I just like to tease him. That’s all. He’s so serious all the time. Someone needs to show him how to let his hair down and have some fun. Sometimes, it’s hard to believe he’s related to you and Ben.”

She was right. My other brother, Ben, was easygoing and quite popular with the ladies.

“Now, if I lived next door to Ben, that would be a different story. I wouldn’t even know how to begin to explain the revolving door of girls to my boys,” Joy said.

Quinn adjusted her dark-rimmed glasses and arched a perfectly manicured brow. “Sleepovers?”

“That’s one way of putting it.” Indie passed out napkins and helped herself to a cinnamon roll. “You gotta hand it to him, though. At least he’s out there, meeting people. I mean, look at us. Is it wrong that this is the social highlight of my week? When was the last time any of us did something fun? Or better yet, when was the last time any of us went on a date?”

Quinn pulled her knitting needles from her bag, avoiding Indie’s gaze. “I’ve been busy at work,” she said quietly.

“And I’ve got the boys,” Joy added.

Dating? I shuddered. No, thank you. I’d had enough experience with men to last me a lifetime. After my breakup with Lukas ended in a horribly public way, I temporarily moved back in with my parents just to get away from it all. Thankfully, things were better now that he’d moved on.

“See?” Indie took an indignant bite and waved her half-eaten pastry in the air. “This is what I’m talking about. I had an epiphany at work on Friday—there’s absolutely nothing wrong with the four of us.”

The room fell silent.

“Um, thanks?” I giggled.

Joy snickered. “Have you been working a few too many hours at the library again?”

“No. I love my job and I have a great work-life balance,” Indie huffed. “Hear me out. We’re four supremely interesting and attractive women. The world is our oyster. Men should be lining up to get to know us. And yet we live like nuns. It’s shameful.”

Joy gave her a wry smile. “Speak for yourself. I know why I’m not dating. Guys see a single mother of two, and it’s like their interest shrivels up and dies. Literally. I’ve seen it disappear before my eyes. Poof.”

“That’s not right.” Indie licked her fingers, then grabbed her knitting needles and began knitting furiously. “You’re a beautiful Filipino goddess who owns a business, is single-handedly raising two amazing boys, and makes delicious cinnamon rolls.”

Joy sighed. “From your mouth to some hot male specimen’s ears. In my mid-twenties, I was perfectly fine with the knowledge it would just be the boys and me. But now that I’m twenty-nine, it’s like this monster’s awoken inside me. I don’t want to date; I want to find my mate.”

Hmm. Sounded like Indie was supplying a certain someone with paranormal romance books again.

“But I won’t settle for just anyone,” Joy added. “My boys already have a father who’s never around. I’m not letting anyone into my life unless he’s willing to commit to all three of us.”

I reached over and squeezed her hand. “You’ll find someone special. I know it.” Although I’d given up on meeting anyone, I still believed in happy endings for my friends.

“You’re not alone,” Indie said. “We’re all in the same boat, even Quinn, and she looks like a freaking model.”

Quinn looked up from her knitting, her eyes wide. “You’re exaggerating. I’m not that attractive.”

Indie snorted out a laugh. “Have you looked at yourself in the mirror? You’re gorgeous, and you’re like what, five foot nine?”

“Five ten.”

Indie nodded and returned to her knitting, her needles moving at a less frenzied pace. “Compared to shorties like Everly and me, you’re Amazonian. Plus, you’re one of the smartest people I know. Honestly, if you weren’t so nice, I’d totally be jealous of you.”

Quinn opened her mouth as if to protest, but Indie continued, “Under those dowdy clothes, you have a smoking-hot body. I saw you at the beach. You’ve got killer curves.”

As a pink hue spread across Quinn’s golden skin, I decided to step in before she made it to neon red. “What Indie’s trying to say is that you’re stunning.”

“Thank you.” Quinn cleared her throat and took a sip of her water. “Regardless of what you might think of my appearance, guys get intimidated once they find out what I do for a living. And while I’m surrounded by men at work, I prefer not to date colleagues. I’ve had bad experiences in the past.”

Our group groaned as one. We all remembered the jerk who told Quinn she should keep her opinions to herself because she was a lot less pretty when she sounded intelligent. Quinn was a data scientist. To be honest, I still wasn’t entirely sure what she did. Whenever she started explaining mathematical modeling, my thoughts kind of drifted off.

I was more of a words and images type of gal.

“Good. The trash took itself out then,” Indie insisted. “Any guy who can’t handle your intellect is a loser. Period. And, like all of you, I’ve also been unlucky in the male department.”

I was highly doubtful of that. “You go out with a new guy almost every week.”

Indie frowned. “True, but the guys I attract aren’t interested in relationships. I’m tired of ‘situationships,’ and I’m tired of not finding my Mr. Right, which is why I’ve come up with the perfect solution for all of us. We are making a dating pact.”

“A what?” I asked.

Indie leaned closer, her bright red lips curving up in a grin. “A dating pact. I propose that we team up and help each other find quality men.”

“I’m in,” Joy said. She swayed her arms and danced in her chair. “Bring on the quality men.”

I wasn’t so sure. Indie was always coming up with some grand scheme or another. Some of which were great, like adding a compost bin to the back of the garden, and others that didn’t end so well, like the time she watched a food documentary then convinced me to join her in a vegan, no-sugar lifestyle. We both cracked within half a day.

“What would this pact entail?” I asked.

“We’ll each take turns going on dates set up by the others,” Indie explained. “It’s the ultimate matchmaking situation. Individually, we all have men in our lives who might not be a good fit for us but who’d be a great fit for someone else. Sure, we could find guys on dating apps, but this way, we meet friends of friends. The guys are all pre-vetted.”

A few single dads from school sprang to mind. I taught their kids, so I’d never date them, but they seemed like quality guys. Perhaps Indie was onto something this time.

Quinn inclined her head and tapped her chin. “You’re suggesting we harness the power of our social networks to enlarge the pool of potential men and increase our odds of finding suitable partners. Probability-wise, that makes sense.”

“See? I’ve got Quinn’s support.” Indie pulled a glass jar off the kitchen counter and showed us the folded slips of paper inside. “Each of these has a number written on it. Everyone will reach in, and the number you select decides the order in which we’re doing this.”

Wow. She had this all figured out. The plan seemed logical and, for her, surprisingly normal; however, I couldn’t help but wait for the other shoe to drop. This was Indie we were talking about, after all. Like some modern-day Lady Godiva, my best friend once organized a crowd of students to streak across the football field during homecoming to protest the differences in funding for female and male college athletes.

Indie lit the four candles in front of her. “Fire always makes things a bit more exciting.” She waggled her eyebrows and then dimmed the lights in the room.

“Spooky,” Joy whispered. “All we need now is a Ouija board.”

Quinn and I laughed as knitting club took an unexpectedly weird turn.

Indie silenced us with a look as she returned to the table, then leaned forward until the candlelight illuminated only the bottom half of her face.

An icy shiver rippled down my spine.

“Oh, great spirits of the past.” Indie gazed at the ceiling and raised both hands in the air. “We call upon Aphrodite, Hera, Hathor, Frigg—”

“Wait a minute, Frigg who?” Joy asked.

“She’s naming different goddesses,” Quinn murmured. “Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love, Hera’s the Greek goddess of marriage, Hathor is the Egyptian goddess of love, and Frigg’s the Norse goddess of fertility.” Quinn paused when she noticed Joy and me gawking at her. “Didn’t you two pay attention in history class?”

I chuckled. “Sorry, I must have missed the lecture on ancient love goddesses.”

Joy raised her hands and shook her head. “Don’t look at me. The only thing I remember from history class was Henry the eighth having six wives.”

“Ahem, ladies.” Indie gave us a pointed look. “If you’re finished, may I proceed?”

“Of course.” I fought to keep a straight face. “Call upon all the goddesses you want.”

“Thank you. As I was saying, we call upon these ancient women to bestow upon us the insight and persistence to find our Mr. Rights.”

Quinn cleared her throat and adjusted her glasses. “Actually, it’s more like Mr. Good Enoughs. The idea of soul mates doesn’t make sense. There are hundreds of men that we’d be perfectly compatible with.”

Indie sighed loudly and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Okay. Fine. We call upon the powers that be to help us meet some decent men.”

I raised my hand. “I’d be happy to introduce you to guys, but do I have to be a part of this? Because, frankly, love and marriage are overrated.”

Three pairs of eyes turned to me, all of them filled with sympathy. They knew my train wreck of a story. Heck, most of America knew it.

Indie’s expression softened. “Yes, Everly. This is for all of us. You, especially, need to be a part of this. It’s time to move on.”

A whisper of something—fear? sadness?—stirred deep within. Once, Lukas had been my everything, and then he broke my heart. I hated how our breakup still affected me.

“Are you ready to start dating?” Indie asked.

I wasn’t sure I’d ever be fully ready to put myself out there again, but I wanted to be free. I raised a fist. “Go, Team Aphrodite.”

“That’s the spirit.” Indie offered the jar around the table, and we each pulled out a slip of paper. “Don’t unfold them yet,” she cautioned. “Before we find out our order, we need to manifest our happily-ever-afters. Close your eyes and imagine your perfect guy.”

“That’s easy.” Joy shut her eyes. “I’m picturing a shirtless Thor.”

Indie shook her head. “It doesn’t have to be a specific person. You can also visualize characteristics you find desirable. Such as intelligence.”

“Or ambition,” Quinn said with her eyes closed.

“Or shoe size?” Joy asked, her eyes still squeezed shut. “Because I’m thinking extra-large.”

My shoulders trembled as I struggled to not laugh out loud. Frigg probably wouldn’t have appreciated me mocking the ceremony.

“Focus!” Indie ordered. “Imagine the man you want to spend the rest of your life with.”

I shut my eyes and tried doing as she said. My mind immediately came up with Lukas, and my jaw bunched. He was the last person I should be thinking about. I attempted to push all thoughts of my ex away, but the more I tried not thinking about him, the clearer his image became. Blue eyes that always seemed to find me in a room. The way the right-hand side of his mouth always lifted slightly higher than the other, as if he was privy to something I wasn’t.

Like the fact that he was cheating on me with his publicist.

“Everyone picturing their ideal guy?” Indie asked.

Ugh. Lukas’s face stubbornly remained in my thoughts, mocking me.

“Mine’s anyone but Ben,” Quinn muttered.

My older brother replaced Lukas in my head. When I’d introduced him and Quinn, they’d taken an immediate disliking to each other, which was surprising given that my brother was usually so easygoing.

“My dream guy has great hair and muscular arms,” Joy murmured.

Ben’s image disappeared, and now I pictured… Chewbacca: one of Ben’s favorite characters from Star Wars.

Come on, brain. Enough playing around. Time to picture our perfect guy.

“Okay, ladies,” Indie said. “It’s time to open your eyes and unfold your slips of paper.”

“I got number two,” Joy said.

My eyes fluttered open.

“Three.” Quinn showed us her paper.

Indie and I stared at each other. That meant only one and four remained.

Indie opened her piece of paper and held it up to me. “Four.”

That meant…

My unfolded slip of paper confirmed it.

“I can’t go first,” I blurted out. “I imagined dating Chewbacca.”

“Interesting choice,” Quinn said. “Tall, hairy, and… non-vocal.”

Indie blew out the candles and turned the lights back on. “Too late. The goddesses have spoken. You’re first, Ev. We’ll all try our best to help you meet Mr. Right…” She eyed Quinn before continuing, “Mr. Good Enough.”

“Wow. That sounds way less romantic,” Joy said.

“Practical can be romantic,” Quinn said.

Joy raised her eyebrows. “I’ll be sure to keep that in mind when it’s your turn.”

“How many dates do I have to go on?” I asked.

“At least three,” Indie said.

That didn’t sound too bad. I could handle three dates.

“Three’s not nearly enough,” Joy protested. “We’re trying to find mates here. How about thirty?”

Yikes. That was way more than I’d anticipated. Especially when I hadn’t dated anyone since Lukas.

“Instead of setting a number, perhaps we should set a time limit,” Quinn said. “If Everly doesn’t like any of the guys, we accept it and move on to Joy. There shouldn’t be any pressure to make this work.”

Yes! Listen to her beautiful logical mind.

“How about two months?” Indie suggested. “That’s doable, and we could spread the dates out.”

I did a quick mental calculation. It was early October, so my turn would be over by early December—approximately one year after Lukas and I broke up. A sourness coated my mouth as that familiar mixture of anger and hurt with a splash of bitterness filled my heart.

Indie’s eyes met mine; she must have realized the timing just as I had. You okay with this? her eyes seemed to ask.

I wasn’t comfortable with the plan, but I didn’t want Lukas to ruin my life any longer. “Let’s find me my Chewbacca.”

3

EVERLY

By Sunday morning, the shock of what happened at Thursday night’s knitting club had worn off, and I woke up feeling hopeful. While I still wasn’t sure the dating pact would work, it was a gorgeous fall morning, and today, I planned to put up Halloween decorations outside.

Last year, I’d set out a couple of pumpkins on my front porch, but this year, I was going ten steps further and adding gravestones, covering my bushes in lights, hanging up witches’ hats, and putting up inflatables. Nothing too scary, as I didn’t want to frighten away young children, but enough razzle-dazzle to turn my home into a trick-or-treating destination.

Really? Don’t you think that’s tacky?

I pushed aside Lukas’s disapproving comments. At my old place, I’d never dreamed of being this ambitious since he never understood my infatuation with the holidays. However, now that I was single, I was determined to cover my bushes with so many purple and green lights that they could see my home from outer space. This was my life and my house. I loved Halloween and Christmas, and I chose to surround myself with people who supported my obsession with the holidays, such as my family. And that’s why I was currently heading north to my parents’ ranch. They’d offered to donate a few pumpkins and inflatables to the cause.

While driving along the dirt road leading to the main house, I passed their rental unit and noticed a blue SUV parked outside. Were they taking in more renters? As I made a mental note to ask them, my phone buzzed. I pulled up next to my brother Aiden’s car and checked my messages.

Quinn: You free this Friday night?

Me: Sure. Why?

Quinn: I got you a date

WOW. That was fast.

Indie: See? My genius idea’s working already!

Me: Great

Indie: Is that sarcasm I detect?

Quinn: Don’t worry. I’ve known the guy since we were kids. Twenty-eight, never been married, MBA degree, good teeth, smells nice

Indie: Score one for personal hygiene!

Quinn: Can I give him your number?

Me: Um… sure?

Joy: This is a great start!

Joy: Also, someone please send help. My toilet’s clogged… again

I SUPPRESSED A GIGGLE.

Somebody tapped on my window. “You doing okay in there, Everkins?”

I slid my phone back into my purse and got out of my car. “Sure am.”

Dad wrapped me in a tight hug. “It’s good to see you. Your mother’s been shopping up a storm. We’ve got about ten pumpkins and a few larger lawn decorations.”

“Thanks, Dad.” I eyed my tiny Prius. “I’ll probably need to make another trip.”

“Don’t worry. Your brothers are here. One of them should be able to help bring some stuff back.”

With us kids all living nearby, more often than not, we found ourselves at the ranch on Sunday mornings. It was like an unspoken arrangement. Even Aiden, with his busy job as a police officer, always did his best to be there for Sunday brunch.

“By the way, we’re hosting a new guest.”

“I planned to ask you about that.” I eyed the tiny house on the hill. “Is this an actual renter? Or another B&B guest?”

Ben, Aiden, and I hadn’t grown up on the ranch, but in my senior year of high school, Dad and Mom sold our childhood home and moved here to help our grandmother run Knight Ranch. Sadly, Nana died during my freshman year in college, but my parents stayed put. It was a beautiful place, with a small lake, fields for the cows to roam, blueberry and raspberry bushes, and several small buildings, one of them being the rental unit.

“It’s a B&B guest,” Dad said.

“You sure that’s a good idea? Remember what happened last time?”

He let out a low, rumbling laugh. “Like I’d forget. One doesn’t meet that many nudists nowadays.”

I laughed with him. While cooking breakfast, Mom had been the first to spy their renter in the buff. She’d called for my father, and they’d both gone outside to explain that clothes were not optional when walking around the property. The man had argued that he felt stifled when unable to walk in his natural state. When they failed to reach a compromise, my parents refunded the guest, and he left. I’d assumed that would be the last of their B&B experiences, but apparently, Mom and Dad were braver than I realized.

“What if this new renter also enjoys the breeze on their bum?” I asked as we stepped inside the house.

“Don’t worry. I have it on good authority that he’ll remain fully clothed when outside.”

As we walked through the living room, we passed by the wall of family photos, and I paused to study my favorite picture of my brothers and me at the beach. Aiden would have been in second or third grade at the time, and he and I crouched beside a sweet, round-faced Ben, half-buried in the sand. Our skin was a golden brown from hours spent outside, and we had giant smiles on our faces. Although I couldn’t recall exactly when our parents took that photo, I could practically feel the toasty sun on my skin and smell the briny beach air.

I turned to face my father, my thoughts coming back to the issue at hand. “Did you do a better job of vetting this guy? He might not be a nudist, but what if he’s a murderer?” Indie had gone through a brief period where she devoured podcasts on serial killers. I never listened, but she always shared some of the more gruesome details with me later.

“Is that Everly I hear?” Ben called out from the kitchen. “Quick. Grab the bacon before she sees it. You know what happens whenever she gets near a pork product.”

Brothers!

Ben’s laughter greeted me as I stepped into the kitchen and glared hard at the two grown men seated at the table. My brothers and I were only a few years apart, and when we were kids, people often used to mistake us for triplets. But once the boys hit junior high, they’d shot up like sunflowers.

Guess I was the only one blessed with the short genes.

Ben was lanky, the tallest of us three, with Aiden trailing close behind.

Neither of them even bothered to hide the fact that they were shoveling strips of bacon onto their plates.

“Save some for me,” I said. “I need to eat. I’m a growing girl.”

“Could have fooled me, Pork Princess.” Aiden smirked. He finished the food on his plate, got up, and patted my head.

Fiddlesticks! Would I ever live that nickname down? I huffed and fixed my hair, which I’d styled into beachy waves today. In my senior year of high school, I’d entered a hotdog-eating contest and beat out a dozen competitors to earn a respectable second place. My brothers commemorated my win by giving me that unfortunate nickname, which they liked to pull out every once in a while.

“Don’t call me that. And why don’t you go fix your house?” I grumbled. “Joy has plumbing issues again.”

Aiden rinsed his plate and placed it in the dishwasher. “I swear that woman does not know how to use a plunger. There’s an art to it. You can’t just swoosh it around like a magic wand and expect stuff to disappear.”

Ben lowered his utensils, looking slightly green. “Do we have to talk about this at the breakfast table? Now I’ve lost my appetite.”

I slid into the seat beside him and snuck two slices of bacon off his plate. “Too bad my appetite’s fine.” You work with kids all day long, and you develop a certain tolerance for things.

“Your hair looks pretty today, honey.” Mom brought over an extra plate of pancakes and kissed me on the forehead. “Give the woman a break, Aiden. It’s a tough job parenting two boys. I remember when you three were kids.”

“Did we clog the toilet all the time too?” Ben asked.

Mom’s hazel eyes shone with amusement. “Oh, there were times when I thought we’d go broke from all the home repairs caused by three rambunctious children.”

Ben laughed. “Like that time Aiden tried to climb the wall and ended up punching a hole through the drywall?”

Aiden arched a brow. “What about the multiple times you left your bike behind Dad’s truck? Or when you raced Jimmy Aldridge along the ridge and crashed the car?”

Ben grimaced. “That wasn’t one of my best decisions. Sorry, Dad.”

Our father chuckled. “I didn’t see the humor in it back then, but time’s given me a different perspective.”

I took a bite of a pancake, enjoying the sweet syrupy taste in my mouth. “You two were horrible. I, on the other hand, was a perfect angel.”

“Two words,” Ben said, looking straight into my eyes. “Stair. Handrail.”

I pointed at my brother. “Who was the one who dared me to walk it like a balance beam?” Neither of us knew that it wasn’t installed properly. The entire bar ripped right out of the wall.

“Kids will be kids.” Mom insisted. “Go help that poor woman out, Aiden. Her father’s still out of town, and it can’t be easy for her.”

Aiden grunted. “Fine. I’ll swing by now.”

“Does that mean you won’t help me set up Halloweenpalooza?” I asked.

“You named your Halloween decor?” Ben asked with raised brows.

I stole another piece of bacon off his plate. “Course I did. It’s my first Halloween in my new house, and I’m planning an extravaganza.”

Ben snatched his plate away. “Hey! Get your own food.”

Aiden shook his head. “Can’t help today. But there’s always the renter.”

What an odd statement. Why would I ask a stranger to help? I turned to the stove and waved my fork in Mom’s direction. “What happened to you never renting out the unit again? Do we not remember the nudist?”

She wiped the counter, not looking me in the eye. “Well, this one’s not a nudist.”

“What if he is? He might be a closeted one. Today, everything’s fine, and tomorrow, he’s waving his… pumpkin patch everywhere.”

Beside me, Ben groaned. “Seriously? I’m eating here, Ev.”

Dad covered his laughter with a cough. “Nobody’s showing your mother their… patch.”

Maybe I was being ridiculous, but someone needed to watch out for my parents’ safety. Their ranch was up in the hills and their nearest neighbor was a car ride away. I got up to grab a carton of orange juice from the fridge and poured myself a glass. “Okay. Fine. Perhaps he isn’t a nudist.”

“Um, Ev?” Ben said, but I refused to let him finish. Both of my brothers seemed entirely too relaxed given what happened last time.

“This new guy might be a criminal or, even worse, a murderer. You never know these days. Maybe he has loads of dead bodies buried all across the country.”

“The guy’s not a murderer.” Aiden cleared his throat and pointed behind me.

Oh, pumpkin spice pancakes. “He’s behind me, isn’t he?”

Aiden nodded, a smile twitching his lips.

Eep. My face flamed as the bacon, pancakes, and orange juice roiled in my stomach. I calmly placed the orange juice on the counter. “Look, whoever you are, don’t kill me, okay? Sure, I have pretty hair, but I’m scrawny and won’t provide much material for your skin suit.”

Ben burst out laughing.

“Hello, Everly.”

I froze as the familiar voice registered in my brain.

“Wyatt?” His name came out as a whisper. Inch-by-inch, I turned around and found myself staring at a face that I hadn’t seen in almost two years. No longer hidden behind his signature plastic-rimmed glasses, Wyatt’s bright green eyes stared back at me, his irises ringed with dark brown and flecked with gold. I swept my gaze over his strong jawline, across the gray T-shirt straining across his shoulders and down his tapered waist to a pair of crisp, dark-wash jeans.

“See?” Wyatt murmured. “No skin suits here.”

My eyes snapped up to his face. “What are you doing here?”

He let out a low chuckle and ran a hand over his stubbled jaw. “Grabbing some breakfast before starting today’s crime spree. I heard that it came with the unit rental. Breakfast, that is.” He leaned in close as if to whisper a secret. “Not dead bodies. I do all my murdering late at night.”

I caught a whiff of his spicy cologne, and a shiver raced down my spine.

“Oh, Everly.” Mom laughed. “Let our guest in for a cup of coffee before you give him the third degree.”

“Wish I could stay, but I’ve got a date with a toilet. See you later,” Aiden called to Wyatt before heading out.

I joined Ben at the table and poured syrup over my mountain of pancakes. While chewing a mouthful slowly, the shock of seeing Wyatt wore off and I mulled over this surprising turn of events. Wyatt was here. In my parents’ house. And judging by Aiden’s reaction, my brother had already known.

Wait a second.

Had everyone known about Wyatt coming except me? Had they kept me out of the loop because of my history with Lukas? Surely they knew that Wyatt and I had a relationship separate from his brother for years. We were best friends long before Lukas and I even started dating.

Mom handed Wyatt a mug of coffee and a plate, and he took a seat across the table. As he pulled in his chair, his feet brushed against mine, and a memory of our times studying across from each other at the library flashed through my mind. Wyatt was forever nudging me under the table to get my attention.

“What brings you to Sunnyvale?” I asked, careful not to let my tone betray too much. He and I may have been inseparable during our first three years in college, but sometime around our senior year, we drifted apart. Seeing him here, eating Mom’s pancakes, felt nice but strange.

Wyatt turned his steady gaze on me again. “I’m doing a book signing at Landry’s Comic Book Store.”

“Don’t tell me you still haven’t read his StarFire books.” Ben helped himself to a pancake. “Geez, Ev. I’ve only been telling you about it for months.”

I shook my head while avoiding both of their stares. I vaguely remembered my brother saying something about Wyatt quitting his teaching job to write full time, but I’d added his series to my list of books to check out later.

“I’ve been busy setting up the school,” I mumbled.

“Are you still teaching?” Wyatt asked.

I nodded. After Lukas and I broke up, I left the public school setting, deciding I needed a change. “I run a home-based preschool.”

“So you’re running your own business? Doesn’t surprise me at all.” Wyatt’s gaze was kind and warm. “You were always great with little kids.”

Dad helped himself to a pancake and placed a hand on Wyatt’s shoulder. “We’re glad that you’re staying here. Gives us some time to catch up. The last time we saw you must have been a couple of Thanksgivings ago.”

During college, Wyatt spent several Thanksgivings with my family. His and Lukas’s mom died when they were just kids, and then they’d stayed with their grandfather for a few years until he passed away too. When Mom found out about them not having a family to spend holidays with, she opened our home to them. Lukas always found reasons not to come, preferring to party in LA with friends, but Wyatt came faithfully every year until graduation.

“And now that Wyatt’s back in Sunnyvale, he has plenty of time to kill people.” Ben smirked at me. “Or show them his pumpkin… what did you call it again, Ev?”

“Never mind that,” I blurted out, shoving a forkful of pancakes into Ben’s mouth.

“Stop teasing your sister,” Mom chided. “Actually, Wyatt, since you’re here, maybe you can help Everly put up her Halloween decorations.”

“I’m sure he has much better things to do than put up witches’ hats and pumpkins.” Weirdly nervous, I played with my fork. Wyatt and I were once so close; we knew practically everything about each other, and yet I’d had no idea that he was visiting my hometown. Our years of friendship had passed, and now I knew nothing about his life.

“Is Halloween still your favorite holiday?” Wyatt asked.

Ben rolled his eyes. “It’s gone way past being a favorite. Holidays are Ev’s obsession. You should see her place. It’s Halloween on the outside and Christmas on the inside. All she needs is a Thanksgiving-themed bathroom and an Easter-themed backyard, and she’d be all set for the year.”

Although I laughed along with my brother, my gut tightened. Ben thought it just a funny quirk, but the decorations meant something more. One of the first things I’d promised myself after breaking up with Lukas was that I’d stop living my life to please someone else and start living it the way I wanted to. And if that meant wearing overalls and decking my house in miles of twinkly lights, so be it.

Decorating therapy. It was real.

“I’d be glad to help,” Wyatt said. “It’ll give us some time to talk and catch up.”

The pancakes settled like rocks in my stomach. “Sure. I’d like that.”

4

WYATT

Everly Knight.

My best friend in college.

My brother’s ex-fiancée.

How was it possible that she was even more beautiful than I remembered?

I scrubbed a hand over my face. This had been a bad idea. I’d walked into that kitchen, and there she was, fresh-faced and wearing a pair of overalls. It was like stepping back in time.

I quickened my pace back to the cottage, wanting to grab my jacket before heading to her place. The rental unit on the Knights’ ranch was a cozy, well-lit studio with just enough space to fit a kitchenette, bed, and table. The place was tastefully decorated, but what made it unique was the mural painted on the back wall. An image of the coastline in spring—the sky, sea, and hills dotted with orange and purple wildflowers filled me with a sense of peace.

The painting also made the space seem larger than it was. In truth, the cottage was one of the smaller places I’d stayed in, although it was still more spacious than my shoebox-sized freshman dorm room. Memories of my first year at college slipped over me like ghosts of the past. College was my first time living on my own. I enjoyed my classes just fine, but when I met Everly, everything fell into place.

Everly and me.

Me and Everly.

We were inseparable.

Until she met Lukas.

My right pocket dinged, pulling me from my thoughts.

Cole: How are you doing?

Me: Why are you asking? Are you worried?

Cole: Course not

Cole: Just asking out of concern for your fans. If something happens to you, I should know where your StarFire comic files are

Me: Gee thanks. Good to see where your priorities lie

COLE WAS MY ROOMMATE, an Economics PhD student at Northern Oakland University. We met when I moved up north to teach high school English. I’d loved working with students and had thrown myself into my job during the day and written at night. When StarFire, my epic fantasy series, skyrocketed in popularity ten months ago, I took a leap of faith and quit my day job to write full time.

Me: Don’t worry. I have the first five episodes ready to upload. They’re in a safe place

Cole: Phew. That’s a relief

Cole: Of course I’m concerned about you too

Cole: But if something were to happen, the work must live on

MY ROOMMATE WAS one of the most driven people I knew. In addition to writing his dissertation proposal and teaching two undergraduate classes, he designed websites and apps in his spare time. When he told me about his latest project, a web cartoon app where creators earned money by publishing original comics, I jumped on the opportunity to join and pitched an idea for a series based on my StarFire universe. Cole welcomed me as one of his new creators. His app was scheduled to debut early December, just before my talk at LA FanCon, Los Angeles’s annual Fantasy and Sci-Fi Convention.

Cole: Still don’t understand why you’re staying in Sunnyvale when you could stay in LA with Lukas. Doesn’t he own an obnoxiously large apartment?

Me: Sunnyvale is the perfect spot to recharge before FanCon

Cole: Need company? I could join you

I SCOFFED AT THE IDEA. The guy enjoyed having a calendar so tightly packed that there was scarcely any room to breathe.

Me: When was the last time you went on vacation?

Cole: I’m not that bad. I know how to relax

Me: Ten-minute scheduled breaks don’t count

Cole: Why? They’re refreshing

Cole: Although maybe I should stay here. It’s better to teach in person. The students pay a fortune for my wisdom

Me: Don’t worry about coming down, Mom. I’ve got it handled

Cole: Don’t sass me, young man!

CHUCKLING, I took one last look at the mural and made my way out the door.

My phone buzzed again: probably Cole with another one of his “Yo mama” jokes. I was about to give him a piece of my mind, but my laughter died on my lips the moment I saw who’d messaged me.

Lukas: You talked to Everly yet?

Lukas: How did she look?

BEAUTIFUL BUT WARY. Was that a result of what happened between her and my brother? Or was it because we hadn’t spoken in years?

Me: The same

Lukas: Good. Let me know when you talk to her

Me: I’m not sure this is a good idea

Lukas: You can’t back out now

Lukas: You owe me

GEEZ. I loved my older brother, but right now, I seriously hated him. If I’d known Lukas’s intentions, I would never have accepted his help in the first place.

“Hey, Wyatt.”

I looked up from my phone to see Ben waving from his truck.

“You need a ride to Everly’s?”

Not really. The last thing I wanted was to be alone in a car with one of Everly’s brothers. Although, of the two, Ben seemed the better choice. He read my novels, so at least we’d have something to talk about. Plus, he was more laid-back than Aiden, who’d probably be more than happy to use his police interrogation skills on his sister’s behalf.

“Sure.” I silenced my phone and slid it into my pocket. Lukas would have to wait.

“I’m going to the convention in LA this year,” Ben said.

“Right,” I grunted as I buckled my seat belt. “I remember Everly telling me years ago that you’re a Star Wars fan.”

“She got me this full-body Chewbacca costume last Christmas as a joke. Don’t tell her, but I love the thing. I plan on coming to your talk too. I still can’t believe your next book will be the last in the series. What are your plans afterward?”

I relaxed slightly. Ben wanted to drive with me so we could talk shop. He had no suspicions about my real reason for being here. “Well, I’m dusting off my drawing skills and working on a webcomic series.”

Ben nodded. “I saw the sketches on your Instagram feed. They’re fantastic. And is it true what they’re saying about your books being turned into movies?”

I winced inwardly but kept my tone light. “Nothing’s set in stone yet. The series just needs to get support from the right people.”

People like Lukas.

Ben pulled a face. “Make sure it’s a good adaptation. Remember the Ring of Hope series?”

I sure did. Any true fantasy fan remembered that. The book series was so popular that a television channel snatched it up. Unfortunately, a bad script, poor casting choices, and terrible special effects resulted in a tanked series.

Ben turned off the highway and onto a winding road that led through a hilly neighborhood filled with cute bungalows and palm trees. Besides the splash of color from the occasional bougainvillea bush or cluster of geraniums, everything surrounding us came in various shades of green and beige. We drove uphill for a while, passing house after almost identical house before pulling up outside a bright yellow bungalow with a fuchsia-pink door.

I grinned at the unexpected colors. “This must be Everly’s place.”

“You guessed it.” Ben stopped the truck but remained in his seat, staring at me. It appeared he had no intention of getting out anytime soon.

“So you’re here to do a book signing at Landry’s and then heading down to FanCon?”

“Right.”

“You’re also presumably here to see my sister.”

I unbuckled my seat belt and straightened in my seat. Perhaps I was wrong in thinking Ben was the more laid-back brother because this was starting to feel more like an interrogation.

“Yes. That’s also the plan.”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

I understood his wanting to protect his sister, but Everly was an adult. “Seems to me that’s her decision to make.”

Ben’s frown deepened. “Look, man. When I found out you were staying at our parents’ place, I was more than a little surprised. And a book signing in Sunnyvale? It makes no sense. Our town is tiny. Nothing compared to LA. Therefore, I assume you’re mainly here to talk to Ev. But what I can’t figure out is why you’re reaching out to her now. You two used to be so close, but from what I hear, you haven’t talked to her since graduation.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but Ben stopped me with a look.

“I’m not interested in hearing your excuses. Lukas might be your brother, but it’s cruel what he did to my sister. The guy cheated on her, and Ev paid the price. Did you know the paparazzi hounded her when they got wind of their breakup? Everly had to quit her teaching job and move out of her old place because it got so bad. You were her best friend for years. How come you didn’t reach out even once to check up on her?”

I’d had no idea. That would explain her wariness. I lowered my gaze, my guilt tearing me apart inside. “You’re right. I should have been there for her. But I’m here to make up for that now.”

The lie twisted in my stomach like a fish caught on a line, but I couldn’t bring myself to tell Ben the complete truth. I’d tried to support Everly and Lukas’s relationship but hated who I turned into around them: the jealous younger brother who wanted what he could never have. After graduation, I purposely cut them both from my life. Although the decision almost destroyed me, it hurt worse to see them together. It was like a knife to the gut every time. I’d had no idea they’d even broken up until Lukas reached out a few months ago to call in a favor.

That’s why I was back in Everly’s life, to pay off a debt to my brother. But after hearing how their relationship ended, I couldn’t stomach the thought of what I had to do.

Ben’s eyes narrowed as he studied me. “Let me make one thing clear. I love your writing and look forward to reading your final StarFire book. But I’ll be watching you, and if you hurt my sister, we’ll be having words. Understood?”

Filled with regret over what I should have done years ago, I nodded.

Ben’s mouth curved back into an easy grin. “Good. Glad we had this talk.”

5

EVERLY

As I placed the final pumpkin beside my front door, a gust of wind rushed past, causing the palm trees in my yard to sway and riling the wind chimes hanging on my porch into a jingling frenzy. Tugging my jacket closed, I closed my eyes and enjoyed the chilly breeze dancing across my skin. Sunnyvale was an ocean town, and my house was located in a cliffside neighborhood, which meant that playful bursts of wind often filled my days and nights.

Somewhere behind me, a car door slammed, and I turned to see Wyatt and Ben hopping out of Ben’s truck. Wyatt lifted a large box from the back and carried it over.

“Nice door.” He placed the box near my feet and stared appreciatively at my house. “The pink really pops.”

I experienced a small burst of pride. Painting my door had been one of the first things I’d done after moving in to make the house feel more like a home. “Thank you. Pink makes me happy.”

“Your hair was dyed pink when we met.” Wyatt took a strand of my hair that the wind had tousled and twirled it around his fingers. “But you wore it longer back then.”

Goosebumps prickled on the back of my neck, and I pulled away, confused by my body’s response to his nearness. “I’m surprised you remember.”

Wyatt lowered his hand, a slow smile spreading across his face. “As if I’d forget. I asked if your hair color was natural—”

“And I laughed at your ridiculous question.” Pleased that he recalled our conversation, I found myself mirroring his smile.

“That was also the day you told me that your favorite color was pink and your favorite movie was Hocus Pocus.”

“Both still true.”

“One year, you and Indie should dress up as the Sanderson sisters for Halloween.”

I shot him a look of surprise. What a brilliant idea. Why hadn’t I thought of that before? Ideas on how to make our costumes swirled in my brain. I didn’t have enough time to sew the skirts and tops, but I could certainly modify clothing from the thrift store. “We could do it this year. Indie and I are staying home to hand out candy, and our friend Quinn’s coming over too. Maybe she’d be up for dressing as the third sister.”

I clapped my hands, excited by the plan taking shape in my head. “Guess what, Ben? I’m going to be a Sanderson sister!”

“Awesome. Where do you want this inflatable?” He dragged a humongous box out of his trunk and lugged it over.

I pointed to an area in front of the bushes. “Can we set it up over there? Then we won’t have to run a long extension cord.”

“You’re the boss.” Ben placed the box on the ground and pulled out a pocketknife to cut it open.

“How can I help?” Wyatt asked.

“If you could hang lights along the edge of the roof, that’d be great. The clips, lights, and ladder are over by the garage door.” Since he had several inches on me, that job would be a lot easier for him.

“On it.” Wyatt grabbed the ladder and carried it over to the porch. “So, inflatables, pumpkins, and lights, huh? This place will look fantastic.”

“That’s just the tip of the iceberg,” I said, not bothering to keep the excitement out of my voice. In college, Wyatt witnessed all of Indie’s and my various creative side projects, including her running an informal salon in our dorm room to cut and dye students’ hair and my princess birthday party business, where I dressed up as various characters and performed at children’s parties. “We’re also handing out bags of popcorn and cotton candy, and I’ll project the first Harry Potter movie onto the garage for kids to watch.”

Ben looked up from his work. “Do you need me to come over and set up the projector?”

I shook my head. “No need. Quinn’s already volunteered.”

My brother frowned but said nothing more.

“How long have you lived here?” Wyatt asked.

“I bought this place a little less than a year ago.”

When my grandmother passed away, she left my parents the ranch and my brothers and me a sizable inheritance. Ben invested his share in his business, Aiden purchased his duplex, and I put a down payment on this cute three-bedroom bungalow. Although only about twelve hundred square feet inside, it sat on a large piece of land at the end of a cul-de-sac. Joy and I spent all last summer transforming the backyard into an amazing outdoor garden space, fitting for the preschool of my dreams. And after today’s hard work, my front yard would become a trick-or-treating destination.

The three of us worked together in comfortable silence. Ben set up the inflatables while Wyatt strung lights along the roof, and I anchored a handful of gravestones in my yard.

Pleased with our progress, I took a moment to stretch. “How long are you in town for?”

Wyatt hopped off the ladder and carried it over to the garage. “Until FanCon.”

That meant he’d be here for Thanksgiving and then drive down to LA. The last time I visited the city was when I attended my engagement party. In hindsight, the signs that Lukas and I wouldn’t work out were already there. Everything centered around his career; my needs and opinions always came second. Sometimes, especially when lying alone in my bed at night, I wondered if there was something about me that made him cheat. Was I not accommodating enough because I didn’t like city life? Or not exciting enough because I preferred to stay home instead of going out. But relationships were supposed to be about give-and-take. Where had Lukas’s compromise been?

A hand rested on my back. Solid and warm, it tugged me out of the past and grounded me in the present.

“Ev?” Wyatt sounded quiet, almost cautious. “What happened? You disappeared for a moment.”

Ben looked up from unpacking a box and watched my response.

You didn’t need to be a mind reader to know what my brother was thinking. Was Everly okay, or was she about to fall apart again? “I’m fine. Just zoned out, thinking about the long list of things I need to get done before Halloween.”

Thankfully, my phone buzzed. I stepped away from both guys to check the message.

Unknown number: Hello. I’m Nelson. I’m a friend of Quinn’s

Unknown number: Are you available to grab coffee tomorrow around 4?

Me: Sure

Unknown number: Great. Meet you at Café Lily. I’ll be wearing a blue shirt

Me: See you then

OH MY GOSH. Had that really happened? I stood there, staring down at the exchange, my hands trembling.

I have a date!

Wyatt’s eyebrows rose.

Oops. I slapped a hand to my mouth. I hadn’t meant to say that out loud. “It’s no big deal,” I added, even though it kind of was. I hadn’t been out with anyone since Lukas. “My friends and I made this dating pact.”

Wyatt shook his head. “This has Indie’s name written all over it. Let me guess. Did it involve a blood oath and weird rituals?”

I grinned. It was a well-known fact that Indie had a flair for the dramatic. “No blood was exchanged, but she did light some candles and ask for the help of several goddesses. We’re each taking turns to be set up by the others. I’m first.”

Ben emerged from the garage, carrying an extension cord that I hadn’t even realized I owned. “Where are you meeting this guy? You should probably tell someone in case you run into any trouble.”

I waved a dismissive hand. “Don’t worry. I can take care of myself. The girls will know where I am, and we’re meeting somewhere public.”

Wyatt tilted his head and studied me. “Your brother’s right. You need to be careful.”

It was bad enough that Ben and Aiden were constantly watching out for me. Now I had Wyatt on my case too? I rolled my eyes. “Great. Glad to know I have three brothers.”

A corner of Wyatt’s lips twitched upward. “I’m definitely not your brother. But I agree with Ben. You’re so small that someone could easily pick you up and carry you away.”

Before I knew what was happening, he wrapped his arms around my thighs and tossed me over his shoulder. “See?”

“Put me down,” I half shrieked, half laughed. “Ben, help me out.”

My traitorous brother just stood there, grinning. “Sorry, but I can’t. Didn’t you know that this guy’s dangerous? I heard he’s a killer.”

“I was kidding.” Wiggling in Wyatt’s hold, I pounded my fists against his back and tried to kick him. “Let go of me. Now. I mean it!”

He grabbed hold of my ankles and chuckled. “Alright, alright.” Carefully, Wyatt slid his hands along my thighs and hips as he lowered me to the ground, his touch leaving a trail of heat on my skin. I sucked in a sharp breath and pulled away.

Seriously, what was up with me today? Wyatt had always been a physical guy, quick to wrap his arms around me or tug my hair. I’d never minded his closeness before, but things felt… different now.

“Just trying to make a point, Ev.” Wyatt smirked. “Someone could pick you up and drag you away.”

I placed a hand on my hip. “You caught me by surprise. I can handle myself.”

“If you won’t tell us where you’re going, at least tell us the guy’s name,” Ben said. “Aiden can run a background check.”

I dragged my eyes away from Wyatt’s playful gaze to shoot my brother a pointed look. “That’s illegal, and you know it.”

“Fine. But come on, at least give me something. Tell me where you’re meeting him. I promise I won’t show up and embarrass you.”

My brother thought he was being clever, but I knew how his mind worked. “Let me guess—Aiden or Dad will just happen to be there instead?”

Ben placed a hand over his chest. “Why, Everly Knight, I am deeply hurt by your accusations. What have I ever done to earn such distrust?”

Really? Off the top of my head, I could rattle off at least a dozen instances where either Aiden or Ben was way too over-protective. “Remember Jonas Kleinman? You and Aiden showed up at our movie date.”

Ben shrugged. “What’s the big deal? Can’t your brothers enjoy a romantic comedy?”

“That’s a lousy excuse, and you know it. You came to spy on us. And what about Craig Larson? You poured a bucket of ice over him.”

The corners of Ben’s mouth twitched. “That was an accident. I intended to offer him a cool beverage, but I tripped, causing the cooler of ice to empty its contents all over his pants.”

“Riiight.” I found it harder and harder to keep a straight face. “And it had nothing to do with Craig spreading rumors that I’d made out with him on our first and only date. I could have handled that myself, Ben. No one believed the creep, anyway.”

“You should have poured two coolers of ice on him.” Wyatt’s expression darkened, and he crossed his arms over his chest. “No one should be treating you that way.”

My heart pounded and I bit my bottom lip. The way his shirt clung to his broad shoulders wasn’t lost on me.

“See?” Ben gestured toward Wyatt. “He agrees with me. The ice wasn’t that bad. And that was years ago. I’m an upstanding citizen now, and I swear on my shop that none of the Knight men will be there.”

I blew out a puff of air, knowing full well that I’d end up regretting this. “Fine. I’m meeting him at four o’clock at Café Lily.”

“That’s too late for lunch and too early for dinner,” Ben said. “He’s checking you out to see if you’re worthy of a proper dinner date.”

I scoffed. “Is that what you do with the girls you ask out?”

Ben shook a finger at me and headed back to the inflatables. “Now, now. You know I never kiss and tell.” He plugged the extension cord into the side of the house, and as if by magic, the two crumpled piles of fabric began to inflate. Minutes later, a larger-than-life unicorn and a mermaid towered above my bushes.

I let out a mad-scientist laugh. “They’re alive. Alive!” Everything was going to plan.

Halloweenpalooza, here we come.

Wyatt walked up beside me and nudged my arm with his elbow. “Nice. But what do unicorns and mermaids have to do with Halloween?”

“Absolutely nothing.” I grinned. “But they make the house magical. Plus, no one else will have a seven-foot horse in their front yard, will they?”

“Definitely not,” Ben said before turning to Wyatt. “Our work here is done. Ready to head out?”

Something flickered in Wyatt’s eyes, but before I could get a read on the emotion, he slotted his relaxed smile back in place. “Sounds good. Wonderful seeing you today, Ev. Hope you enjoy your date tomorrow.”

“Thanks.” I watched as they got into Ben’s truck. The moment they disappeared from sight, worry struck me square in the chest. For all my earlier bravado, the last date I’d gone on was almost a year ago. Could I really do this?

Another gust of wind blew, making the hanging Halloween lights dance. Whether or not I was ready, change was in the air. It was time for me to move on.

6

WYATT

My phone buzzed numerous times in my pocket, but I stared out the window of Ben’s truck, choosing to ignore the messages. Lukas wasn’t known for his patience, but I was in no mood to talk to him. Not when seeing Everly again dredged up such complicated emotions. What was I thinking, touching her hair like that? Or picking her up? It was as if my hands had a mind of their own. Being with her just before, it had taken all my self-control not to pull her close, breathe in her sweet scent, and taste her lips.

Would they taste like pancakes and syrup?

“What are you doing tomorrow at four?” Ben asked as soon as he parked his truck back at the ranch.

I pushed all thoughts of Ev’s mouth aside. “I haven’t given it much thought. Probably writing.”

Ben shook his head. “Wrong answer. You’re going to Café Lily. I promised that none of the males in my family would be there, but I didn’t say anything about you.”

Sneaky bastard. The guy was cunning, alright. “So that was your plan all along.”

“Can you blame me? My sister’s too trusting. She’s like this adorable kitten.”

“Even kittens have claws,” I reminded him.

“They do. Tiny ones.”

I chuckled. “Not too sure Everly would appreciate you describing her that way.”

Ben shrugged. “Ev’s tough, but she still needs someone to watch her back. As much as I’ll tease her about this dating pact, I think it’s good for her to get back out there. But the dating pool’s rough; there are way too many sharks out there who will say or do whatever they can to get what they want.”

It didn’t escape my attention that he was referring to Lukas.

“So, are you in?” Ben asked. “Can I count on you to keep an eye on our girl?”

An uncomfortable band tightened around my chest. How could I agree to do this? Ben would never have asked me for help if he’d known the real reason I was back in Sunnyvale. How would he react once he learned that I was the biggest shark of them all?

Come on, Wyatt. Isn’t the whole point to get close to Everly again?

Yeah. But for what reason? To help my brother out?

Or to find out the truth for myself?

I recalled how soft her hair felt between my fingers and how perfect her body felt against mine.

Son of a gun. Who was I kidding? No way could I stay away from her. “I’ll be there,” I muttered.

Ben slapped me on the shoulder. “Good to know I can count on you. Consider yourself one of Everly’s honorary brothers.”

I barked out a disbelieving laugh. No way that was happening. My feelings for her were far from brotherly.

But, then again, that had always been the problem.

7

WYATT (SENIOR YEAR OF COLLEGE)

Come on, come on, pick up. Pick up.

She’d texted me that she was running late, but, hopefully, we’d still have time to talk.

“Wyatt?” Everly’s face appeared on my phone screen, and I found myself grinning. She must have just gotten back from a birthday party because she still had on sparkly blue eyeshadow. “What time is it over there?”

“One in the morning. Still early.” I stifled a yawn, determined to stay awake. Mind over matter, right? I’d stay up all night if it meant we got a chance to speak.

Everly slipped off the red wig she wore when dressed up as Ariel and shook out her blond hair. “Liar. You’ve always been an early bird. I can see the bags under your eyes. What time do you need to wake up for class?”

“Six,” I mumbled. “But I’m fine with it. Sleep’s overrated.” I’d been here in London for about two months, but it already felt like forever. Spending four months abroad to take writing courses at Cambridge seemed like a fantastic opportunity when I applied to the prestigious exchange program last spring. But after a short time in England, I realized how much I missed home.

Correction—whom I missed at home.

“Thanks for staying up. I didn’t mean to remain so long at the party, but the kids wanted to take photos with me.”

Oh, I could believe it. Everly’s princess-themed birthday parties were a huge hit, especially with some of the professors’ families. She’d had so much interest in singing princesses that she’d roped Indie in. Now they both averaged two birthday parties a week on top of their schoolwork.

Ev pulled out a makeup wipe and swiped it over her eyelids. “Anyway, enough about me. How did you get on with that paper? The Robert Browning one. You were worried your professor wouldn’t like it.” She tilted her phone to focus the camera on her face and shoulders while she slid the top of her mermaid costume off over her head.

My eyes traced the smooth, golden skin of her shoulders. “Um, fine. I got it done.” The words felt scratchy in my throat.

Tell her, Wyatt. Just tell her how you feel.

Not yet. I’d waged that inner battle for months. Everly and I had been friends ever since fate brought us together that day at the library. We shared everything. She knew about my dream of becoming a published author, and I was the one who stayed up late every year, helping her decorate her dorm hall for Halloween and Christmas. Her RAs had dubbed us “the holiday elves.”

Everything was easy and fun between us until Ev briefly dated a baseball player last spring, and I experienced something I never had before: jealousy.

Somehow, between our late-night study sessions, Halloween movie marathons, and rushing to early morning classes together, I’d fallen for my best friend. While unable to pinpoint exactly when my feelings changed, I could remember when I wanted to make them known. After Ev broke up with her boyfriend, I was going to tell her how I felt, but by then, I was only months away from starting my overseas adventure. It seemed unfair to spring something like that on her only to leave a short while later.

Plus, if I was being honest, I was also worried that she didn’t feel the same way.

Everly’s face disappeared, leaving me to stare at the ceiling of her dorm room. The sound of running water filled the background. “Before I forget to tell you,” she said off-camera, “Lukas and I have been messaging. He wants to meet up with me on campus.”

Weird. Our college was a four-hour drive from LA, and my brother hated leaving the city. He’d only visited me a handful of times.

“Really?” I tried not to let suspicion creep into my voice. I loved my older brother; he was my only family since our mom and grandfather died, but I wasn’t naïve. The guy was a serious player. Why did he want to hang out with Everly?

“I didn’t realize you two had gotten close.”

“He texts me during his breaks on set, and we usually just discuss whatever’s going on in his life. It sounds like he’s lonely and needs a friend.”

I almost laughed. My brother? Lonely? With his larger-than-life personality and good looks, people flocked to him. Growing up, I’d constantly had to fend off girls who were interested in getting close to me purely for my connection to Lukas.

Dating someone who planned to hook up with your brother as soon as they could?

No, thank you.

My stomach knotted. Everly was my best friend, but what if, deep down, she was just like the others? What if she preferred Lukas to me?

“I’m surprised he even reached out, but I guess since you’re not here, I’m the next best thing.” Everly’s face returned to the screen, her blond hair tied up in a ponytail. Gone were the fake eyelashes and the bright-red lipstick. Without even seeing her clothes, I knew she’d put on her “at home” outfit: a ratty old hoodie and sweatpants. And if I focused hard enough, I could almost smell the peach-scented lotion she used.

“Thanks for sending me that picture of your street covered in snow.” Everly beamed, and I felt its warmth all the way across the ocean. “It looked so tranquil and pristine. I wish I were there to see it too.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll see all the sights after graduation.”

Everly tilted her phone to focus on the map she’d hung in her room every year since we were freshmen. Stickers labeled all the places we’d talked about visiting in the future. Our dream to travel the world was the main reason she’d started her birthday party business. “I added Cairns to the list. Wouldn’t it be awesome to see the Great Barrier Reef and swim with sea turtles?”

She turned her phone, so I could see her face again. “I’d love to talk longer, but I have to make dinner and record a teaching demonstration. But before I go, here’s a joke one of the kids told me today. ‘What do you call two guys who like math?’”

You had to love Everly and her affinity with puns. I racked my brain for a possible answer, but in the end, I gave up. “No idea.”

After a dramatic pause, she blurted out, “Alge-bros. Get it?”

I groaned. “That’s so bad it’s actually funny.”

“I know, right? That’s why I had to share it with you.” Ev’s smile drooped, her expression turning thoughtful. “I miss you, Wy.”

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. “Miss you, too, Ev.”

Much more than you realize.

Only two more months until I went home, and then I’d finally confess how I felt.

Why did two months suddenly feel more like two years?

8

EVERLY

“So, tell me about yourself, Everly. What college did you go to?”

I sipped my chai tea, trying to settle my nerves. A half-hour ago, I was two heartbeats away from canceling my date with Nelson altogether, but Indie had slapped some lipstick on me and pushed me out the door.

To Quinn’s credit, she hadn’t misrepresented her friend at all. Nelson was quite tall—of course, when you’re five foot four, almost everybody over the age of sixteen fits into that category—broad-shouldered, and had very straight and white teeth. While I couldn’t find anything wrong with him, I couldn’t find anything right about him either. There just wasn’t any “zing.”

“Freeport University.”

“You stayed local.” Nelson smiled and adjusted the cuffs of his neatly pressed button-down shirt. “I went to Berkeley and then got my MBA at a little place called Wharton.”

“Wow, impressive. I’ve never been to Pennsylvania, but I have visited New York. I guess they get a lot of snow there?”

Sheesh, Everly. I did an internal facepalm. Only fifteen minutes in with a perfectly pleasant guy, and I was talking about the weather.

I fidgeted in my seat, wishing I’d changed after work. Nelson sat in front of me wearing a dress shirt and slacks, looking like he’d just got out of an important business meeting. Meanwhile, I was still in braids, a baggy sweater, and a pair of stained jeans, thanks to a disastrous glitter-glue incident.

Oh well, at least I’d applied lipstick.

He leaned back and sprawled his arm along the back of the booth, providing the perfect opportunity to admire his broad shoulders and long arms. “So how do you and Quinn know each other? She and I grew up in the same circles, and I don’t recall ever meeting you. Did you attend Preston Prep with her?”

I shook my head. Preston Prep was a private school in nearby Mermaid Cove. Quinn grew up in a wealthy family, and while my folks were always able to afford the things we needed, I’d not grown up in the lap of luxury.

“I attended Sunnyvale High. I’m public school all the way.”

“Salt of the earth.” Nelson nodded. “I attended the Cage School. Our graduating class was about one hundred.”

Wow. I’d had five hundred students in my senior class alone. “How did you like it?”

Nelson chuckled. “The education was excellent, but it was rather boring. How did you and Quinn meet?”

“My roommate, Indie, and I formed a knitting club.” I relaxed as I began talking about my friends. “Indie knits, and when she saw Quinn knitting at a café one day, she invited her to hang out. That’s how our club officially started. We now have four members.”

“Interesting.” Nelson raised a brow. “I didn’t realize Quinn… knitted.”

“She’s fantastic. She actually made this for me.” I tugged the scarf from my neck and held it out to show him.

Nelson gave it a cursory glance before sipping his espresso. “She does beautiful work. Tell me more about yourself. What do you do for a living?”

I lifted one of my braids and chuckled. “As you might be able to tell from my outfit, I’m a preschool teacher. I run a home-based school out of my backyard. After teaching in the public school system, I decided to mix things up this year and started my own school.” No need to tell him I quit my former job because the paparazzi wouldn’t stop hounding me about Lukas. While I might have been rusty at the dating game, even I knew that one didn’t bring up exes on the first date.

Nelson cleared his throat. “Preschool? Really? You must love children to babysit them as a job.”

Babysitting? Are you kidding me?

Clearly, he had no idea what preschool teachers actually did for a living. “That’s a common misconception. I’m an educator and I hold bachelor’s and master’s degrees like you.”

“Well, our degrees are somewhat different.”

His haughty tone didn’t escape my attention. Sure, Nelson might have an MBA from Wharton, but I too was a professional in my own right. I took a deep breath and silently counted to four, a technique I taught my kids to help them calm down.

“Of course our degrees are different.” I fought to keep my voice steady and my tone light. “There are many types of intelligence in the world. Everyone has something unique to contribute. And I choose to help shape our future generations.”

Nelson adjusted the cuffs of his shirt. “I’m sure it’s a challenging job. It’s just something I can’t imagine myself doing. You’d need endless patience to wrangle young children for hours on end.”

That’s it. I glanced toward the door, itching to leave. He was testing the boundaries of my patience way more than my kids ever did. As far as I was concerned, Nelson was a dud. I couldn’t believe Quinn had set me up with him.

Nelson took a sip of his drink, appearing not to realize I was a volcano, ready to blow. “You seem rather passionate about your work. Do you envision yourself teaching preschoolers in the long term?”

“I’m not sure yet. Why?”

“It’s hardly a lucrative profession. Although I’d imagine public school teaching offers better pay. Plus, once you get married, you’ll quit to raise your own kids.”

One. Breathe in. Two…

Oh, forget about counting to four. No one could be expected to be this patient.

“Why would I quit my job?” I asked, my chin raised.

Nelson’s eyebrows drew together in surprise. “You dated Lukas Alexander, and he’s doing fairly well for himself. I simply assumed you were one of those girls who bided their time and dated rich guys for—”

“Excuse me?” I cut him off before he said anything more… or my cold chai flew across the table. “This date’s over. I don’t believe we’re compatible.”

Nelson’s relaxed demeanor vanished, and his expression turned frosty. “Did you just dismiss me?”

You bet your sweet patootie I had!

His jaw clenched and his nostrils flared. “Do you know who I am? Or who my father is?”

Nope, and I didn’t care. “Look, how about we just agree that we’re not a good match?”

“Oh, we’re in complete agreement over that. I looked you up before our date. You appeared quite glamorous and sophisticated, so I was shocked when you walked in looking so slovenly.” He spat out the last word. “You’ve let yourself go, and frankly, I’m looking for a woman with class. I only stayed this long as a favor to Quinn.” He stood and stormed out.

Wow. I sank into my seat and ran my hand down a braid. I’d dodged a bullet right then, but part of me wondered whether Nelson was right. When Lukas and I dated, I dressed up all the time. Perhaps I should have changed clothes before coming today, or at least worn more makeup.

Me: If all my dates are going to end up like this, count me out

Quinn: Oh no. What happened?

Me: To quote one of my preschoolers—Nelson was a big fat poopy face

Indie: Wow. Don’t hold back

Quinn: I’m so sorry, Everly. What did he do? Nelson was always pleasant enough when I bumped into him at Mom’s parties

YEAH, probably because he was putting on airs, the pompous jerk.

Me: I’ll save the details for when we meet up

Indie: On the positive side, things can only get better from here, right?

Me: Not really helping right now

Joy: Double chocolate brownies this week?

Me: Yes

Me: And ice cream

“EVERLY?”

I lowered my phone and turned, offering my profile. “Wyatt. What are you…?” I whipped my head around, scanning the café for my liar of a brother. “Were you and Ben spying on me? Where is he, anyway?”

Wyatt flashed me a lopsided smile and played with the strap of his laptop bag. “Ben’s not here, but he roped me into stopping by instead. Unfortunately, I arrived a little late. What happened to your date?” He glanced down at Nelson’s empty cup.

I clenched my jaw, remembering the insults. “He left. But I’m fine with that. The date took a steep downhill turn after he insulted my profession and implied that I was some sort of classless gold digger without a real job.”

Guess I didn’t do a great job of keeping the brittleness from my voice because Wyatt took a step closer. A low growl escaped his lips. “Where is this guy? Maybe I should talk to him…”

A strange feeling fluttered in my stomach as I took in the man standing in front of me. Slightly too long brown hair, a nose bent a little to the right, and eyes that seemed to take everything in. This was the same flannel-shirt-and-sneaker-wearing Wyatt that I’d known in college, and yet it was as if someone else stood in his place. Someone harder, more self-assured. Someone undeniably… male.

My date with Nelson had put me in a strange mood. What was I thinking? Of course Wyatt was male. I shook my head. “No need to ice bucket the guy. I made it very clear that I’ve no interest in stuck-up pricks with butt chins.”

“Butt. Chins?” Wyatt’s eyes widened and he coughed behind his hand, like he was trying to cover up a laugh.

“You know. That cleft some guys have in their chin? Nelson had one of those—a butt chin.”

“Is that a scientific term?”

“Oh. Very much so. You can look it up.”

“Thought so.” Wyatt’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “Good to know you have standards.”

Yup, that was one good thing to come out of dating Lukas. An ability to spot jerks straight away. I eyed Wyatt’s laptop bag. “Was that your cover for being here?”

“Guilty as charged. But since your date’s over, I don’t have to pretend anymore. The bag is empty.” He unzipped it to show me. “Want to get out of here? I’m heading to Landry’s.”

A walk in the fresh air would help to improve my mood. I gathered my purse and followed him outside. “Sure, I’d love to. So, what are we doing at the comic st—”

My voice caught when a pair of strong arms encircled my waist, drawing me close.

Wow. It was like being hugged by a wall. Had Wyatt started working out since college? Because I didn’t recall his arms having all these lovely muscles before.

I inhaled through my nose. He also smelled divine. Kind of spicy and woodsy.

Wait just one apple cider moment. I stopped myself mid-sniff. Why was I fangirling over my friend?

“What are you doing?” I asked, my words muffled by a fragrant and solid chest.

He continued holding me as three teens whizzed by on skateboards.

“Sorry!” one of them called back.

“Don’t worry about it,” Wyatt shouted after them. “Just be more careful next time.”

Heart pounding inside my chest, I gazed up at Wyatt and giggled. “My knight in shining armor. You just rescued me from a gang of unruly teenagers.”

He chuckled. “More like your knight in flannel.”

“You are…” I lost my train of thought as I studied the lines of his face. I’d always known that Wyatt was attractive; he constantly had girls chasing after him, but up until this point, I hadn’t realized how truly handsome he was. His eyes were a vibrant green, like the hills after a rare rain shower, his jaw was perfectly sculpted, and his mouth—

“Everly?” Wyatt licked his bottom lip, and I zeroed in on the movement, keenly aware of how close our faces were and the way his body pressed against mine. A soft warmth curled inside my chest, like a cat sleeping in a patch of sunlight.

“You were about to say something?” he prompted, still not letting go.

I blinked up at him. Perhaps I shouldn’t have ordered such a large cup of tea at Lily’s because now I was lightheaded from all the caffeine. “I… I don’t remember.”

Wyatt released me, and neither one of us spoke as we continued walking, so far apart that a whole parade of skateboarders could have slid right between us. Every few steps, my eyes darted over to him, but Wyatt never once looked my way.

Was he deliberately avoiding me or merely focused on our destination?

When we finally reached the store, it surprised me to discover that Landry’s didn’t stock only comic books. There was row upon row of comic books, of course, but the store also sold board games, books, posters, stuffed animals, and a whole lot of figurines, some of which I recognized from Ben’s collection.

“Wyatt Alexander?” A man with long, stringy brown hair and wide-set eyes left his post behind the counter and gave Wyatt’s hand a hearty shake. “I can’t believe you’re here. In my shop! It’s such a pleasure to finally meet you.”

Wyatt gave him a warm smile. “It’s good to meet you too, Johann.”

“I’m a huge fan. You should have told me you were coming today. Thank the stars, I have these.” Johann sprinted back to the counter and returned, clutching three paperback novels. “Will you sign them, please? They’re for me.”

Wyatt’s grin widened. “Sure.”

While he wrote a short message inside each, Johann turned to me with a look of expectation. “And you are?”

I held out my hand. “I’m Everly. Wyatt’s…” Acquaintance? Ex-best friend? I was at a loss for words. Wyatt and I had once been close, but we were only just getting to know each other again.

Wyatt looked up, a twinkle of amusement in his eyes. “This is Everly. She’s one of the most special people in my life.”

I smiled, touched by his comment.

Johann gave my hand three hearty pumps. “Any friend of Wyatt Alexander’s is a friend of mine. I sure do appreciate both of you stopping in.” He slipped the signed books back behind the counter, then gestured toward two towers of cardboard boxes near the back of the store. “Apologies for the chaos, but a bunch of your books and merch arrived today and I haven’t had time to sort through everything. Truthfully, we couldn’t have planned your talk for a better time. Not everyone can attend FanCon, so the opportunity to meet such a popular author in a more intimate setting is a dream come true for so many fans, myself included.”

While Johann showed Wyatt around the store, I stayed back to admire the artwork on the walls. There were numerous dragon prints, quite a few anime posters, and a couple of superhero posters. A bulletin board on the wall behind the cash register caught my eye. It was covered with scraps of paper, and in its center sat a bright orange pamphlet advertising a speed dating event.

“Ah, I see someone’s interest is piqued.” Johann appeared beside me. “The speed dating event’s something new this year. I’m hoping it will bring more customers into the store. The plan is to get single men and women who love fantasy and sci-fi together in one place and boom! Watch the sparks fly. More heat than a nuclear reaction.”

“That’s a fantastic idea,” I said, appreciatively. “And it’s right before Halloween, so it makes sense that it’s a costumed event.”

Johann nodded, his long hair flopping in front of his face. “I wanted it to be like a mini-convention event. Unfortunately, there’s one huge kink in my plan. The guy slots are almost full, but we don’t have too many interested females.”

“How many do you have?”

“One.” Johann’s cheeks reddened. “My sister.”

Oh. That could be a serious problem.

“You’re in luck.” Wyatt walked over and placed an arm around my shoulder. “Everly can help with that. She and her friends are currently on the market and very open to meeting new people.”

I squirmed under Johann’s expectant stare. “Well, none of us are super into comics… or fantasy, for that matter…”

“That’s not a problem,” Johann insisted. “We’ll take any girls. Really. Just wear a costume, and you’re set. Or if that’s too much trouble, don’t wear anything at all.” His face froze in a mask of horror, and he spluttered, “I mean. Costumes are optional. Clothing is not.”

Poor guy. It looked as though he was about to implode. “I get it,” I said. “Let me talk to my friends.”

Johann shoved a clipboard into my hands and urged me to fill out my name and phone number.

“You know what, Johann?” I said while writing. “I bet Wyatt would love to help out too.”

Johann gazed at Wyatt with utter admiration. “Would you? Having a famous author there would really elevate everything.”

I smirked. Ha, two could play at that game. That’d teach him to throw me under the bus.

“I’d love to attend, but it would make the book signing less special.” To Wyatt’s credit, he appeared genuinely contrite. “Speed dating should be about meeting people, not meeting me.”

Johann ground a fist against his forehead. “Mother of dragons! You’re right. I hadn’t thought of that. Your fans would mob you. It would be a bloodbath.”

“Well, I wouldn’t go that far,” Wyatt said with a chuckle. “I’m not that popular. But if you need more guys, I know a local who might be interested. Everly’s brother Ben is a huge fan of superheroes and Star Wars.”

“He would love to come.” It was the perfect payback for my sneaky brother. “Ben also knows heaps of girls. I’ll talk to him about it.”

Johann beamed. “Wonderful. I’ll see you and your friends then, Everly.”

As Wyatt and I left the store, I let out the laughter I’d held in the entire time. “I can’t believe you volunteered us as tributes.”

“Just helping out the cause and playing the odds. You’re guaranteed to meet plenty of men at that event. Who knows? One of them might be ‘the one.’”

“Maybe.”

Wyatt arched a brow. “Isn’t that why you made the dating pact?”

I shrugged and glanced down at my bare ring finger. “Sort of. I got roped into it to support the girls. To be honest, I’m not hoping for much. Perhaps I’m just not cut out for relationships.” My last one practically broke me.

“Please don’t say that.” Something about Wyatt’s tone made me look up. “I can’t imagine someone as amazing as you getting only one chance at finding love.”

As we walked side by side back to my car, Wyatt’s hand brushed against mine every so often. Confusion burned my cheeks and I pulled away each time; but when it happened for the third time, I widened the distance between us. “It’s great that you published your novels. I remember you working on the story in junior year.”

He looked at me sideways. “You still remember that?”

“Course I do. It was a fantasy series involving two brothers, right?”

“That’s right.” Wyatt’s smile was almost shy.

“I’m sorry I never got around to reading your books.” There was once a time when out of everyone in the world besides Indie, Wyatt knew me the best. And yet here he was, standing beside me, familiar but also a stranger. “And I’m sorry we didn’t keep in touch. I’ve been…”

Dealing.

Trying to survive.

“Hey, I get it. We’ve both been busy. Why don’t we have a restart? A new beginning for both of us.” He stuck out his hand. “Hi. My name is Wyatt Alexander. I used to be a high school English teacher, but I quit my job to write full time. Every day, I wake up excited about creating something new but also fearful that this is all just a dream. I’m also dipping a toe into digital art, and I have an unhealthy fascination with buttered popcorn.”

Accepting his offered olive branch, I shook his hand. “Nice to meet you. I’m Everly Knight. A preschool teacher who’s obsessed with celebrating the holidays and visits the craft store more than I probably should. I don’t often drink coffee, but I love the smell of it in the morning. And if you look closely, I usually have glitter somewhere on my body.” I gestured toward the stain on my pants.

A mischievous look crossed Wyatt’s face. “Lucky for you, glitter’s my favorite color. Nice to meet you, Everly Knight. I haven’t been to Sunnyvale in years and wondered if you’d be interested in showing me around. You seem like someone who’d know where all the fun spots are.”

My smile slipped. “Oh, I’m not too sure about that. I’m not exactly what you’d call fun.”

“I highly doubt that. You always had some exciting project up your sleeve. Remember your rent-a-princess business? You made a convincing Elsa.”

I groaned and covered my face with my hands. “Don’t remind me.” One year, I’d dressed up as Elsa to serenade Wyatt in his dorm room.

“My hallmates ragged on me, but it was the best birthday gift ever.”

“I’m sure that’s an exaggeration,” I said, more than a little embarrassed.

Wyatt shook his head and took my hand, the simple act causing my heart to race. “It was the most memorable thing anyone’s ever done for me.” He hesitated before letting go. “Anyway, I’d love to hang out some more. I want to see the best that Sunnyvale has to offer.”

I rubbed my fingertips together, remembering how good his hand felt in mine. “Sounds like a plan.”

9

EVERLY

“I’m heading out.” Indie popped into my room, and a grin split her face from ear to ear. “Wait a moment. You’re wearing sparkly eyeshadow and eyeliner. You never wear makeup anymore. What’s the occasion? Are we resurrecting the princess parties? I still have my Belle costume in the back of my closet.”

“Nope.” I put the finishing touches to my eye makeup and turned my face side to side to make sure both eyes matched. They say that your eyeliner wings should be sisters, not twins. Today mine looked more like two very distant cousins. Oh well. Thankfully, preschoolers weren’t too picky about that kind of thing.

“It’s Makayla’s birthday today, and I thought I’d try something different. Wyatt mentioned yesterday that my dressing up as Elsa to wish him a happy birthday was his most memorable gift. So, ta-da.” I gestured toward my tank top and tutu. “Today, I’m a birthday fairy.” A pair of iridescent wings currently hanging on the back of my chair would complete my transformation.

Indie watched while I stuck a tiny gem to my cheek. “So we’re dressing up as the Sanderson sisters for Halloween, and you’re in a fairy costume today all because of something Wyatt said?”

Huh, I hadn’t thought of it like that. “Yeah, I guess so.”

“I love seeing you like this.”

“Like what?”

“With your sparkle back.”

I paused before applying another gem to my face. “I’m bringing the magic today for the kids.” And maybe for me too. I’d forgotten how much I enjoyed dressing up until Wyatt reminded me.

“I’m glad you’re finally getting your mojo back.” Indie studied me, her expression wistful. “Maybe I should try wearing a pair of wings to my meeting today. I’ll need all the help I can get.”

I flashed her a sympathetic smile. From what she’d told me, the library staff meetings got pretty heated at times. “Did you pack your coffee and a stash of caramels?”

“You know it, girl.” Indie grimaced. “I swear, Drew’s going to fight me on everything, but even he’s got to see that we need to remodel the children’s section. As it is, the area is too small, the table tops are peeling, and the rug has a perpetual stinky sock and curdled milk smell. My idea for a bachelor baking competition would be the perfect fundraiser. People will pay loads of money to see Sunnyvale’s most handsome men baking cookies and cakes for a good cause. I can already see the crowds now. Picture this.” She waved her hand in the air. “The Mr. Hot Buns library fundraiser competition. Catchy title, isn’t it?”

I burst out in fit of giggles. “I love the idea, but you might need to work on the name. If anyone can convince Drew and the rest of the staff, it’s you. I mean, you persuaded us to try this dating thing.”

“You’re welcome.” Indie performed a small bow. “Oh, before I forget, I stopped in because I found a costume for you to wear to that speed dating event.”

“I completely forgot.” My Sanderson sister costume wouldn’t be ready in time. “You sure? I could just dress up as a fairy again.”

Indie shook her head. “Today’s look is perfect for the five-and-under crowd, but you’ll need something a tad more grown-up this Saturday. This costume is perfect. I purchased it a while back but never got around to wearing it.”

I cleared my throat. Knowing Indie, it was probably super short, super tight, and highly inappropriate. “I need to show up fully dressed.”

“Don’t worry. It’s perfectly decent… mostly.”

AFTER A BUSY MORNING that featured an overflowing toilet (had Joy’s bad luck rubbed off on me?) and a massive meltdown over a feather (which, thankfully, an impromptu face-painting session soothed), one o’clock rolled around, and I felt like a melted ice-cream cone: mostly good, but kind of oozy. I fixed my wings and touched up my makeup before calling to the children scattered around my backyard.

“Only a few more minutes until it’s time to celebrate Makayla’s birthday.”

The ten kids continued playing as if they hadn’t heard.

“What a morning.” Tonya, Makayla’s mother and today’s volunteer, sat back in a deck chair and massaged her temples. “I can’t believe you do this every day. But the kids love it, and your garden’s the perfect place for a school.”

I agreed. By the back fence, a playset offered a place to swing and climb. On the other side of the yard, a magnificent magnolia tree provided shade and sturdy branches for a tree swing. Raised fruit and vegetable beds by the house hosted three gigantic sunflowers, a handful of kale plants, and countless strawberry plants. A circle of hay bales stood in the center of the yard for kids to jump on, and everywhere you looked, giant terra-cotta pots filled with colorful flowers to attract butterflies and hummingbirds dotted the backyard. On the cement patio, kids whizzed around on tricycles, drew with chalk, played in a wooden playhouse, built with blocks, and sat at an oversized picnic table—coloring and painting. It was an awesome space for the school I’d always dreamed of running.

“That’s what I think too. And it’ll be even better once Dad comes by today and finishes the tree house.” So far, he’d built two platforms in the magnolia tree and now needed to finish the railing.

As if on cue, a voice called out from the side gate, “Everly?”

“We’re out back.”

My father walked in, followed by Wyatt. I stared at him in surprise. What was he doing here?

A few of the children stopped what they were doing to wave. “Hi, Grandpa Dane.” Sometimes, if a parent wasn’t available to volunteer at school, my father helped out.

“Hi, kids. Hi, Everkins.” Dad planted a careful kiss on my cheek. “Hope I didn’t mess up your makeup. Looks like today was face-painting day?”

“We’re fairies, Grandpa Dane,” Hazel, one of the older girls in my class, said. Her pipe cleaner crown sat askew on her forehead, and there was a purple smudge on her cheek where she’d already wiped off her painted heart. “Teacher Everly and Makayla’s mama are the queen fairies because they’re the biggest, and we’re all princess fairies.”

Silas, an adorable curly-haired boy with a gap-toothed smile, walked up to Dad and tugged on the hem of his shirt. “I’m not a fairy princess. I’m a fairy cowboy. Can you tell?” He gestured toward his cowboy hat and boots.

Beside my dad, Wyatt chuckled.

Yeah, I got it. They were adorable.

Dad gave Silas’s outfit a serious once-over. “I sure could tell you’re a cowboy.” He tilted an imaginary cowboy hat at Silas before turning to me. “Is this still a good time to work on the playhouse, Fairy Queen Everly?”

“Of course, Grandpa Fairy. And if you’d like a sprinkling of sparkly makeup, let me know.” I fluttered my eyelashes at him.

“Maybe later. Hope it’s alright with you that Wyatt tagged along. He reckoned he needed a break from work.”

“Hi, Everly.” Wyatt looked over my shoulder. “Nice wings.”

“Thanks,” I said, thrilled that he noticed. “I found them after our talk yesterday.”

“Come on, son.” Dad patted Wyatt on the back. “Let’s go build our girl a tree house.”

Tonya let out a long whistle as she watched them head over to the magnolia tree. “Who is that? Is he one of your older brothers?”

I glanced at her in amusement. “No. Wyatt’s an old friend from college.”

Tonya pulled down her top to reveal more cleavage and fluffed up her hair. “He sure is easy on the eyes. Is he seeing anybody?”

Her question caught me off guard. Wyatt and I had talked about a lot of things, but his love life never came up in conversation. “I… I don’t think so. But he isn’t here long,” I added, uncomfortable with how she stared at him: the same way my neighbor’s cat watched birds in my garden. “He’s only staying until Thanksgiving. He lives up north.”

Tonya winked. “That won’t be a problem. I’ve already been married before. I’m not looking for anything serious. Let me see if they need any water.”

She left before I could say anything more, her hips swaying a little more provocatively than usual. I frowned at the sight, noticing how her leggings showed off her curves.

Determined not to think about Tonya and Wyatt anymore, I cupped my hands around my mouth and summoned the children. “Okay, everyone. Gather round.”

Everywhere, children stopped what they were doing and ran to the rug by the side fence. Mud pies sat baking in the sun. Watercolors dried on the table. And a massive tower of blocks remained on the patio.

Ten curious faces greeted me from the rug. “Today’s a very special day. Does anyone know why?”

Makayla’s hand shot in the air. “It’s my birthday! I’m five.”

“That’s right. And last night, I went into the garden and told the fairies that live here that it was your birthday. I asked them to leave you a special gift, and when I came outside this morning, I found this.” I showed the children a rainbow-colored ceramic jar.

“It’s so pretty,” Hazel murmured. “What’s inside?”

I opened the jar to reveal blue and purple glitter. “Birthday magic,” I said with a hushed voice.

Silas’s eyes widened.

That’s why I loved working with young children. The amazement. The wonder. For them, anything was possible, and they reminded me of that fact every single day.

“This is Makayla’s birthday magic, and she’s going to share it with you. You’ll each tell her something you like about her and then wish her a happy birthday. After you do that, she’ll give you a pinch of her birthday magic.”

“What do we do with it?” Junie, one of my newer students, asked.

“Whatever you want. You can rub it in your hair or on your face, or all over your arms. Doesn’t that sound beautiful?”

The kids nodded, and Makayla stood, bouncing on her tie-dye sneakers. As she walked around the circle, handing out birthday magic to each of her friends, Tonya returned with a massive grin on her face. My heart sank. Tonya was gorgeous, so of course Wyatt had given her his number. That he’d agreed to go out with her sat uncomfortably with me, but I kept my smile in place, not wishing to spoil Makayla’s special moment.

Once she’d given a pinch of glitter to the last child, I called Makayla over. “I’d like to wish you a happy birthday too. Sweet girl, I love hearing you sing in the mornings as you walk into school. I love the colorful pictures you paint, and I especially love how you always check on your friends when they’re hurt. Seeing you care for others makes my heart happy. Happy birthday.”

“Thank you, Teacher Everly.” Her tiny fingers sprinkled glitter in my palm, and I wiped it over my face and arms.

“Now I’m covered in your birthday magic too.”

After that, the children soon dispersed, and I circled the backyard, joining in tea parties, cheering for children racing tricycles, and reading picture books. When two thirty came around, parents arrived to collect their tired kids, and Tonya stayed behind to help clean up.

“Thank you so much for making Makayla’s day special,” Tonya said once we’d put all the toys away. “It’s wonderful how you encourage all the kids to say something kind to each other.”

“You’re welcome. It’s such a sweet moment.” I glanced over at Dad and Wyatt. They’d finished putting up the rails and were chatting amongst themselves. “How did your talk with Wyatt go?” I asked, despite already knowing the answer. Her smile before said it all.

Tonya forced out a laugh. “Not great. He said he wasn’t available because he’s still getting over someone.”

Relief filled me, followed by surprise. I hadn’t realized Wyatt was interested in anyone, although why would I when we hadn’t discussed his love life at all?

Tonya shrugged. “Plenty more fish in the sea. We’ll see you tomorrow, Everly.”

“See you at drop-off,” I said absently, my eyes remaining fixed on Wyatt. Who’d broken his heart? How could any girl not see what a catch he was?

Once Tonya and Makayla left, I headed over to the finished tree house. A set of stairs led to two wooden platforms nestled in the tree, about five feet off the ground. The kids could finally play up there tomorrow, as a sturdy railing now ran around the edge.

“It looks phenomenal. Thank you both!” I hugged my father first, then pulled away to hug Wyatt too.

A look of surprise flashed across his face, and I froze in my tracks, aware of the tension crackling in the air and unsure what to do about it.

“You’re welcome,” Wyatt said before wrapping his arms around me. My heart hummed with happiness. Wyatt gave the best hugs.

“Um, Ev?” He chuckled, sending vibrations rippling through my body.” You want to let go now?

I tore myself away, my face blazing.

Dad motioned to Wyatt’s black shirt. “You’ve got a little birthday magic on you, son.”

Oops. “You do too, Dad.” I pointed to the sparkles on his face and arms.

“Do I? Well, I’ll be sure to pass some on to your mother then. Ready to go, Wyatt?”

Wyatt’s gaze fell on me, and he studied my face as if memorizing every detail, storing it away for later. Why hadn’t I checked my makeup before joining them? My face probably resembled a messy impressionist painting after spending all day outside in the sun.

“I was planning to write for a bit, but if you don’t have plans, Ev, I’d love to hang out here and catch up.”

“My schedule’s free. Just going to work on my Halloween costumes until dinner.”

“Have fun, you two. See you both for Sunday brunch.” Dad gave us a wave and then headed out.

I turned to find Wyatt watching me again in that warm and steady way of his, and the ground swayed beneath my feet. “Let’s head inside and grab a drink.” I flapped a hand in the air, fanning my heated skin. “I think I’m a bit dehydrated.”

10

WYATT

“I’m afraid I don’t have much to offer you besides water. Unless you’d prefer tea or coffee.” As Everly turned her head to look at me, her ponytail swished across her bare shoulders, still glittery from Makayla’s birthday.

I looked away and swallowed, my throat now painfully parched. “Water sounds great. Love some.”

I followed her inside, my eyes transfixed by her slender legs.

Nope. Don’t look down either.

This was Lukas’s ex-fiancée I was staring at. My friend.

I focused on her waist instead, and my body reacted as I remembered how it felt to hold her in my arms.

Mine.

No, that wasn’t the case. Not when Lukas still wanted me to talk to her. “So, the kids….” My words evaporated as soon as I stepped inside her house.

Everly’s front yard, with its bright yellow paint, pink door, and abundance of Halloween decor, was merely a prelude to the riot of pattern and color inside. Everywhere I looked, walls painted in various bright colors greeted me. But as incredible as her walls were, the trees surprised me even more.

Two full-sized Christmas trees dripping with colorful ornaments stood near her front window. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t noticed them while stringing the lights the other day. And several smaller trees dotted the coffee table, mantel, dining room table, and kitchen counter.

One, two, three, four—

“Seven.” Everly paused before handing me a glass of water. “There’s one in each bathroom as well, for a total of nine.” Her mouth curled into a smile. “I started my collection last year and never stopped.”

“But it’s only October…” A pink tree covered with miniature cookies and candies on the kitchen countertop captured my attention.

“One of the nicest things about being an adult is making your own decisions. In this case, I’m choosing to celebrate Christmas in October. Since Indie doesn’t mind, I figured why wait?” Everly eyed my glass. “Do you need anything else while I get changed?”

“I’m fine.”

“Great. I’ll be right back.”

I sipped my water while soaking everything in. The sheer volume of trees and the brightly painted walls was undoubtedly a lot, but after getting over my initial shock, I realized that, somehow, everything worked.

Stop focusing on Everly’s decor and figure out a way to talk to her, a voice in my head that sounded strangely like Lukas’s insisted. I sighed.

Why had I agreed to his plan in the first place?

My StarFire series was a phenomenal success; however, the thousands of book sales hadn’t happened initially. My first two books came out over a year ago. They made me a bit of money, but I sure wasn’t planning on quitting my teaching job any time soon. But this past January, everything changed when Lukas mentioned my books during an interview.

Sales instantly shot up, and I wound up being an overnight success.

Don’t get me wrong, I appreciated my brother’s support, but I’d never have accepted it if I’d known it came with a stipulation. Apparently, they were casting the lead role in a new romantic comedy soon, and Lukas thought he’d stand a better chance of getting the part if people saw him as a doting boyfriend. That’s where I came in. Lukas wanted Everly to pretend to get back together with him. And because she and I were once best friends, he wanted yours truly to convince her. It was a ridiculous idea. As if pretending to date Everly for a couple of weeks could erase all the photos of him with various models and actresses flooding the internet.

You owe me, Wyatt. You owe your fame to me.

Persuade the girl I loved to pretend-date my brother? There was only one way this could end. Badly.

“What did you think of my school? The kids seemed to like you.” Dressed in the same tank top from before with a pair of pink leggings, Everly dumped a pile of clothes on the dining room table, picked up her glass of water and pressed the glass to her neck, presumably to cool herself.

Ironically, the sight only made me hotter.

She stared at me with eyes the shade of blue that makes men sign their lives away. “I heard about your breakup. I’m sorry. Heartbreak never gets any easier, does it?”

I dragged myself from her gaze. No. It never did. It felt like a pickaxe chipping away at my heart every time I saw her and Lukas together. Laughing. Holding hands. Sharing secrets. Planning a future that I’d never have because I’d been too slow to realize how special she was to me.

I’d planned on confessing my feelings to her when I got home from my exchange program. But when I landed at the airport, Everly was there to pick me up, and beside her stood my brother. They were holding hands.

My jaw bunched at the memory. “Well, I wouldn’t exactly call it a breakup. It was pretty much a one-sided thing. I never actually told her how I felt.”

“Why not? Do you still have feelings for her?”

Too scared to speak for fear that the truth would escape, I nodded.

“Tell her. You’ve got to jump on all the good things while you can.” Everly set her glass on the table. “Let’s role-play. I have the kids do this to teach them the importance of using their words. What would you tell this mystery woman if she were standing in front of you?”

I stared at the girl I’d loved for years. My stomach knotted. “Here? Now?”

“Pretend that I’m her, Wyatt. What would you say to me?”

I took several deep breaths. Were we really going to do this? It was all kinds of messed up.

“Please?” Her voice was barely above a whisper. “We used to tell each other everything. Pretend that I’m the girl of your dreams. What would you tell me?”

I stared at the woman who still held my heart. It had been some time since I last saw her. But she hadn’t changed. Not really. Not where it mattered. I ran my gaze along Everly’s arm, traced her bare, glittery shoulder, skimmed the gentle curve of her neck, up over her plump, rosy lips, and finally came to rest on her eyes, their color of the ocean on a perfect summer’s day.

“Wyatt?”

Something hot and dangerous flickered inside. “I’d tell you that I’ve loved you forever. You were my best friend, and somehow, while hanging out and watching way too many late-night movies, you became my everything. The chocolate to my vanilla, the moon to my stars. The woman I trusted to hold all my hopes and fears.” I took a step forward and stopped less than a foot away, close enough that I could finally caress her.

Her skin felt as smooth as it looked. No longer holding back, I ran my fingertips slowly down her neck and over the strap of the tank top. Everly’s eyes widened, and her breath hitched. Intoxicated by her response to my touch, I leaned in, catching the faintest whiff of peach lotion and sunlight.

“If you were this woman,” I murmured, my mouth less than an inch away from her skin, my self-control fraying, “I’d tell you that I’ve often wondered what your skin would taste like and how I’ve had endless dreams of claiming your mouth with mine.”

Everly jerked back against the dining room table, toppling her glass of water. A bright red blush stained her cheeks and décolletage. “I-I’d better get that.” She picked up the glass and grabbed a hand towel from the counter, not looking at me as she wiped up the spill. “Wow. You should tell her all of that. This mystery woman would be foolish not to want you.”

My heart thundered in my chest. Or my brother’s ex-girlfriend, who I needed to convince to date him again. I took a seat and exhaled slowly, trying to ignore how every inch of my body hungered for her touch.

Man, I was screwed a million ways over.

“Have I shown you what I’m working on?” Everly frantically searched through the clothes on the table and held up a brown bodice against herself. “This will be part of my Sanderson sister costume.”

Oh, for freaking sake. The universe was conspiring against me today because now I couldn’t stop picturing her in a bodice. Shifting uncomfortably in my seat, I took several gulps of water and nodded, avoiding looking in her direction until I calmed down. “It looks fantastic.”

“Really? I know it was your idea, but you don’t think Quinn, Indie, and me dressing as the witches from Hocus Pocus is a little over the top, do you?”

Where was this insecurity coming from? This wasn’t the Everly I knew. The one who’d dyed her hair different colors on a regular basis, depending on her mood.

“Lukas used to tease me about it all the time. ‘There goes Everly with one of her ideas again.’” She chuckled quietly, but I saw red.

My brother could be as obnoxious as he wanted to me, but to say something like that to her? It was like telling the northern lights they were too bright.

“I think it’s perfect. All of it. The costume, the decorations, your school.” You. “You’re amazing, Ev. Everything you touch turns to magic.”

Her smile stole my breath away. “Thanks. You always did know the right things to say.”

My phone buzzed.

Lukas: How’s it going with Ev?

Lukas: You two were best friends. You’ll know what to say.

HIT by a cold dose of reality, my chest tightened and I pulled away.

“Do you need to get that?” Ev asked.

“No, it can wait.” I already knew what my brother wanted, and I wasn’t ready to broach the subject with her. “Can I see the rest of your place?”

“Of course. Let me give you the grand tour.” Everly stood and pointed to a door on the far side of the kitchen. “That leads to the laundry room, Indie’s room, and her bathroom. And in front of us, of course, are the living and dining rooms.”

The Christmas trees standing by the front windows, giant peonies splashed across the walls, a mantel covered with Christmas trees and branches wrapped in twinkly fairy lights—everything was so feminine and full of life. In one word: Everly.

“If you follow me down the hall, you’ll see the bathroom.”

“Flamingos?” I laughed as I peered into the small room, where baby pink tiles covered the floor and three-quarters of the walls. A flamingo curtain hung over the bathtub.

“The tile’s all original, and the flamingo theme seemed befitting. Plus, this is the bathroom the kids use, so the birds make it fun.” She pointed to the adjacent room, where low bookshelves spanned two walls. “This is the library and toy room. Indie helps me pick out all the best books.” I gazed into the sunlit room, already imagining the joy I’d have felt spending morning after morning here as a kid.

“The plants on the shelves are a new addition. My friend Joy brings me fun goodies from her store. I never saw myself as a plant person, but they’re like kids—you just need to find out what each one needs to encourage it to grow.” She opened a wall closet, revealing boxes of toys and craft supplies. “Here’s where I keep the stuff for school. And this is my bedroom over here.”

I hesitated before stepping inside.

Everything was frilly and… pink. Except for the wall behind her bed, which contained a mural identical to the one in my rental unit.

“You did this?” I rubbed a hand over the painted scene.

Everly pushed the mountain of pillows off her covers and sat on her bed. “Yes. I did the one at your cottage first and loved it so much that I replicated it here. My decor’s really girly, but I chose pink because it makes me happy.” She gave a nervous laugh as if waiting for me to say something disparaging about her choices.

What had Lukas said to her? I ground my teeth but kept a tight rein on my emotions as I walked around her room, wound up like a coiled spring. Everly shouldn’t bear the brunt of my annoyance; Lukas should.

A sewing machine sat in one corner, and in the other, a desk sat beneath a hanging map.

I peered at the wrinkled poster, remembering the hours we spent together studying the various cities and countries. “After all this time, you still kept this?”

Everly walked over and stood next to me. “Of course. I’ve not made it anywhere yet. But maybe someday.”

“Where would you go first?”

“Australia. I still dream of seeing the Great Barrier Reef. Perhaps this summer I’ll visit. I just need to convince one of the girls to travel with me.”

I’ll go. The words perched at the tip of my tongue, ready to leap out. I’d clear my entire schedule and travel the world with her.

No. What was I thinking? Everly wouldn’t want to go with me. Not if she was pretending to date my brother.

I should have never gone along with Lukas’s plan. It was one thing agreeing to convince Everly to fake-date him when I believed their relationship ended on amicable terms. But now I’d learned the truth from Ben and heard Ev doubting herself too often for my liking.

“What happened between you and Lukas?” I asked quietly.

She glowered. “You mean you didn’t read the gossip magazines? Didn’t hear how I called it off and broke his heart? That’s the lie he and Seline spun to the public.”

He’d told me all that too. Everly had gotten cold feet and decided she didn’t want the kind of star-studded life my brother led. Lukas’s story never sat well with me, and after hearing the truth from Ben, everything made much more sense.

But I couldn’t just go by what Ben said. I needed to hear the truth from Everly’s lips.

“Was that what really happened?”

“No. But that was the version everyone latched on to. I caught Lukas and Seline making out after our engagement party and broke up with him on the spot. The news of our separation blew up overnight, and for the next two weeks, the paparazzi stalked me. I had to quit my job and move back in with my parents to hide from it all. And if that wasn’t bad enough, fans messaged me daily, calling me names, telling me I was crazy for not loving him.

“Some even told me that the world would be a better place without me in it.” A tear slid down her face, and she swiped it away with the back of her hand. “I deleted all my social media accounts, and thankfully, within a few months, everything died down. The internet’s memory might last forever, but its attention span is short. Lukas started dating someone else, and the world forgot about me.”

Everly wiped her tear-stained cheeks and exhaled a deep breath before giving me a watery smile. “Sorry for unloading all of that on you. It might not seem like it, but I have moved on. My relationship with Lukas is old news.”

Not to me. Learning the truth changed everything.

11

WYATT

“I still can’t believe you painted the ceiling,” I said, laughing over a plate of spaghetti.

My plan to stay for an hour had soon turned into a dinner invitation. And since I’d made good progress on my writing while Everly sewed, how could I say no? When Indie arrived home from work, she didn’t seem the least bit surprised to see me setting the table. Conversation flowed easily as we shared our favorite memories, one of them being how Everly painted their dorm ceiling.

“You remember our room freshman year,” Indie said. “The white tiles covering the ceilings were hideous. We had to spruce them up. Our RA was cool. She didn’t mind as long as we turned the tiles back when we moved out. Honestly, we were doing the school a favor by leaving behind some gorgeous artwork.”

“I’m not sure I’d call it art.” Everly chuckled. “I just liked to doodle.”

Indie rolled her eyes. “Anyone who makes things the way you do is an artist. I mean, you spent the afternoon sewing costumes for Quinn and me. And look around you: painted walls, elaborately decorated trees, and a whole bunch of kids’ crafts hanging on our fridge. Our house could look a giant mess, but it doesn’t. You stage everything to look artsy and quirky. Right, Wyatt? Back me up here.”

I nodded and sipped my wine. “She’s right. Don’t sell yourself short, Ev. You’ve always been the most creative person I know.”

“Says the famous writer.”

Our eyes met, and I’d swear a million watts of electricity crackled between us. I took another long sip of my wine, wondering if I was the only one experiencing the pull between us.

“I’m glad we’re doing this. It’s just like old times,” Indie said, appearing not to notice my inner turmoil. “When it was the three of us social misfits against the world.”

I arched my brow. “Misfits? Really?”

“Come on, you were a closeted fantasy freak.” Indie snorted. “You were basically a geek hiding in a hot bod.”

“Indie,” Everly said, her face blushing pink.

“Well, it’s true.” Indie lifted her chin and stared at me defiantly, challenging me to argue. But she was right. Many of my college friends hadn’t realized how deep my obsession ran. I’d kept it a secret because none of them would have understood.

“And I was a nineteen-year-old girl fascinated with anime and paranormal romance,” Indie continued. “Not exactly Miss Popularity over here, although I was your go-to when it came to seducing werewolves and the occasional hot zombie.”

Everly laughed. “You’re ridiculous. You’d have given any pageant girl a run for her money.”

“Maybe you’re right. I do enjoy wearing high heels and promoting world peace.” Indie gave a pageant wave before reaching over and squeezing Everly’s hand. “You were the most normal of us all. Actually, I take it back. Wyatt and I were the misfits, and you were just along for the weird ride.” Indie turned and smiled at me. “The Three Musketeers, back together again.”

“It is nice, isn’t it?” Everly turned to me and her affectionate smile stole my breath.

“I should—” My phone buzzed, snapping me back to reality. Without even glancing at the screen, I knew it was Lukas.

“Sorry, I’ve got to go.” I stood and pushed in my chair. No more hiding from my brother. I needed to tell him I wouldn’t help him, not after what he happened between him and Everly.

Indie got up too. “Let me walk you out. It’ll give us more time to catch up.”

“Sure thing.” I carried my plate over to the sink, and as I set it down, a pair of arms encircled my waist.

Everly.

Gosh. She might be tiny, but she was also incredibly strong. Then again, anyone harassed online who emerged on the other side smiling was a force to be reckoned with.

“Thanks for spending time with me today.” Everly pulled away, and her absence struck me with a whoosh.

Well, shoot. I was in trouble.

“Are you ready?” Indie called out from the front door.

I grabbed my laptop bag, and together, Indie and I walked down the driveway to the street, where I’d parked my car.

“Good seeing you tonight,” she said. “Don’t be a stranger. And be like those guys you write about.”

I hesitated before pulling out my car keys. “Excuse me?”

Indie crossed her arms over her chest. “How long are you going to play the best friend card? You need to tell her how you feel.”

My skin tingled. No. It couldn’t be. There was no way she knew. “I-I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Come on, Wy. How long will you put off telling Everly this time? This isn’t one of your novels. In real life, we don’t always get a second chance.”

My hands tightened around the keys in my pocket, their metal ridges digging into my skin. “How long have you known?”

“Since freshman year. You’d have to be blind not to see it. Why else would you have been at our place. All. The. Time? I’ll give you a hint—it sure as heck wasn’t for our cooking. We were terrible back then. Everybody knew you liked Everly. And I mean everybody.”

I frowned. Obviously not, or Lukas wouldn’t have made a move on her.

A gust of wind blew past us, and Indie pulled her sweater tighter around her neck. “Ev’s my sister from another mister. She needs someone who’ll encourage her to shine like the bright diamond she is. Question is, are you that fellow? Because if you aren’t, then take your puppy-dog eyes and six-pack abs and move along. Other guys would jump at the chance to meet her. In fact, I’m planning on introducing her to quite a few of my male friends right now.” Indie pulled out her phone and swiped her thumb up and down. “So many possibilities. One of them might just sweep your girl right off her feet.”

I gawked at her. “Wow. I never realized you were so manipulative.”

Indie placed a hand over her chest and grinned. “Aw, you say the sweetest things. And just so you know, I’ve always rooted for you two. Don’t mess this up. Night!”

Unbelievable.

I let out a laugh and shook my head. Had that really just happened? I got into my car and paused before pulling out my phone. In a perfect world, I’d do as Indie suggested—confess my feelings to Everly. But things weren’t as simple as she made them out to be. Everly was once engaged to my brother. Even if Lukas had cheated on her, how could Ev and I have a future together with their history hanging over us?

Brothers didn’t date each other’s exes.

I dragged a hand down my face and checked my messages.

Cole: I did some online sleuthing and found this

Cole: She was your girl. Wasn’t she?

Cole: Why didn’t you tell me you went to Sunnyvale for her?

I STARED at the photo of Everly and Lukas attending some red-carpet event. Dressed in a tux, my brother talked to a reporter as Everly stood beside him, gazing at him with an adoring smile and resplendent in a turquoise single-strap gown. My stomach sank. If I’d seen the photograph a few weeks ago, it would have depressed me for weeks. But today, knowing what I did, I saw for the first time that there was more to their story than that beautiful glossy photo revealed.

Me: I’m handling things

Cole: Handle things faster. I’m tired of seeing your mopey face around the apartment whenever you talk about her

Cole: You don’t want to lose her again

SHEESH. He and Indie were relentless. My phone buzzed again.

Lukas: Did you talk to Everly?

Lukas: Did she agree to do it?

I HESITATED with my thumb over the call button, dreading the impending conversation. Lukas was the only family I had left.

The phone rang, and he immediately picked up. “What’s taking you so long? The clock’s ticking here. Rumor is that it’s between Viktor Trumhill and me for the lead. Have you seen him? The guy’s seriously built. But if I can get photographed around LA with Ev by my side sometime next week, that should guarantee me the role.”

A ripple of aggravation fanned out beneath my skin. Did Lukas not realize how selfish he sounded? “What happened between you and Everly?” I forced through gritted teeth.

“We broke up. Ev wasn’t interested in my kind of lifestyle. To be honest, I don’t think it ever really suited her.”

Seriously? He had the nerve to lie to his own brother?

“I spoke to Everly. She told me about you and Seline.”

The long silence on the other end of the line only confirmed the truth behind Everly’s account and irritation quickly morphed into anger. “How could you hurt her like that?”

Didn’t he know she was someone you treasured? Someone you promised forever to?

When Lukas finally spoke, his words were measured, deliberate, as if he was trying to convince himself as much as convince me. “It was just the one time, I swear. Seline and I were drunk. You know how I get when I’ve had too much to drink. We didn’t realize what we were doing until it was too late.”

“You cheated on her. There’s no way I’d have agreed to this plan of yours if I’d known.”

Lukas must’ve heard the finality in my voice because he blurted out, “But I’m your brother. I got your book into the hands of thousands of readers. If I hadn’t mentioned StarFire in that interview, nobody would have even known your story existed.”

His petulant tone grated on my ears. “Maybe so. But let’s be honest with each other. If my writing wasn’t any good, no one would’ve bothered reading the other books in the series, would they?”

There was another long silence before he spoke again. “You owe me, Wyatt.”

That might have worked before, but I was tired of him holding it over my head again and again. When would my gratitude be enough? “I never asked for your help. And I must’ve thanked you at least a million times.”

“Remember what Gramps used to say? He told us to always watch out for each other,” Lukas added, burying the dagger deeper. “You’re the only family I’ve got. Doesn’t that count for anything?”

How dare he use memories of our grandfather as his ultimate trump card! Guilt-tripping, withholding the truth—that wasn’t how family worked. “That cuts both ways. And since you’ve brought up Gramps, he would have told you not to hold things over me. He also would’ve been appalled by how you treated Everly.”

“What are you talking about? I treated her—”

“Enough!” I was done listening. Years ago, I stepped out of their lives because I didn’t want to be a constant damper on their relationship. But if I’d known then how Lukas made her question herself, I would never have left Everly’s side. I’d have defended her, even if it meant going against my own brother.

“I’m not convincing Everly for you. End of story. Talk to her yourself. Leave me out of it. She deserves someone better.”

“Someone like you?”

The blood drained from my face. Lukas’s question struck me like a train, stopping me dead in my tracks.

My heart pounded in my chest.

Ask him.

Ask him.

Indie’s words looped over and over in the back of my mind. Everybody knew you liked her. Everybody.

Not my brother. It wasn’t possible. “Did you know how I felt about Everly?”

His lengthy pause confirmed my suspicions.

“You knew?” I roared. “You knew that I cared about her, but you still went after her?”

“I had my suspicions, but you never said anything. When Ev and I hung out when you were in England, I realized why you were always going on about her. Everly has this way of seeing people, of drawing them in. She reflects all the best there is inside of them.”

“So you waited until I was gone to make your move.” The truth had me reeling. “How could you do that to me?”

“I’m sorry, but in my defense, you never actually said that you liked her. Look, what if we make another deal? You’ve always wanted to make your books into movies. What if I organized for you to meet someone? You talk to Everly for me, and I’ll introduce you to a guy—”

“Don’t.” My answer was short and swift. “Don’t talk to anyone about me. In fact, don’t talk to me ever again. We’re done.” I ended the call and pounded my fists against the steering wheel.

He freaking knew. My own brother knew how I felt and yet still went behind my back and asked Everly out anyway.

How much had I missed out on by failing to act on my feelings? After graduation, I’d tortured myself, convinced that my time with Everly was like a comet that came to earth once in a lifetime—one blazing, brilliant event not meant to last forever. Everly was the woman I gave my heart to, and she was supposed to remain in my past.

But now, I’d make sure she was in my future too. This time, nothing would keep me from her.

12

EVERLY

“I’m so sorry.” Quinn’s shoulders sagged as she paused in her knitting. “I didn’t realize Nelson was such a jerk. He was always so cordial with me.”

“That’s because you ran in the same circles,” Indie scoffed. “Of course he was a lickspittle with you. He wanted all his rich friends to like him. But he sure revealed his true colors to Everly.”

“Lickspittle?” I stared at my friend in surprise. Was she speaking English? The word felt foreign on my tongue.

“Nelson was a suck-up to Quinn and her friends, then acted all lordly and haughty around you.” Indie unraveled a few of her stitches before her needles continued their rhythmic movement. “That man makes me so furious that I’m missing stitches here.”

Joy threw back her head and laughed, her shoulders shaking the entire time.

“What?” Indie scowled. “You think I won’t call out a pillock when I see one?”

Now I let out a hearty laugh too. My date with Nelson had been dreadful, but somehow, Indie’s indignation made the entire situation seem hilarious.

Joy hiccuped as she wiped her face. “This is why I love you guys. I gotta keep those words in mind next time I talk about my ex.”

A corner of Indie’s mouth twitched up. “If you liked those insults, I have a whole bunch more I can toss out.”

It was Thursday, our usual knitting club night. Quinn was finishing up a pair of striped socks, Indie was hate-knitting a puke-green hat for her annoying co-worker, Drew, and Joy was knitting mittens for her boys. Tonight, our meeting was at Joy’s house instead of mine because Jasper and Leo were sleeping over at Joy’s sister’s place, which meant that while the mice were away, the cats could play.

And these particular cats were enjoying music that focused heavily on girl power and heartbreak while filling our bellies with treats normally kept hidden from prying eyes. Treats such as lemon drop martinis and all the chocolate a girl could want, which today included fancy chocolates, courtesy of Quinn, chocolate ice cream, chosen by Indie and me, and better-than-a-boyfriend brownies, baked by Joy.

I bit into a decadent dark chocolate and walnut brownie and moaned. So good. True to their name, these were better than any man I’d ever dated. Then again, I’d been out of the game for so long that the only time I could recall where I’d felt something for a guy was when Wyatt and I role-played a few days ago.

Oh caramel apples, just the thought of how he’d looked at me, that intoxicating mixture of love and desire, had my blood boiling to a dangerous temperature. Wyatt was such an impressive actor that I’d almost believed he was about to kiss me. Caught up in the moment, I’d wanted it too.

What was I doing? I wasn’t supposed to be falling for him. No way could I keep entertaining those thoughts, especially when he’d only acted like that because he cared about someone else. I took another bite of brownie and chewed slowly to savor the flavor, but somehow, it didn’t satisfy me like before.

“Forget what’s-his-face because I have another guy for you to meet,” Joy said. “His name’s Fred, and he’s taking you to Luna’s Restaurant tomorrow night at seven. It’s a proper dinner date with a sweet guy. He has great taste in plants, and he’s an accountant. I told him all about you, Everly, and he is really excited to meet you.”

I made a face. How had I gone from zero dates for almost a year to two within the space of a week? “I’m not sure that I’m ready to get back out there again.”

Indie licked ice cream off her spoon and tsked with her tongue. “You can’t back out now. Remember our pact. You keep meeting guys until we find you your Mr. Good Enough. Or until two months have passed.”

I sighed. As much as I wasn’t comfortable with the plan, how else was I meant to find someone? I wanted to fall in love and grow old with someone who saw me the same way Wyatt saw his mystery girl: the chocolate to his vanilla, the moon to his stars.

“Alright,” I huffed .”I’ll meet a whole bunch of frogs if it means I might find a prince.”

“I think you mean kiss a bunch of frogs,” Indie said with a smirk. “That’s how the story goes. And, fortunately for you, there’ll be a whole bunch of frogs at the speed dating event. You’re welcome for the costume, by the way.” She eyed the pile of fabric sitting next to my sewing machine on the dining table. “You dressed up as Sailor Moon will act as a beacon, attracting every geek within a five-mile radius.”

Although Indie and I were about the same height, she was a lot bustier, so I planned to adjust the top tonight. “Yeah, about that. I’m still not sure how you expect me to wear this outfit in public. The bottom’s way too short. It barely covers my rear end.” I’d have to wear a pair of bicycle shorts underneath.

Indie laughed. “Well, that’s how it fits Sailor Moon too. It’s meant to be sexy.”

“Why must women’s costumes always be provocative?” Quinn sighed loudly. “Want to be a nurse? Make it sexy. Want to be a wizard? Put on a beard and make it sexy. Women shouldn’t have to dress themselves in scraps of fabric. They should wear whatever makes them feel attractive and comfortable.”

“You’re completely right,” Indie agreed. “I’m all for gender equality. And if men want to dress up as shirtless firefighters, who am I to deny them that right? Equal opportunity all the way. What are you dressing up as on Saturday?”

“Han Solo,” Quinn said.

“Ooh,” Indie squealed. “You should have told me sooner. I could have gone as Princess Leia. We’d have matched. As it stands, I’m going as a librarian.”

Quinn nodded and resumed her knitting. “That’s a great costume idea! Show men that you have more to offer than your legs and assets.”

Joy snorted. “She said assets.”

Quinn bit her bottom lip, her mouth twitching.

“Don’t worry, Q,” Indie said with a too-innocent look. “I’ll be a very proper librarian.” She then loudly whispered to me, “A properly sexy librarian.”

I burst out laughing as Quinn shook her head.

Joy popped a piece of chocolate into her mouth. “I wish I could come with you. But the boys have soccer on Saturday and piano on Sunday nights. Their schedules are busier than mine. It’s exhausting. I wish my dad were still here to help.”

We all gazed at her in sympathy. Joy fell pregnant while in college and left school to raise the boys on her own. She’d lived with her father for a few years to get back on her feet, but he decided to travel the world this past year, so Joy moved out of his place, determined to make it on her own. From her description, arranging her life around childcare seemed more complex than programming a rocket to land on Mars. One look at her calendar, and I got dizzy from all the color-coding.

“Doesn’t Ricky help out?” Indie asked.

“No.” Joy began savagely knitting. “He’s still trying to get his business off the ground. You can’t collect child support from someone who’s not earning a salary. But at least his parents are helpful. They watch the boys once a week. It’s just too bad their deadbeat son won’t step up.”

She stopped what she was doing and growled at her project. “It took two of us to bring the boys into this world, but I’m the one left raising them. Half the time, I’m not even sure if I’m doing a good job. I’m barely keeping my head above water as it is, and my boys deserve so much better.”

My heart broke at hearing her words, and I walked over to her on the couch and wrapped my arms around her shoulders. “You’re an amazing mom. We can all see that. What you’re doing is hard work. The boys are so lucky to have such a strong and loving woman in their lives.”

“I know.” Joy sniffed.

Indie got to her feet. “You know what’ll take this knitting club meeting up a notch?”

More dessert?

“An impromptu dance party!”

Joy rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand and gave everyone a small smile. “I have the perfect thing. My dad bought me a Simi before he left.” She cleared her throat. “Simi, play girl-power dance party music.”

“You do realize that Simi listens to everything you say and sends all your personal information to advertisers?” Quinn said.

“La, la, la.” Joy placed her hands over her ears. “I can’t hear you over the sound of my singing.”

“Playing girl-power party music,” a robotic voice responded. Seconds later, Ariana Grande’s voice floated through the air.

While Indie danced around the room, Joy sang into one of her knitting needles.

“Come on, Everly.” Indie shimmied over. “Join in.”

I grabbed Quinn’s hand with a giggle, and we both began dancing with Indie.

Ups and downs. Breakups and makeups. Knits, purls, and a ton of dropped stitches. This was why I loved these women. They’d stuck with me through it all. And when life gave us lemons, we took those darn lemons, made lemon drop martinis, and danced.

Somewhere after the third power ballad and an impressive air guitar solo by Indie, someone knocked loudly on the front door.

“Pizza!” Indie yelled, a sheen of sweat on her face. “I’ll get it.” She ran to the door and threw it open.

“Aiden!” I waved to my older brother. “Come join us!”

Still in his police uniform, he stepped forward, his massive frame filling the doorway. “What’s going on over here?”

“Can’t you tell?” Indie shouted over the music. “It’s an official knitting club meeting,”

“Shouldn’t there be more knitting and less… everything else?” Aiden scanned the room until he found Joy. “It’s a little loud, don’t you think?”

Joy’s smile merely widened. “Sorry, I’m having a hard time hearing you over the music. Did you say you wanted it louder? ‘Simi, turn up the volume!’”

The music grew louder.

Aiden’s frown deepened. “Simi, turn off the music,” he barked.

The music shut off, and I froze. My brother seemed even grumpier than usual.

Joy took a swig of her lemon drop martini before stalking toward the door. “Don’t be such a spoilsport. You can’t outlaw fun.”

Aiden crossed his arms over his chest, and the two of them glared at each other, engaging in a silent game of chicken with neither willing to back down.

“This isn’t a nightclub, Joy. It’s a residential area. Do you even know what time it is?”

Joy placed a hand on her cocked hip. “It’s a little after seven. And our music wasn’t even that loud. Kevin across the street practices his drums at all hours of the night, but you never say anything to him. Why are you always so grumpy with me?”

“Because you are exasperating,” Aiden grumbled.

A look of hurt flashed across her face before she downed her entire drink. “Well, ditto to you, you pollock.”

Aiden’s eyes widened and his mouth fell open. “Did you just call me a cod?”

Indie snorted from the couch. “She meant pillock.”

Aiden’s brows rose higher, and Joy’s face reddened.

“Pizza, anyone?” Ben walked into the house, carrying two boxes. “I hope you don’t mind. But the delivery person dropped these off at Aiden’s by accident, so being the gentleman that I am, I brought them over for you.” He placed the boxes on the counter and helped himself to a slice. “Of course, that means I’ll be deducting the obligatory pizza tax.” As if sensing the tension in the room, Ben paused mid-bite. “Why don’t we ever get pizza? The girls have pizza.”

“And lemon drop martinis.” Joy raised her empty glass.

“I just got off a long shift,” Aiden snapped at our brother. “You’re welcome to anything you find in the fridge.”

Ben screwed up his face. “Bread and baloney? No, thank you. I outgrew that in first grade.”

I wouldn’t have thought it possible, but Aiden’s frown grew even deeper. “Well, why did you decide to host poker night at my place instead of yours? I already told you my schedule was packed.”

Ben bit into the slice of pizza. “I’ve hosted our poker nights for the past two months, and Sam’s complaining that he’s bored of the same location. But seeing as the girls have food, maybe we could mix things up and hang out here instead. How are you at poker? I’ll bet some of you are real sharks.” His eyes landed on Quinn and narrowed.

Quinn got to her feet and marched over to where Ben stood, her heels clicking on the laminate floor. “Stop stealing our food.” She tugged the pizza out of my brother’s hand. “It’s knitting club night, so unless you plan on doing some type of fiber-based activity, you’re not welcome.”

He smirked. “Today’s your lucky day, princess, because I happen to know how to knit. Indie taught me a few years ago. Knit one, purl one, am I right, Indie?”

Indie’s mouth twitched as if she was trying hard not to laugh. “Right.”

“Boys? What’s going on?” a gruff voice called from outside. “I thought we were playing poker. We’re sitting over there on our lonesomes, waiting for someone to order food.” Sam, Ben’s sixty-year-old employee at the body shop, walked in with an unlit cigar in his hand. Seeing everyone in the room, he turned and hollered, “Wyatt, get over here! We’re eating next door.”

Wyatt? Here?

Wyatt strolled into the crowded living room. “Hi, everyone.” His eyes immediately found mine, and I swore they sparkled. “Hey, Everly.”

My gaze lingered too long on his lips, and behind me, Indie cleared her throat.

Oh right. He was talking to me. “Hi, Wyatt. If you’re playing poker with my brothers, watch out. Ben cheats.”

“Not well,” Quinn muttered behind me at the same time as Ben growled, “I do not. And even if I did, you wouldn’t catch me.”

“See?” I pointed at Ben. “He admitted it. Aiden, you should arrest him.”

Aiden rubbed his temples and sighed.

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Wyatt grinned at me, and I found myself mirroring his smile.

Ben reached out to grab another slice, and Quinn slapped his hand away. “Fine.” He pouted. “No pizza. By the way, Ev, when were you planning on telling me about that speed dating thing?”

Ugh. Were we really discussing this now? “Wyatt and Johann made me sign up. They needed girls.”

“That’s not all Everly has scheduled,” Indie said. “She also has a date tomorrow night. Joy arranged it.”

Aiden’s expression became distrustful.

Uncomfortable with the way my oldest brother was looking at me, I shifted from one foot to another, hating that he saw me as someone who needed protecting. “The guy’s an accountant, for goodness’ sake. You don’t get much safer than that.”

“You’d be surprised by how many white-collar criminals there are out there,” Aiden said.

I cracked a smile. “Good thing I don’t have any money to steal. Don’t worry. I’ll be safe. The girls know where I’m going.”

“Then perhaps we should too.” Ben walked over to my side. “Where is this date? What time?”

Oh no. I remembered what happened last time. “No way am I telling you. I don’t need any of you showing up with your big grumpy faces, trying to scare the poor guy off. The girls will rescue me if I get in trouble.”

Quinn held up a knitting needle and made a quick stabbing motion. “It’s surprising how sharp these things are. Anything can become a weapon in a pinch.”

Whoa. I swallowed hard. Remember not to get on her bad side.

“And on that cheerful note, we should get going.” Ben made his way over to the front door, a slice of pizza magically in his hand. “Come along, gentlemen. Let’s not bother the womenfolk any longer.”

“You’re the one who told me to check up on them in the first place,” Aiden grumbled. He gave the living room one final sweep before leaving.

“Thanks for the dinner.” Sam reached out to take the slice from Ben, who pulled his hand away just in time.

“No pizza,” Ben said with a straight face. “Your wife won’t let us hang out if you don’t follow the rules.”

“You have a teeny bit of heart trouble, and all of a sudden, everyone’s a doctor,” Sam muttered. “Goodnight, ladies!”

Now the only guy left in the room, Wyatt gave me a smile that did all sorts of strange things to my stomach. “Enjoy your date, Everly.”

My chest tightened, and my face heated. “Thanks.”

I turned to see Joy, Indie, and Quinn sitting on the couch, knitting needles in motion, none of them looking up.

It was too quiet: the calm before the storm.

“This silence feels ominous,” I said.

Indie put down her knitting needles, her eyes glowing with mischief. “We were just waiting for the guys to leave so we could play the music again. Simi, play girl-power dance music.” The music started again, and Indie held out her hands. “Come on, ladies!”

With a laugh, I took her hand in mine, and we danced, knitted, sewed, and ate the night away.

13

EVERLY

“Can I get you something to drink?” Although only seven o’clock, Molly, our server, already looked haggard, with strands of curly red hair escaping her bun. Given her expression, perhaps I should have asked her the same question.

“I’ll have water, please.” After waking up with a headache from last night’s impromptu dance party, I’d resolved to drink only water tonight.

“I’ll have water too,” Fred said with a smile.

Molly tapped something into her device. “Wonderful, and would you like more time to study the menu?”

“No, thanks,” I said. “I think I’m ready. I’ll have the salmon, please.”

“And I’ll have what she’s having.” Fred gave me another of his dopey smiles.

Molly typed in our orders before returning with our water and a basket of bread.

I gazed at the pale, lanky man sitting opposite. He wore his brown hair neatly parted and combed to the side. A pale smattering of freckles dusted the top of his nose, and his tan button-down shirt looked crisp, like he’d just ironed it. While not particularly handsome, Fred wasn’t ugly either. Overall, he had a very average, neat appearance.

“So, do you enjoy dancing?” I suspected the answer was no, but Luna’s was well-known for its lively music. They had a band playing tonight, and a few couples already graced the dance floor.

Fred pulled a face. “Goodness, no! I’ve got two left feet. But I’ve heard great things about the food here, so I thought I’d give it a try.”

I eyed the couples swaying to the music, disappointed that we wouldn’t be joining them tonight. Okay, so Fred wasn’t into dancing, but at least he was honest, which I found refreshing.

“You look beautiful,” Fred said.

I smiled at his compliment. “Thank you. My roommate helped me pick the dress. And I like your outfit too. It’s very…” I struggled to find the best word to describe the tan button-down shirt and matching khakis he wore tonight. “Monochrome.”

“Thank you. I own five identical shirts and pants. I’m more efficient with my time when I don’t have to think about what to wear every morning.”

He had a closet full of… beige clothes? My eyebrows raised so high, they probably brushed against my hairline. What would he make of my colorful wardrobe, or better yet, my brightly painted house?

Fred nibbled on a piece of bread. “This is yummy.”

We fell into an awkward silence and then I cleared my throat. “Joy tells me that you enjoy houseplants.”

That must have been the right thing to say because Fred’s entire face lit up. He leaned forward, placing his slender hands on the table. “I am a houseplant enthusiast. It’s a hobby I’ve enjoyed ever since the age of twelve.” As he spoke about his collection, the corners of his eyes crinkled, and his hands moved like a conductor leading an orchestra. While Fred wasn’t as handsome or muscular as some, he seemed earnest, the type of guy who dreamed of owning a beige four-bedroom house in the suburbs, complete with a wife, minivan, and two-point-five children.

“Everly?” Fred stared expectantly at me.

Oops. Must be my turn to talk. “I’ve only recently started taking care of plants. So far, I have a snake plant and a few philodendrons.”

“Those are excellent beginner plants.” He smiled again, and I waited to see if I felt anything toward him.

Zilch.

I glanced down at my phone. Yikes. It had been only twenty minutes. “What are your favorite plants?” I asked, struggling to keep the conversation going.

Fred tapped his jaw and stared at the ceiling, muttering to himself before responding, “I enjoy the challenge of caring for begonias and anthuriums. But it’s impossible to name a favorite plant when I own three hundred and thirty-five.”

I almost choked on my water. He had over three hundred plants? Joy mentioned he was a plant enthusiast, but this went beyond a simple hobby. Fred was a wannabe jungle-dweller.

Hmm. Maybe that explained the khaki?

“Mother and I enjoy seeking out rare species.” Fred picked up his napkin off the table and tied it around his neck like a bib. “We’ve even built a greenhouse in our spare bedroom for tropical plants.”

Hold on one philodendron pickin’ minute. An alarm bell clanged in my mind. Overlooking the fact that a grown man sat across from me, wearing what was essentially a bib, I circled back to the more pressing matter at hand. “Do you live with your mother?”

“Of course.” Fred’s expression turned serious. “Fiscally, it’s the most prudent thing to do. Housing prices are absurd at present. Why waste money on rent when I have a perfectly good bedroom at home? Mother knows all my favorite foods, does my laundry, and at the rate that I’m saving, I should be in a position to purchase a home in a few years.”

Okay, other than his mother still cooking for him and doing his laundry, the rest sounded very… responsible. I tried to stay positive. “You two must be very close.”

“I hope that isn’t a problem. I’m an only child of a single parent, and anyone I enter into a relationship with must support the important role she plays in my life.” He gave me an apologetic look when his phone began beeping. “Sorry for the interruption. I have to text Mother to remind her to take her medicine.”

Fred typed away furiously on his phone. “Do you mind if I take a photo of you?”

“Sure. I guess.”

He snapped a photo and typed on the phone again. “Mother says she approves. You’re very pretty.”

My eyebrows flew up again. “Thanks.”

Holy moly. If this guy turned out to be a serial killer, I was going to come back as a ghost and haunt Joy forever.

Molly walked by, and Fred looked up. “We’d like some more bread and several napkins, please.”

“Of course,” she said.

When she walked away, he put down his phone and folded his hands together. “The bread here is delicious. I’ll take any uneaten buns home.”

Molly returned with another basket of bread and a handful of napkins, which Fred tore into long strips to wrap each bun. One by one, he placed the tiny, mummified figures in a neat row beside his plate.

Molly’s mouth fell open, and she and I shared a look.

This is your date? her eyes seemed to say.

First and last, I attempted to communicate with my eyebrows.

Molly shook her head as she left.

I giggled as Fred meticulously wrapped yet another bun. “You might as well order a third basket,” I teased. “You could save money by eating bread and taking your salmon home.”

Fred’s face stretched into a grin as if I’d just informed him they were giving away free plants at the end of our meal. “What a fantastic idea! Two meals for the price of one. Let me call our server over again.”

Noooo. I was kidding. Please don’t.

My protests died in my throat as he flagged Molly down and asked for two more baskets of bread and a takeout container. Without saying a word, she brought over the baskets and then our plates of food.

He carefully transferred his meal to the plastic container. “I’m so glad Joy set us up. You seem like such an understanding person. Much more so than Lisa.”

By now, an entire field of red flags danced in front of me, like cheerleaders waving their pom-poms.

“Who’s Lisa?”

“My ex-girlfriend. We broke up last week.”

Give me an R. Give me an E. Give me a B.O.U.N.D. What’s that spell?

“Lisa never accepted my relationship with my mom. I thought she did. But she didn’t.” Fred sighed as he scooped up his mashed potatoes.

Too late to jump off this moving train before it gloriously crashed and burned, I had to ask, “What happened with Lisa?”

Please don’t say that you murdered her.

“She wanted us to get married, but I didn’t know how Mother would feel about that. So I told Lisa that I’d need to talk to Mother first. That’s when she broke up with me.”

“And Lisa’s still alive and well?”

Fred gave me an odd look. “Of course she is.”

Phew! “How long did you two date?”

“Four years.”

I swallowed my mouthful of salmon. “You dated for four years? And she supported your…” Ridiculously cheap? “Frugal lifestyle and houseplant collection?”

He nodded. “Do you want to see a picture of her?”

Did I ever. “Sure.” I needed to see a photo of this living saint of a woman.

Fred held up his phone and showed me a photo of him with a sweet-looking redhead. Lisa wore a yellow cardigan and pearls, and Fred had on—surprise, surprise—a beige button-down shirt identical to the one he wore tonight.

“She’s lovely,” I said.

Fred’s smile wobbled, and he put away the phone. Without looking at me, he began eating his bread again, and I returned to my salmon until a loud, wet sniffling came from across the table.

Oh my goodness. Was he crying?

Fred’s shoulders shook as he blew his nose loudly into his cloth napkin.

That was it. I couldn’t remember the names of all of Indie’s dating goddesses, but this was a sure sign from the heavens that our date was over.

“Fred,” I said as gently as I could.

He looked up, his eyes red. “Yes?”

“Do you love Lisa?”

He sniffled again. “Yes, I do. Sorry, I’m not normally this emotional, but I’ve been a wreck since she broke up with me. You’re fantastic, but you’re not”—a loud sob escaped him—“my Lisa.”

From what he’d told me, no one was. Lisa sounded like a rare breed of woman. “Fred, you love Lisa, and it sounds as if she supported your special bond with your mother.”

“She did, didn’t she?” He sniffed. “And she liked my begonia maculata wightii too.”

Someone get this woman on speed dial. “I’ll bet that if you called her right now, you two could work things out. Just tell her how much you care about her.”

Fred reached across the table and grasped my hand in both of his. “I’m going to do precisely that. Thank you, Everly. I’m sorry we didn’t work out. I hope you aren’t too heartbroken. Mother tells me I’m quite a catch.”

I tugged my hand away, struggling to keep a straight face. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll manage.”

He grabbed his wrapped bread and the takeout container, then gave me an awkward wave before shuffling toward the door.

“Wait. You’re still wearing your napkin!”

Too late. He had already left.

Molly walked over to the table. “Can I get you anything else? Or would you like the check?”

Wait a minute. I glanced at the door and burst out laughing. Had Frugal Fred left me to pay the bill?

Molly must have caught the semi-maniacal edge to my laughter because she gave me a concerned look. “Is everything alright?”

I wiped a tear from my eye. “This was my second date this week. The first guy called me a gold digger, and tonight’s date, who’s still very much hung up on his ex, left me to pay for our meals.”

Molly tsked and typed something into her device. “Here I thought I was having a bad day, but you win. You know what? You deserve a slice of chocolate cake. On the house. If anyone asks, it’s your birthday.”

“But it’s not—” Oh, I got what she was doing there. I grinned. Molly was my kind of gal. “That would be wonderful. And perhaps a glass of wine too, please?”

“You got it.” She glanced at the empty seat opposite me and shook her head again before walking away.

“May I join you?”

I opened my mouth to tell whoever it was that I was in no mood for another bad date but looked up to find Wyatt standing over me.

“We have to stop meeting like this.” Somehow, seeing him here came as no surprise. “You were assigned to watch out for me again, weren’t you? How did you even know where to find me? I didn’t tell Ben anything.”

Wyatt slid into Fred’s seat, his presence warm and comforting, like a loaf of bread fresh from the oven.

Frugal Fred would have liked him, I decided.

“Sorry,” Wyatt said. “I’ve sworn to keep my source a secret. But if it makes you feel any better, I sat at the bar and hadn’t planned on approaching you until I saw your date leave. What did you do to scare this one away?”

I rolled my eyes but failed to hide my smile. “I didn’t do anything.” After offering Wyatt a half full basket of bread, I proceeded to tell him everything that had happened. By the time I reached the part about Fred mummifying loaves of bread, Wyatt was in fits of laughter, and I was enjoying my glass of wine and slice of chocolate cake.

Molly walked by and waggled her eyebrows. Nice, she mouthed, pointing to Wyatt.

Yeah, I thought so too. Shame whoever broke his heart didn’t think so.

I gestured to my dessert. “Want some illegal cake?” I leaned in closer and whispered, “They think it’s my birthday.”

Wyatt’s eyes shone with amusement. “I figured that out when the waitstaff sang to us. No, I won’t touch your cake. It’s all yours, Ev. You deserve it.”

I did, didn’t I? And I could think of nothing in the world that a yummy dessert and a glass of wine couldn’t make better. I glanced over at Wyatt. Actually, scratch that. Nothing a glass of wine, a slice of yummy cake, and great company couldn’t fix.

14

WYATT

Everly let out a moan. “Oh my gosh. This cake is divine. Are you sure you don’t want some?”

I hadn’t planned on eating any of her cake, but one glimpse of her playful smile and all self-control flew out the window. “Sure. I’d love some.”

Everly leaned forward and waved her laden fork in the air. “Go ahead, take a bite.”

In all honesty, I’d rather take a bite of something else. Everly looked stunning tonight. The way her wrap dress clung to her body, highlighting her curves, wasn’t lost on me. Seriously, how could Fred leave her, looking the way she did?

I opened my mouth, and a forkful of moist chocolate cake with the faintest hint of espresso hit my tongue.

“Decadent, isn’t it?”

“Delicious,” I murmured, not talking about the cake.

Everly pulled back and ate another mouthful, and it struck me how happy she seemed given the situation.

“How do you do it?”

“Do what?”

“Stay so… positive?”

She chuckled. “You mean, how do I keep smiling, despite my last two dates being a complete and utter bust? What can I do besides laugh? I went into this pact with my eyes wide open. I never expected things to just magically click. It takes a lot to connect with someone.”

“You and I clicked.” The words slipped out before I could stop them.

Her eyes sparkled. “Well, we were special.”

An ache stirred in my soul upon hearing those bittersweet words. Now that I’d had time to reflect on my conversation with Lukas, I realized that while it would be so easy to blame him for stealing Everly from me, the truth was, she and I weren’t dating. We were friends when I left for England because I hadn’t plucked up the courage to confess how I felt. My brother might be a selfish jerk, but he wasn’t stupid. He’d seen how special she was and acted.

“Enjoying your dessert?” The server eyed me then Everly before placing the bill on the table.

I reached out to grab it, but Everly gently pushed my hand away. “It’s my bad date. I’ve got it.” As she signed the check, my phone buzzed.

Indie: How’s our girl doing?

Me: Good. Frugal Fred left, so I’m keeping her company

Indie: Frugal Fred?

Me: Ev will tell you later

Indie: Ok. Show our girl a good time! She deserves it

“ARE you ready to head out? It’s almost nine, and I’m about to turn into a pumpkin. I can’t wait to change out of this dress and into my pajamas.” As Everly stood and gazed at the dance floor, there was no mistaking the longing in her eyes.

I reached out a hand. “Care to dance?”

“Really?” Delight lit up her face.

Frugal Fred, you missed out on something remarkable.

“Of course.” I’d dance with her every night if it meant seeing her smile like that.

The band began playing an Adele cover as we walked out onto the dance floor.

“I love dancing,” Everly said, her expression dreamy.

“So I recall. You dragged me to all those swing classes in sophomore year.”

“You were always such a good sport about it too.” She rested her head gingerly against my chest, and we swayed side to side, letting the music wash over us.

This is it. This is what happiness feels like.

“I don’t remember the last time I danced like this,” Everly murmured. “Maybe at a party with Lukas.”

And just like that, our perfect moment became tainted. Could she ever break free from the hold my brother still had over her?

“Ev, how would you like this date to end tonight?”

“Well,” she began slowly, “I enjoyed my meal, and while I’d love to continue dancing, I’m kind of tired. Honestly, I’d rather be at home, watching Hocus Pocus.”

Done. “Looking for some company?”

“If that company’s you? Always.”

Be still my beating heart. We were going to get our girl.

I SAT ON THE COUCH, waiting for Everly to change. Apparently, in addition to owning multiple Christmas trees, she had a thing for pillows because she’d covered her couch in them. I’d never been a pillow kind of guy myself, but it was sort of nice being surrounded by them, like being enveloped in a cozy hug.

“I texted Indie and asked her to join us,” Everly called out from her bedroom.

My heart sank. Was she friend-zoning me already?

“But she said she’s grabbing dessert with Quinn and can’t make it,” Everly continued.

Thank you, Indie.

Ev appeared in a sweatshirt and leggings, her face scrubbed clean and her hair in a side braid. She shoved a few pillows aside and flopped onto the couch beside me, so close that our thighs touched. I tensed, wondering if she’d pull away. When she didn’t move, I followed her lead and remained where I was too.

“Your trees are spectacular at night.” I stared at their glittering lights.

“Thank you. The outside decor’s for everyone else. But the trees inside are for me. This time of year’s always a little hard.” She grabbed a pillow and hugged it to her chest.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you.”

Everly shrugged. “Don’t worry about it. I get it. Lukas is your brother. But we’re hanging out now, aren’t we? That’s what counts.” She rested her head on my shoulder and closed her eyes. I stilled, every inch of my body tingling with an awareness of where our bodies touched. One glance at her neck, and I longed to lean in and brush my lips across her skin.

“Did you know that Fred owns over three hundred houseplants?” she asked, her eyes still shut. “I was shocked when he told me, but who am I to judge? I buy Christmas trees because they make me happy. Sometimes you have to do what makes you happy.”

She yawned, and her breathing grew heavier. Several minutes ticked past, and just when I thought she’d fallen asleep, she murmured, “I’m so glad you’re back. It’s just like college. Those were the best times, weren’t they?”

I waited for a beat to see if she’d say anything more, but the only sound was her breathing.

“Ev?” I whispered.

Silence.

I placed a gentle kiss on the top of her head. “I agree. The times spent with you were the best.”

15

EVERLY

Gosh. Something smelled good. Had Indie turned on the coffee machine already? Wanting to stay in bed for a few more minutes, I tugged my blankets around me tighter, clinging to the fleeing remnants of last night’s dream. I’d imagined Wyatt and me dancing at the restaurant, before his mouth found mine. Each brush of his lips was like a match, setting my skin on fire. And just when I didn’t think I could take it anymore, Wyatt whispered in my ear, his hot breath searing my skin as he told me how he loved me and always had.

“Um, Everly?”

Yes. I loved the sound of his voice. Low and growly. Warm like sunlight and spicy like cinnamon. I gripped my pillow tighter and slid my hand under the covers, imagining that I was reaching under his shirt, tracing each deliciously defined ab muscle with my fingertips.

“Everly?”

Wait one second. I shifted my body, and someone groaned. Not a dream groan, an actual one. I jolted upright, and to my horror, a very real Wyatt lay sprawled beneath me on the couch. “Morning, Ev.” He eyed my hand, currently splayed across his sculpted abs.

I yanked my hand from his shirt. Oh, apple cider donuts! This was bad. Really bad. What happened yesterday night? The last thing I remembered was us sitting on the couch, about to watch Hocus Pocus. Judging by the bright light outside, I’d fallen asleep beside him.

Or on top of him, to be more precise.

My face heated as I recalled all the things I’d dreamed of us doing. “Good morning.” I lowered my gaze, unable to look him in the eye. How could I have that dream about Wyatt, of all people? We were just friends, and he had feelings for someone else, for goodness’ sake.

Wyatt ran a languid thumb up and down my arm, causing a tingle to run all the way to my toes. “Did you sleep well?”

“I’ll bet she did.”

I whipped my head around to see Indie sitting at the dining room table, eating a bagel.

“How long have you been sitting there?” I hissed.

She calmly spread her cream cheese, like it was no big deal finding her two best friends sleeping together on the couch. “Long enough to know that you two looked awful cuddly there.”

Wyatt sat up and ran his fingers through his hair, which did crazy things to my stomach. “I should go.” He stood, and I tried not to stare at his butt. Because, hello, friends didn’t check each other out.

Who was I kidding? I snuck a peek anyway because, after last night’s dream, I had to.

Just as expected. Desire pooled in my belly. It was a very fine specimen.

“Bye, Wyatt!” Indie fluttered her fingers in the air. “Let’s arrange another awkward sleepover sometime soon.”

Seriously? I shot her a stern look.

Acting as if she hadn’t seen me, she continued waving. “Have a great day! Ev and I have tons to do to get ready for tonight’s speed dating event.”

Sheesh. Judging by her over-exuberant tone, Indie was having way too much with this.

I got to my feet. “Thanks for hanging out yesterday,” I mumbled.

“You mean for giving you the best date of your life?”

Wyatt’s cocky smile did more than make butterflies flutter in my stomach; it made them disco.

Eep.

“Bye, Everly.” He leaned in, and before I knew what was happening, he’d wrapped his arms around my shoulders. Taken by surprise, I stiffened at first but then wound my arms around his waist and snuggled into his chest. Man, he smelled even better in the mornings.

“Have a great day,” he murmured before giving me a lingering kiss on my head. “Don’t scare away all the guys tonight.”

Did Wyatt just kiss me? Yes! Yes! Yes!

Every cell in my body simultaneously sighed in happiness. But the euphoria soon faded once he let go, leaving me equal parts elated and torn. A part of me wanted to warn him that the girl he hoped to date wouldn’t appreciate our sleepover or that display of affection, while another, louder, part wanted to yank him closer and kiss him so hard that he forgot all about his mystery girl.

Pick me. Choose me. Love me.

No! Wyatt cared for me as a friend, but he loved someone else. I needed to set my subconscious straight. Except now my dream had left me all hot and bothered. I felt his kisses seared onto my skin.

And in my heart.

“YOU SHOULD HAVE WOKEN ME UP,” I said to Indie the moment he left.

“Why?”

Annoyed by how abnormally calm she appeared, given the raging cyclone of emotions swirling inside me, I snapped, “Because then I might not have woken up on top of him.”

“Seems like you should be thanking me for that. You two looked cozy together. I take it your night still ended well despite Frugal Fred bailing?”

My mouth fell open. “Traitor! You told Wyatt where I was going last night!”

“Maybe.” She got up and poured oat milk into a mug, then added a splash of coffee. After stirring in a spoonful of sugar, she held it out to me.

“Don’t try to butter me up,” I grumbled.

“But it’s in your favorite cup,” she said in a singsong voice.

My Christmas tree mug was the cutest—the ornaments only appeared when it contained hot liquid. I took the offered drink. “Fine. I’m only taking this because I’m a sucker for hot beverages. But just admit that you told Wyatt where to find me.”

She shrugged. “I might have let it slip in a text message or dozen. But aren’t you glad that he showed up when Frugal Fred left you for his ex?”

Guess Wyatt had already filled her in on the details. “It sure was a memorable night.” I sipped my coffee, trying not to dwell on the details of my dream.

Like how soft his lips were against mine.

Or how amazing his abs felt beneath my fingertips.

A burst of electricity cha-chaed its way across my skin. I cleared my throat, freeing my mind from a desire-filled haze. “As a side note, Quinn and Joy are officially banned from choosing any more dates for me. Their guys were—”

“Problematic? Yes. That much was clear. Don’t worry. I’ve benched them.” Indie removed a blueberry bagel from the toaster and handed it to me. “But we have the speed dating event tonight, and I still get my choice. There are a couple of great guys at the library I could set you up with. Real literary types.”

Like Wyatt?

My butterflies cheered even louder this time.

Oh boy. I couldn’t ignore the signs any longer. I’d developed feelings for my best friend.

16

EVERLY

“I still can’t believe it. This is wild!” Indie stopped me and stared at my costume again as soon as we stepped from the car. She squealed. “You’re the spitting image of my childhood hero.”

I did a little twirl and waved my Crescent Moon Wand. “Thank you.” After watching several Sailor Moon videos and getting dressed, I remembered how much I enjoyed pretending to be someone else. “Your librarian costume’s fabulous too.”

With her bright red lips, curled hair, and cat eye glasses, Indie looked like a pinup girl from the fifties.

We took a few more selfies and headed to the comic store, where Quinn stood waiting outside.

“You’re not wearing your glasses,” I exclaimed. Quinn usually hid behind thick black plastic frames, but today, they were nowhere to be seen. Clad in a black leather vest, fitted jeans, and a holster low over her hips, she looked like a gorgeous but dangerous Han Solo.

Quinn tossed back her ponytail. “It was my sister Olivia’s idea. She said glasses didn’t really go with the look.”

“She made the right call because you make one hot Han Solo,” Indie said.

Quinn drew her blaster. “Why, thank you.”

Someone dressed as Chewbacca walked up to us and waved.

“Ben!” I gave my brother a hug, recognizing the costume I gave him as a joke last Christmas. “You didn’t tell me you were coming. And why are you wearing that? No one can see your face.”

He offered a small Chewbacca moan.

Indie laughed. “Wow. Someone’s sure getting into character.”

Ben nodded and then opened the door for us.

“Did you dress as Chewbacca because you knew I’d be Han Solo?” Quinn asked with a frown.

Ben shook his head and let out another soft moan.

Quinn scowled up at him before storming into the store. “Come on. Let’s go sign in.”

Inside Landry’s, people milled about, dressed in all kinds of costumes. In the end, twenty men and twenty women had signed up, a great turnout considering Johann had only one woman at the start of last week. My stomach sank with disappointment that Wyatt wasn’t there. While he’d said he wasn’t coming, a small part of me had still expected him to show since he had made an effort to insert himself into my life recently.

At my brother’s and Indie’s requests, I reminded myself.

Johann walked into the center of the store, waving his hands in the air. “Good evening all you gruesome guys and gorgeous ghouls. Welcome to Landry’s first Halloween speed dating event. Here are the rules of the night.” He gestured toward the pairs of folding chairs set up in a large circle around the store. “Women will remain seated, and men will move around. Each couple has five minutes to get to know each other. Once your time’s up, men will stand and move clockwise to the next empty chair. After you’ve had a chance to meet everyone, you’ll make your choices on your phone. Only mutual selections will be shared with both partners tomorrow. Good luck, everyone!”

Palms sweating, I took a seat near Quinn and Indie. Time to get my head in the game. Wyatt wasn’t a possibility, but one of the guys here might be.

As a blond elf dressed in a pale blue velvet robe and pointy ears sat across from me, I cast an appreciative eye over his costume. The details of his outfit—from the gold trim on his sleeves to his silver pendant—blew me away.

Blond Elf bowed his head, his long hair cascading over his shoulders.

Wow. This guy’s hair looked softer than mine.

“Hail and well met, my lady.” With his lilting accent, angular face, and light brown eyes, he could have stepped straight out of a Tolkien movie.

“Nice to meet you too,” I said tentatively. “I love your costume.”

He placed a hand over his heart. “I thank thee. Prithee, fair maiden, what be thy tide?”

Was that some kind of astrology thing? “Um, Taurus?”

Elf man shook his head. “Thy tide, my lady,” he repeated. “What do others call thee, gentlewoman?”

Oh. My name, not my sign. “Everly.”

His thin, blond eyebrows rose. “Everly. ’Tis a splendid and noble name.” He leapt out of his seat with the grace of… well, an elf, and knelt on one knee before reaching out to take my hand.

What was he doing? Nervous laughter escaped my lips, and I could sense the other participants’ curious gazes, even though they were in the middle of their own dates.

“Lovely Lady Everly, mine eyes doth taketh an interest in thee. Thou art as fair as the rosebud sparkling in morning dew. Thine golden locks doth make mine heart leap merrily. Thou dost taketh my breath away. Thou art a lady of worth to be wooed and won.”

My cheeks burned hotter with each compliment. “Sure. I mean, I appreciate thee and thy kind words.”

“Time!” Johann called out. “Men, please exchange partners.”

Oh, thank goodness. I wasn’t sure how much more of that I could take.

“Fare thee well, I must away. And pray that we shall meeteth again someday hence.” Blond Elf kissed the back of my hand before moving on to Quinn.

Wow. What a way to start the night.

Thankfully, the following dates weren’t quite so unique. One was a fellow teacher, two were college students, a handful were programmers, and one was a banker. Most of the guys seemed perfectly respectable, but introducing myself and going over the same four topics of conversation again and again left me exhausted. When my brother eventually took a seat in front of me, I was grateful to see someone familiar.

“How’s it going, Ben?”

He shrugged and wrote something on a whiteboard before holding it up.

It’s hot in here.

A smile tugged on my lips. “You didn’t have to wear that costume. You could have chosen another one. Or at least take the head off. You’d probably get more dates that way.”

Ben scribbled something else on his whiteboard.

I’m fully committing to the character.

He erased his words and then wrote another message.

I saw the proposal earlier. Will it be a winter wedding in Rivendell?

I laughed. “Probably not. He did the same thing to a handful of other girls.”

Ben gave a Chewbacca moan before scribbling out another message.

Forsooth! Betrayal to the fellowship of the ring.

He erased the words before writing again.

Met anyone you want to go on a date with?

Although I’d had some interesting interactions, there’d been no connection with any of the guys, certainly nothing to compare with how I felt about Wyatt.

“Not really. You?”

Ben shook his head.

“There’s always Quinn. What’s up with you two, anyway? You never get along, but neither of you will tell me why.”

Knowing I was baiting him, I waited for his response, but he simply shrugged.

Weird. My brother usually seized any opportunity to express how much he disliked her.

“And time!” Johann announced. His voice had grown progressively louder after each round, and by this point, he was almost hoarse from all the yelling. “This is your final round. One last chance to meet someone special. And, as some friendly encouragement, I’m asking everyone to pick at least one person as a potential match. Let’s give love a chance!”

Ben stood and headed to the seat across from Quinn.

What I wouldn’t give to hear that interaction.

“Looks like this is our last chance at happily ever after.” The final guy towered over the seat across from me, dressed as Superman—complete with cape and tights. With his bright blue eyes and slicked-back brown hair, he was a dead ringer for Henry Cavill.

“Hi there.” He smiled, revealing a deep dimple. “My name’s Jack.”

“I’m Everly.”

“And now I’m intrigued. It’s not often one meets such a beautiful woman with an equally beautiful name. Is there a meaning behind it?”

Butterflies awoke in my stomach and stretched their wings. Perhaps tonight wouldn’t be an utter waste of time after all.

I shook my head and grinned. “Not really. My parents just thought it sounded pretty. Plus, they love telling me that they’ll love me ‘for-everly.’ Cheesy, but it makes me smile every time.”

Jack gave a hearty laugh. “Cute. And what do you like to do for fun?”

I quickly rattled off my answer, as it was a question I’d already heard a dozen times that night. “I hang out with friends and sew… Oh! And I love decorating for holidays.” Although a quirk of mine, I wanted to mention it anyway. If we were to go on a real date, he’d soon learn about my strange obsession.

Jack raised an eyebrow. “Really? What’s your favorite holiday?”

That was easy. “It’s a tie between Christmas and Halloween. This year, I’m going all out for the trick-or-treaters. How about you? What do you like to do for fun?”

“Hiking and surfing.” He winked. “And I also love Halloween. It’s fun getting dressed up. I’m so glad we finally got the chance to meet. I noticed your costume as soon as you entered the store. You’re Sailor Moon, right?”

“You got it.” I ran a hand over the pleats of my skirt. “It’s not actually my costume. A friend lent it to me, and I made a few adjustments. I also made the wand this morning.”

“Did you now?” He waggled his eyebrows suggestively. “It’s a gorgeous costume. Perhaps we can swap outfits later.”

And just like that, my butterflies froze. Wait. Was he… Did he want to—

“Time’s up!” Johann shouted.

“Think about it, Everly. We could have fun dressing up together. I look killer in skirts and heels.” Jack winked at me before getting out of his seat.

“And we’re done!” Johann called out.

Oh boy. I barked out a laugh. Was I ever done!

Johann walked in front of us and clapped his hands. “Thank you for making this such a successful event. I hope you all had fun tonight. Just a heads-up—we’ve messaged everyone a link to the questionnaire. Fill in your choices, and you’ll find out who you matched with tomorrow morning.”

Still giggling at Jack’s proposal, I clicked on the link and scrolled through the photos Johann took of us when we signed in. I passed face after face, not tempted to click on anyone because I hadn’t felt a romantic connection with anyone.

I continued scrolling until I saw a familiar Chewbacca face.

When I selected my brother and pressed “Finish,” an image of fireworks exploding in the shape of a heart appeared on my screen. There, that’d keep Johann happy. That should count as matching with someone.

“I chose three guys.” Indie held up her phone to show me. “The pickle, the elf, and the pirate.”

“Really? Sir Ren Faire?”

“He’s cute and made me laugh. Plus, you know I went through a big Lord of The Rings phase. You’ve seen the movies. Who wouldn’t want their own Legolas?” Indie waved to the elf, who bowed low on seeing her. “Who did you choose?”

I grinned sheepishly. “Just Ben.”

“Hey, Ev,” Ben walked over, wearing a grey sweater and jeans. “How was it tonight?”

I eyed my brother’s outfit. “That was a quick change. Where’s your costume?”

Ben raised his eyebrows. “I just got here. I lent my costume to… Wait a minute.” He stared at Quinn, who was leafing through a comic with her back to us. “Someone dressed up as a female Han Solo? Man, I knew I should have come tonight. Now that’s a woman I need to meet.”

“Go talk to her,” Indie said.

I stared at my friend in surprise, but Indie placed a finger to her lips and shook her head slightly. Without another glance at the two of us, Ben walked over to Quinn and tapped her on the shoulder. She turned, her smile immediately transforming into a scowl. After they’d exchanged a few heated words, Quinn stalked away.

“Why did you encourage Ben to talk to Quinn?” I asked.

Indie’s eyes shone with mischief. “Call it intuition, but in my experience, enemies can turn into lovers real quick.”

Only in romance novels. I was about to remind her that real life didn’t work that way when I spotted Chewbacca talking to Johann in the corner. Straight away, my thoughts returned to my brother. If that wasn’t Ben I’d talked to before, who was it?

Chewbacca took off his head to reveal…

Wyatt?

Indie laughed. “We should have guessed. Wyatt wanted to join in the fun but didn’t want it to get weird with the book signing. Seems that was a wise decision. Because look.” She pointed to the group of guys now surrounding him. Some, including Sir Ren Faire, were taking selfies with him.

Wyatt? I’d selected Wyatt as my match?

As Quinn walked over to us, several of the male participants watched her pass; however, she appeared not to notice.

“How did it go? Did you choose anyone?” Indie asked.

“No one caught my eye. By the way, that wasn’t Ben in the Chewbacca costume,” Quinn said to me.

“Oh, I already know.” I motioned to Ben and Wyatt, now talking to each other.

“That makes more sense.” Quinn’s eyes rested on my brother for a second before she turned back to me. “This has been fun, but I have an early start tomorrow morning. Same plans for Halloween?”

“This Saturday. Six o’clock dinner, and then we’ll slip into our costumes,” I said.

“You sure you want to leave already?” Indie said. “You’re leaving a trail of broken hearts in your wake.”

Quinn scanned the room once again before shaking her head and walking out.

Ben strolled over with Wyatt. “Did I spot Quinn leaving?”

“Yes. What did you two talk about anyway?” I asked. “It looked like you were arguing.”

Ben frowned. “It’s nothing. The woman just likes to push my buttons.”

“Why didn’t you tell us who you were?” Indie asked Wyatt.

“I was going to, but it was fun seeing your reactions.” He ran a hand through his hair and then turned his gaze on me. “Did you choose anyone?”

“Just you.” At Wyatt and Ben’s mutual look of surprise, I hastily added, “Only because I assumed you were Ben and felt pressured to pick someone.”

“So you chose to go on a date with your brother?” Ben asked. “That’s disturbing, Ev.”

“I wasn’t feeling a connection with any of the other guys,” I muttered. “And Johann encouraged us to pick at least one person.”

A knowing grin spread across Wyatt’s face. “Well, I’m glad you selected me. Because guess what?” He leaned in so close that I caught a whiff of his spicy cologne. “I chose you too. Looks like we’re on for a date.”

His words made my belly swoop, and I jolted back as if struck by lightning. “I’m not sure about that. We matched under false pretenses. I thought you were my brother.”

“And matching with Ben would have been better?” Wyatt chuckled. “Sorry, but I don’t believe that. You and I are going out. Besides, do I have to remind you about your promise to show me around Sunnyvale?”

The butterflies had returned, and they were fluttering again.

Stop it. You aren’t supposed to flutter.

“Alright. I’ll message you a date and time later.”

Wyatt’s grin widened. “I look forward to it.”

As did I.

Boy, was I in trouble.

17

EVERLY

“There. All set.” I zipped up Quinn’s skirt. “How does it feel?”

She turned side to side, sending the brown floor-length skirt swishing over her boots. “It fits perfectly. How did you do this?”

I adjusted the laces on her bodice and stepped back to admire my handiwork. Three costumes in three weeks? Not too shabby. “I picked up a few things from the thrift store and sized them to your measurements. It’s not exactly rocket science.”

Quinn pulled out a tube of deep-red lipstick and swiped it over her lips while studying herself in the mirror near our front door. “It’s better than rocket science, Everly. I feel so different, almost witchy.”

“Good, because that’s the whole point.” After weeks of planning and anticipation, it was finally Halloween. I was exhausted, but excited, running on too little sleep and too many pumpkin spice lattes. We’d just finished dinner and were putting on our costumes to get ready.

“I’ll set up the projector.” Quinn grabbed her red cape off the couch and tied it around her shoulders before stepping outside.

“She’s right. We are sizzling. I was born to be a redhead.” Indie posed in the middle of our living room, one hand draped dramatically across her face. We’d sprayed her brown hair bright red earlier and pinned it up so she looked like Winifred Sanderson. “The kids are going to get a kick out of everything.”

Decorations, projector, costumes, treats—quadruple check. We had everything necessary to make this Halloween one to remember.

Someone knocked on the door.

My heart racing, I clapped my hands in excitement. “Our first trick-or-treaters!” I scrambled to the door and smoothed down my skirt and hair before opening it.

“Trick-or-treat!” Joy greeted me with a smile. She wore black cat ears and had painted a nose and whiskers on her face. “Oh my gosh, Everly. I can’t believe you made these costumes. They’re fantastic!”

Her two boys, Jasper and Leo, peered inside.

“You’re right, Mama,” Jasper murmured. “It is like the North Pole in here.”

I handed each boy a bag of candy. “You’re welcome to come inside and look around. See if you can find all nine Christmas trees.”

“Nine?” Leo whispered, his eyes round like saucers. He and Jasper tumbled inside, both dressed in matching ninja costumes.

I gave them a big smile. “Awesome outfits, boys. With you around, I feel well protected.”

“Keep the weapons sheathed,” Joy called out as her twins made their way toward the largest Christmas tree. “Remember, this is a place of peace. Christmas is all about silent nights. Not screaming fights.”

“We know, Mama,” Jasper said, his tone exasperated.

I wrapped Joy in a hug. “I didn’t know you were stopping by.”

“We had to. When I told the boys about your trees, they unanimously decided that this would be their first stop tonight. Plus, Quinn told me all about speed dating. Are you excited about going out with Wyatt?”

I was. And that was a problem. I had no business thinking of him in any romantic way. Not when I was once engaged to his brother, and definitely not when he had feelings for someone else. “It’s not a real date. We’re two friends spending time together. Out of obligation. To Johann,” I finished lamely.

Joy pursed her lips, her expression saying it all. She wasn’t buying this, and frankly, nor was I. Wyatt and I hadn’t seen each other all week, but I still dreamed of him every night, each time waking up more frustrated than before. At this point, I wouldn’t even be able to look him in the eye without blushing.

Indie slid next to me. “Well, as long as you keep an open mind about it all.”

I shot her a surprised look, but she merely waggled her eyebrows. “We’ve always suspected you like him.”

Joy nodded. “Take a chance. They say that friendship forms the foundation of a strong romantic relationship.” She pointed outside to where Quinn carried the projector across the lawn. “Although sometimes a little spice is needed to get things started.”

As she walked back toward the garage, Quinn paused in her tracks to stare back at us. “Did you need something, Everly?”

I shook my head. “Oh no. Just watching you do great work.”

Beside me, Joy and Indie giggled.

“Enemies to lovers is one of my favorite tropes,” Joy whispered behind her hand. “We’ll have so much fun when it’s her turn.”

“But it’s your turn next, Joy,” Indie said. “Don’t think we’ve forgotten that.”

“Oh, I’m sure you haven’t. I’m counting down the days until you guys set me up.” Joy grinned. “Bring on all the men!”

Joy and the boys stayed for a while, first admiring the trees in my living room and then moving on to the books in my library. I lost track of them after that because once seven o’clock hit, wave after wave of children stormed the house. The younger kids arrived first, all doe-eyed and excited about being out at night and wearing costumes. Then the older elementary kids came, fueled by adrenaline and the ambition to collect their own body weight in candy.

Quinn, Indie, and I scrambled all night, taking turns running the cotton candy machine, handing out treats, and chatting with parents in passing. Most families came to admire the decorations and grab candy, but a handful stayed the entire night to watch the Harry Potter movie on the screen set up in front of my garage.

It wasn’t until nine o’clock rolled around that I realized how quickly time had passed.

“Can you believe we blew through ten huge bags of candy?” Indie said as we cleaned up and helped Quinn pack up the projector. “I thought we’d have to start handing out canned soup and coffee.”

“The parents might have appreciated that.” Quinn finished wrapping the extension cord around her arm and neatly tied it together. “It’s been a while since I’ve celebrated Halloween. I’d forgotten how much fun it can be. Thanks for inviting me tonight.”

The three of us carried the projector, cables, and speakers back to the garage. “By the way, what are you doing with Wyatt for your date?” Quinn asked.

With everything else going on, I’d completely forgotten to follow up on the details. “Something fun. And memorable. I’m taking him to the ranch.”

“Isn’t that where he’s staying?” Quinn’s brows drew together in a frown. “How’s that memorable?”

“Wyatt hasn’t seen everything the ranch has to offer yet.” Indie gave her a knowing look. She must have guessed my plan.

“So you’re taking him to see the view from your favorite hill?” Quinn asked.

“And to meet some of our native wildlife,” I said.

Quinn’s mouth formed into a perfect O.

With a grin, I pulled out my phone.

Me: You free tomorrow night?

Wyatt: Why?

Me: I’ll pick you up around five

Me: Get ready for one of the best things Sunnyvale has to offer

Wyatt: Can’t wait!

18

WYATT

Me: I’ll get you those additional episodes by next week

Cole: Great. The more you have ready to upload, the easier it’ll be in the future

Me: You sure you can get this all done by FanCon?

Cole: It’ll get done. I just won’t sleep for the next few weeks

Cole: Sleep’s overrated anyway

Cole: Good luck for your big talk with Everly

Me: Any advice?

Cole: Don’t screw this up

Great. Thanks.

Last night’s planning session started out with Cole and me reviewing his WebComics app and my first ten completed StarFire episodes, but it had morphed into a long conversation about Everly. I’d caught him up with everything that happened, about my brother asking her out, despite knowing that I liked her, and then cheating on her. I’d also told Cole about her bad dates and how I planned to confess how I felt the next day.

I woke up feeling equal parts nervous and excited. This was it. Today’s conversation could change everything.

To keep my mind off our upcoming date, I focused on planning future StarFire episodes. Deep in the creative process, I lost track of time until someone knocked on my door.

“Coming,” I called out as I crossed the room. Shoot. Was it five already? I glanced down at my sweatshirt and jeans and rubbed a hand over my face. I’d planned on shaving and changing into a nicer outfit before Everly came over but ran out of time.

With my hand resting on the doorknob, I hesitated, remembering the photo of Everly and my brother on the red carpet. My appearance would have appalled Lukas. He never stepped out unless clean-shaven and well dressed, every strand of hair neatly in place. Was that the type of guy Ev preferred? Someone more put together, someone with a bit more polish?

There was another knock on the door as Everly called out, “Wyatt?”

“Right here.” I opened the door.

Everly scanned my outfit and smiled. “Good. You’re dressed perfectly.” She reached out and ran a hand over my cheek. “And you didn’t shave.”

Her touch was light, sending my nerves exploding like firecrackers on the Fourth of July. Forget whatever surprise outing Ev had planned—there wouldn’t be a date if she kept touching me. I’d tell her how I felt right now and then claim her sweet mouth with mine.

Everly’s eyes widened and she snatched her hand back. “Sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”

Guess my girl liked the unshaven look. I gently tugged one of her braids with a smirk. “Don’t worry about it. You have my permission to touch me whenever you want.” Enjoying the sight of her face flushing even pinker, I placed an arm around her waist and stepped outside. “Where are we going? You haven’t even given me a clue since your mysterious texts last night.”

Regaining her composure, Everly smiled. “How do you feel about hikes?”

“Love them,” I said, locking the door.

“And how about small furry animals?”

“I enjoy them too.” Warning bells sounded in my mind. Hmm, judging from the mischievous look in her eyes, we probably weren’t talking about bunnies and squirrels here.

“Wonderful. What did you do for Halloween?”

We made our way down the hill toward her parents’ house. “Cole and I discussed my webcomic, and I did some preparation for my talk at FanCon. How was Halloweenpalooza? Did the Sanderson sisters bewitch the neighborhood?”

Everly’s smile turned radiant, her excitement infectious. “It went even better than expected. We almost ran out of candy.”

When we reached her Prius I slowed, expecting to get in, but Everly continued walking past. Surprised, I lengthened my stride to catch up. “When you said we’d meet here, I assumed that meant we’d drive somewhere together.”

“Nope. We’re staying on the property.”

Interesting. So our date was taking place on the ranch. I thought about the barren bushes at the front gate. They were more sticks than anything at this time of year. “It’s the wrong season for blueberry picking.”

“We’re not picking fruit.”

So presumably no raspberry and strawberry picking either. But what else could we do on the ranch? “Are you taking me on a tour of the property?”

Everly gave me another beautiful smile. “Patience, Wyatt.”

Oh, she had no idea how patient I could be.

We followed a winding trail past the blueberry fields and a small barn before ending up at a parking lot, where a group of people stood around a folding table. Ben and Dane waved us over. “Looks like our last guests are finally here,” Everly’s dad announced to the others. “Now we can get this tarantula tour started.”

I swallowed hard, feeling weak in the knees. “Did your dad say tarantula?”

Everly’s lips quirked in amusement. “I did mention small furry animals.”

“Yes, but I was picturing the four-legged kind.” I shivered. “Not the giant, venomous, eight-legged kind.”

Everly pressed a finger to her lips and whispered, “Shh. You’ll miss Dad’s talk. It’s important for you to know how to handle them safely. You don’t want to get bitten.”

Alarmed, I whipped around, determined not to miss a second of Dane’s lecture about what we’d see. Despite being creatures plucked straight from my childhood nightmares, tarantulas were quite fascinating. It turned out that the males were actually timid creatures that wooed females for only a few weeks around this time of year.

All of Dane’s information was interesting in theory, but I still had one very large problem. “I hate spiders,” I whispered. Just the thought of their wiggling, fuzzy appendages and venom-injecting fangs made me dizzy.

“Oh, I remember,” Everly said. “You made me catch every spider we found in your dorm room. I’d never heard a guy scream so loudly before.”

That was once. Once! She still wouldn’t let me forget it. And to be fair, the spider was crawling on top of my head. What was a guy supposed to do? I still had heart palpitations at the memory.

We followed the group as Dane led us along another trail and past a small pond and sprawling oak tree. When we reached the field tarantulas liked to frequent, Ben demonstrated how to catch and hold a spider and then set us free to explore on our own.

Everywhere around us, children laughed as they chased each other. Little by little, my stomach unclenched. Surely, if they could handle this experience, I could too.

“I hope all our dates aren’t as dangerous as this one,” I said, eying the ground for any eight-legged guests.

Ev chuckled. “Just how many dates are we going to have?”

A whole lifetime’s worth? I smiled at the thought. “Oh, at least a handful more. Johann will expect it.”

Her eyes twinkled. “So we’re doing this for Johann, are we?”

Our interactions had always been playful, that’s what made our friendship fun, but now they felt almost flirtatious. Perhaps it was my imagination, but it seemed like ever since we fell asleep together that night on her couch, Ev saw me in a different light. My chest squeezed tightly, and I found myself daring to hope.

“Consider this payback for tricking me with Ben’s Chewbacca costume.” Everly nudged me. “Don’t worry. Nothing bad will happen, not when I’m here to protect you.”

I wrapped an arm around her, enjoying having her nearby. “Better stay close, just in case.” If I had to face one of my worst fears, I’d milk it for every possible opportunity.

“Riiiight.” Her eyes widened. “Hold on. I see one by your left foot.”

“Very funny.” About to laugh, I glanced down and froze when I saw the hairy black creature scuttling closer. A cold sweat instantly coated my body.

“Tarantula!” a kid shrieked, pointing at me.

Every last shred of courage withered inside.

“Don’t move,” Everly said. “You might frighten it.”

Forget about the freaking spider. What about me? “Sure,” I said in a strangled voice. “I’ll be as still as a statue.” My muscles coiled tight, threatening to bolt. Biting the inside of my cheek, I slowed my breathing and repeated the facts I’d learned from Dane’s lecture.

Tarantulas are shy, gentle creatures.

They’re much smaller than me.

And they do not like to bite people with their sharp fangs.

My heart pounded so loudly that I could hear its rhythm in my skull.

“Easy, easy,” Everly murmured.

Was she saying that for my benefit? Or the spider’s?

One of the spider’s long, hairy legs brushed against the front of my sneaker. My legs turned to jelly, and I had to force myself not to scream.

Everly bent down and scooped up the creature. A handful of children and adults gathered around, craning their necks to see.

“If you want to hold the tarantula, line up next to each other and put your hands out like this.” Ben demonstrated. “We’re creating a chain of hands. My sister will put the tarantula at the start of the line, and it will then walk across everyone’s hands. Remember, no sudden movements, or you’ll scare him.”

Everly set the hairy spider down, and my stomach lurched as I watched it crawl from one person’s hand to the next.

“What do you think?” She sidled up next to me. “Do you want to get in line?”

Heck no.

A tall guy with shaggy blond hair and a flannel shirt left the crowd surrounding the tarantula and approached us. With his beanie, shell necklace, and neatly shorn beard, he looked right at home out in nature. “That was so cool how you picked up the tarantula.”

“Thanks,” Everly said. “My mom and dad own the ranch, so I’ve quite a lot of experience handling them.”

“Really?” As the stranger ran an appreciative eye over her, I scowled.

Mountain Man needed to back off. I stepped closer to Ev, making sure I stood right by her side, but the guy ignored my presence and continued to focus solely on her.

“My name’s Graham. I just moved here from Oregon.”

She smiled. “I hear it’s beautiful up there. Welcome to Sunnyvale. I’m Everly.”

“And I’m Wyatt,” I interjected.

“Nice to meet you.” Graham’s eyes flicked to me before returning to Everly. “You have such a gorgeous name.” His grin widened, and I swear I was about two seconds from punching that smile right off his face.

“I’m done,” one of the kids yelled. “What do I do with it now?”

Throw it at Graham?

What? One can dream.

Everly stepped around Graham and picked up the creature from the child’s arm. “Great job. You were very brave.”

Graham trotted behind Everly. “I’d like a chance to hold the adorable little guy too.” He extended his arms, and she gently placed the tarantula in his palms. My breath hitched when their hands briefly touched.

The spider lightly tapped Graham’s skin with his front four legs. “He seems to like you,” Everly said with obvious delight.

Graham stepped closer to her, his arm brushing against hers. “That’s because you’re close by. Has anyone ever told you that you have a really peaceful aura?”

Nope. Just nope. I grunted and pinched the bridge of my nose. If the guy was reading auras, he should take a good long look at mine because I felt far from peaceful right now. Annoyance bubbled inside. I’d had enough of watching from the sidelines. Time to do something drastic or else continue to watch Mountain Man Graham make a move on my girl. “I’d like a turn too,” I grunted.

Everly’s face whipped around, her brows knitted together in confusion. “You want to hold it?” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “But you hate spiders.”

I sure did. But I wasn’t about to take a back seat to whatever was going on between the two of them. I already lost my chance with Everly once. It wasn’t going to happen again. “You’re right. I hate them, but that doesn’t mean I can’t change. People change all the time. They change their appearances, their personal tastes, and even their relationships. And I’m ready to change my relationship status.”

Everly stared at me with a confused expression and I inwardly winced. Why had I said all of that out loud? “With this spider, I mean.”

She hesitated. “Alright. I didn’t know you felt that way about spiders.” She plucked the tarantula from Graham’s hand and walked over.

“Last chance. You sure you want to do this?” she whispered.

I’d never been more certain of anything in my entire life. “Give him to me.”

A little lightheaded, I watched Everly rest the spider in my sweaty palms. Its long furry limbs gently brushed against my skin as I moved one hand and then the other so that the creature would keep having somewhere to walk. Amazingly, it was a lot lighter than I expected.

“You’re doing great, Wy.”

A burst of warmth flooded my chest. See that, Graham? I wanted to let out a primal yell. I’d tame a nightmarish monster for Everly too.

“Awesome, man. Good for you, facing your fears like that.” Graham turned to Everly, his dopey expression telling me where their conversation was headed next. “I know we’ve only just met, but I feel a real connection with you. Could I get your number? I’d love to meet up and grab a tea sometime.”

I clenched my jaw and set the tarantula down, hoping no one would notice my trembling hands.

No. No. No!

Everly’s fingers brushed against my arm. “Actually, Wyatt and I are on a date right now.”

That’s right. Granted it was only because she was doing Johann a favor and thought I was her brother at the time she matched with me, but never mind all that. Graham didn’t need to know the details. I wrapped my arm around her waist and glowered.

Graham raised his hands and took a step back. “Sorry, man. I didn’t realize.”

Bet you’re getting a good read on my aura now. Just back away, Mountain Man.

Once he’d left, I turned to Everly. “Are you certain you didn’t want to go out with him? I know how you have that dating pact with your friends.”

Everly’s hand grabbed hold of mine, warm and solid. “Yup. I’m enjoying my time with you.”

In the distance children laughed and screamed as they searched for and found spiders. The rest of our group had ventured further into the field. Taking advantage of our moment alone, I brushed my thumb across her knuckles, my gaze lowering to her mouth.

This was it. Now or never. “Ev?” I tugged her closer, and her curves pressed against my body wrecking havoc to my self control. Forget that we were in public or that Ben would have my hide for making a move on his sister; I’d loved Everly for years, and I was about to make her mine.

“Yes?” she murmured.

“I—"

In the distance, someone yelled, “Tarantula!” Everly jerked away and turned toward the voice, and just like that, our special moment was broken.

Irritation snaked underneath my skin. First Graham, and now even the tarantulas were conspiring against us. Couldn’t a guy get a break?

Everly turned her attention back to me, and her expression softened. “Ready to get out of here? I want to show you my favorite spot in Sunnyvale.”

Annoyance turned to curiosity as she led me away from the group, back toward the lake, and up a hill covered with compact shrubs and clusters of gangly yellow flowers. The surrounding nature was wild and beautiful, but I kept my eyes on the even more gorgeous woman walking beside me. What was going on in her head? Had she felt that pull between us too?

The climb grew steeper, until we finally reached the enormous, sprawling oak tree on top of the hill. A weathered wooden bench sat beneath it.

“Dad put this here when he saw how much I enjoyed the view.” Everly sat on the bench and gestured for me to join her. “Welcome to my favorite spot in Sunnyvale.”

Quietly, I took a seat beside her, admiring the surrounding hills and the vast expanse of ocean and sky.

“You should see it in spring. That’s when it’s prettiest. The fields are dotted with gorgeous poppies and lupines. I dreamed about getting married in this very spot, but Lukas and Seline said the ranch wasn’t fancy enough. The sad thing was, I was ready to go along with whatever they decided.”

Guilt tore at my insides. Why had I left her side? If I had been there, I’d have seen how bad things had gotten. I would have reminded her not to doubt herself.

Ev wrapped her arms around her body, and I couldn’t tell whether it was because she was cold or just trying to hold herself together. “I believed that loving someone meant focusing on making them happy. But I was mistaken, and somewhere along the way, I lost myself.”

19

EVERLY

Splashes of dark purple, orange, and pink painted the sky. With its view of the sparkling ocean, blue-gray mountains, and curving Californian coastline, the scene from the hill was stunning during the day. But as night approached, the colors in the sky intensified, and flickers of light appeared everywhere, setting the stage for something even more spectacular.

I took a deep, steadying breath and exhaled. This was my safe space. The place I ran to after I broke up with Lukas to put all the jumbled pieces of myself back together. When we first started dating, I’d felt like the princess in a fairytale. Handsome and charming, he showered me with compliments, sent me flowers, and took me on expensive dates. When he began suggesting minor changes to the way I looked and acted, I made them willingly. Desperate to blend in with his sophisticated friends, I learned the proper way to dress and pose, mimicked their laughter, and reflected other people’s opinions. Little by little, I became someone else, not realizing how much I’d changed until it was too late.

“Everly?” Pink-hued light bathed Wyatt’s face as his piercing green eyes met mine.

Dread twisted in my stomach. This was meant to be a romantic spot, but somehow, I’d gone off on a tangent and talked about my previous relationship. I wasn’t the same girl I was before. I was over Lukas, owned an obscene amount of holiday decor, ran my own business, and was ready to date again.

Except what guy would date someone still working through her issues with her ex?

“What are you thinking about?” Wyatt asked, his voice so deep and husky that it made me shiver.

You.

I recalled our almost kiss and wondered whether the heat in his eyes had only been due to my imagination. Wyatt was in love with someone else. It wasn’t jealousy that made him jump down Graham’s throat but some protective brotherly instinct.

“I was wondering if you’d like to catch more tarantulas,” I teased. “Seriously though, you showed real courage back there, facing your fear.”

Wyatt let out a low chuckle and slid closer. “Oh, I’m not that brave. In fact, I’ve been very cowardly.”

“With what?” I stared at him in surprise. Wyatt had moved to a new place, self-published his own novels, and was now working on a new webcomic project. He always followed his passions, making him one of the bravest people I knew.

“With you.”

The laughter that escaped quickly died as he brushed a finger underneath my chin and tilted my head, holding it steady to meet his gaze.

I sucked on my lower lip and my belly swooped. When Wyatt looked at me that way, as if I was something beautiful and captivating, it was devastating.

“I care for you, Everly. More than a friend. More than anyone else I’ve ever known. I’ve liked you for a long time.”

“You have?” The words stuck in my throat. “But what about the woman you told Tonya about?”

“It was you. It’s always been you.” Time stood still as he brushed his lower lip against mine once, twice, his breath hot on my skin. “Tell me, Ev. Tell me you want this too.”

I’d never wanted anything more in my life. Surrendering to my own desires, I rubbed my bottom lip against his, the slow, deliciously torturous movement causing sparks to dance low in my belly. “Yes,” I murmured, every nerve in my body coming alive. “I want you too.”

Wyatt groaned and he slid his arm around my waist, gently tugging me closer so that our bodies aligned, his hard planes against my soft curves. Wyatt’s lips teased mine, softly at first, with a sweetness I could taste. But the kisses quickly deepened and like an addict, I was euphoric each time his mouth claimed mine. This was better than anything I had imagined. My skin felt hot and tight, and every cell in my body sizzled with need. Before I knew it, he’d undone my braids and tangled his fingers in my hair. I tilted my face, opening my mouth wider as Wyatt’s tongue coaxed my own.

You. You. You. Each kiss was a promise etched into my skin. It’s you that I want.

Wyatt gave me one last, lingering kiss before pulling away. My eyelids fluttered open, and I ran my tongue along my lower lip, remembering how it felt to have his stubble rubbing against my skin and his mouth, hot and needy, pressed against mine.

Wyatt watched me with a piercing gaze. “Guess this means you like me too.”

That had to be the understatement of the century—my toes were still curled from his final kiss. “Perhaps just a bit.” Needing a moment to catch my breath, I rested my head against his chest, enjoying the sensation of his pounding heart against my flushed cheek.

It took mere seconds for our hearts to beat as one, racing together toward something new.

Somewhere deep inside, I let out a sigh. What was this wonderful feeling I was experiencing? Desire? Relief?

No, it was happiness. Toward the end of my relationship with Lukas, the sense that I was never quite good enough tainted everything. This level of contentment was entirely new. I twined my fingers with Wyatt’s and studied our hands, loving how right they felt together. “So when did you start having feelings for me? Was it when you rescued me from the skateboarders? Or when you finally laid eyes on my Christmas trees?” I teased.

Wyatt brought my hand to his lips and gently kissed each knuckle. “Neither. I came to my senses right before I got into that study abroad program.”

I gawked at him. That was years ago. “Why didn’t you say anything back then?”

“I wasn’t sure if you saw me that way. And I didn’t want to start something and then leave. I planned on telling you when I returned…”

“But by then, Lukas and I were dating.” My heart sank at the realization.

Wyatt trailed his fingers up and down my arm. “I was furious at my brother. Lukas could have dated any girl he wanted, but he had to pick you. My brother never attended college, but in the end, he was the smarter one. It took him only a short time to see how special you were.”

His hand stopped and he placed a soft kiss on the top of my head. “I’m sorry to bring him up. I don’t mean to hurt you by stirring up bad memories.”

“No. It’s alright. Time has lessened the sting.” I stared out into the darkening skies. Breaking up with Lukas hadn’t been the worst part. The worst part was having my name and character dragged through the mud while dealing with the heartache.

Wyatt rubbed his thumb against my knuckles. “Talk to me. I want to know what’s going on in that beautiful mind of yours.”

Not wishing to discuss Lukas again, I changed the topic. “Are you excited about your book signing at Landry’s?”

“Sure am. But I’m more excited about my talk at FanCon.”

Just like that, my bubble of contentment popped. “Thanksgiving. Then FanCon. And then you’re back in Oakland.”

Fear crept in like a thief during the night. Perhaps this wasn’t such a good idea. I cared for Wyatt, but he’d be leaving again in a few weeks, and I was already falling for him: too hard, too fast. “We should probably take things slow. You’re busy getting your webcomics project off the ground, and I’m putting a lot of time into running my school.”

“Everly, would you please look at me?”

Noting the edge in his voice, I reluctantly turned my face toward his.

Wyatt placed a soft kiss on my lips and leaned in so that his forehead rested against mine. “I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know that where I’m meant to be is by your side. We’ll figure this all out together.”

I nodded, trying to accept the gift of this moment. We’d only just figured out our feelings for each other. I didn’t need to ruin it all by thinking too far ahead.

Neither one of us spoke about what would happen after FanCon again as we began our journey back down the hill. Instead, we talked about his roommate Cole’s new app, the upcoming event at Landry’s, and my plans for next year’s Halloween decorations.

By the time I drove home, the sky was completely dark, and uneasiness rolled in my stomach like ocean waves. This thing that Wyatt and I shared felt tentative and new. It was something to be nurtured and grown, but how could I do that, knowing that he was leaving soon?

“How did the date go?” Indie asked the second I walked through the door. She was watching one of her favorite K-dramas while working on another knitting project, a pair of socks by the looks of it.

I plopped down on the couch and rested my head on her shoulder. “Wyatt kissed me.”

“Finally!” she shrieked. “People, this is not a drill. It’s really happening. Good for Wyatt. It took him long enough. Glaciers move faster than him.”

I couldn’t believe it. “You knew he liked me?”

Indie pulled away and gave me a long look. “Who was in our dorm room all the time? Who brought over soup when you got the flu? Who watched Hocus Pocus on repeat every Halloween? And if that wasn’t obvious enough, who volunteered to dress up as Flynn to match your Rapunzel?”

That was for one of my birthday party events. The parents wanted two characters for their daughter. “Well, I did offer to pay him.”

“Please. Wyatt didn’t do it for the money. The man wore tights for you, Ev. Tights.” She scrunched up her nose and made a face. “Nobody likes wearing tights. They’re way too constricting.”

Okay. She had a point.

Indie stood and picked up her knitting project and laptop. “If you still have any doubts about his feelings, you should read StarFire. It’ll give you some insight into the man’s mind.” She patted me on the shoulder and left the living room.

What could Wyatt’s fantasy series reveal to me? Curious, I went online and downloaded the first book in the series. It was around midnight when I finally finished, and I had to force myself not to start the next book.

The novel, which recounted the story of two brothers who traveled to a neighboring kingdom to save a cursed princess, was incredible. While I didn’t typically read fantasy, Wyatt drew me in with the brothers’ strained relationship and their joint quest to find the truth. I rooted for them when they faced trial after horrible trial, and I cried when I learned that it was the elder brother who’d cursed the princess in the first place.

Indie’s suggestion that I read the novels made complete sense now. The two brothers in the story obviously represented Wyatt and Lukas. And the princess with the pink hair who they both loved was me. At the end of the first novel, the younger brother declared his love for the princess, and they left to find the missing obsidian blade.

But where did that leave the real Wyatt and Everly? Wyatt had just confessed his feelings to me, but we had less than three weeks together before he headed home. While some people could handle long-distance relationships, I wasn’t sure if I could. Not being able to share my day with the one I cared about would be torture.

Perhaps I could move there? I briefly entertained the thought, but logic kept me in check: Wyatt and I had only just started dating. I recently purchased a house. And all of my closest family and friends lived here. Plus, if I moved up north to be with Wyatt, wasn’t I losing myself in another person’s life again?

20

WYATT

Lukas: I’m sorry

Lukas: What can I do to make things right?

Lukas: We’re brothers

Lukas: Please talk to me

I wished I hadn’t read my brother’s messages Monday morning because they’d put a damper on what had otherwise been one of the best days of my life. Needing to get out of my own head, I rang Cole.

Although it was a little after seven, the guy would already be awake, most likely halfway through his daily workout.

“Hey, man. What’s up? Nervous about tonight’s book signing?”

I ran a hand through my hair. “No. I’m calling about Lukas. And Everly.”

There was a rustling on the other end of the line, and I could picture Cole hopping off the treadmill. “What happened? Did you talk to her?”

“Ev and I went on a tarantula hike yesterday, and—”

“You did what?” Cole laughed. “The connection must be bad down here because I could have sworn you just said a tarantula hike, and I know for a fact you faint at the sight of spiders. Even itsy bitsy ones that climb up the water spout.”

Hilarious.

I told Cole about my date with Everly: about Mountain Man Graham, holding a tarantula, and our talk on the hill. And then I told him about the kiss, the one that shook me to my core and rocked me from the inside out.

“Wow.” A bell dinged in the background, suggesting that Cole had just caught the elevator. He’d left our building’s basement gym and was moments away from our apartment, where he’d make himself one of those disgusting green concoctions he drank every morning.

“And now Lukas keeps insisting that I talk to him.”

“What are you going to do? The guy’s a jerk, but he is your brother.”

And therein lay the problem. What Lukas did was hurtful, selfish, and all kinds of messed up. But he was also the only family I had left.

A bell dinged again, and I imagined Cole walking to our door. “Whatever you end up doing, make sure you protect what you have with Everly.”

I grinned. “For someone who doesn’t do relationships, your dating advice is surprisingly spot on.”

“I know. That’s why you called me. I recognize something special when I see it. Seize the moment, Wyatt, and see where it takes you. Do everything in your power to make the relationship work.”

My shoulders slouched and I leaned back in my chair. “It’ll be tough after FanCon.”

“Why?”

His question caught me off guard.

“What do you mean, why? The answer’s obvious. I’ll be back in Oakland. Long-distance relationships are hard.”

“Why come back then?”

Now I was annoyed. “For you, for starters. We’re roommates.”

Cole laughed again. “No offense, but that’s a load of crock, and we both know it. I can find another roommate, easy. We live right next to a college; there’s a bunch of students here desperate for affordable housing.”

Wow. Impressive loyalty.

“Look, you’re a great guy, Wyatt. My best friend, in fact. But I’m a big boy, so I don’t need you here. And you don’t need to be here to write a novel or draw a webcomic.”

“But my life’s there,” I insisted.

“Is it?”

Darn it. Cole had a point. I could do my job anywhere. “But isn’t it too early to move for Everly? We’ve only just started defining this thing between us.”

Cole let out a long sigh. “Dude, you’ve had feelings for her since college. That’s a couple of years of secret longing. Seems to me you’d better get the ball rolling. Don’t you remember what happened last time you waited too long to make your move?”

Yeah, Lukas made his.

“Talk to her.” Cole’s tone was decisive and insistent; I imagined it was the same tone of voice he used to convince people to invest in his app. “And after you’ve had that conversation, send me more episodes. I need to see what happens next. I’m hooked. These comics are worse than those soap operas Mom used to watch.”

I chuckled. “Will do. Talk to you later.”

“Good luck tonight. And I’d better not see you back here unless it’s to pack up your stuff.”

I couldn’t keep the grin off my face. “Thanks for the pep talk.”

“Anytime.”

As I ended our call, feeling like a new man, my phone buzzed again, and I checked my messages.

Lukas: I was a prick

Lukas: Can we talk? Please?

Lukas: Good luck tonight

My stomach twisted into a knot. Perhaps one day I’d forgive my brother, but today wasn’t that day.

21

EVERLY

Indie and I stepped into Landry’s comic bookstore, which had once again transformed its appearance. A podium rested on a folding table, and rows of seats had replaced the chairs. Near the back of the store, Wyatt and Johann stood talking.

As if sensing my presence, Wyatt turned and waved. Pleased I’d changed out of my overalls and into something more grown-up—a pair of dark jeans and a light pink sweater—I grinned and waved back as I took a seat in the back row with Indie.

Johann walked up to the podium, wearing a wrinkled Hawaiian shirt, a white bowtie, and his shoulder-length brown hair tied back in a ponytail. “Thank you for coming to Landry’s ‘Meet the Author’ night. As a special reminder, we are running a special this week. All figurines are currently thirty percent off. Tonight’s guest, Wyatt Alexander, requires no introduction. He’s the author of the best-selling StarFire series, and he’s graciously agreed to do a short reading from his latest novel and answer questions.”

Wyatt walked over and shook Johann’s hand. His dark green button-down shirt made his eyes pop, and his dark-wash jeans molded to his long, toned legs. “Thanks for having me.” Wyatt’s eyes met mine, his look sending sparks shooting across my skin. “Someone very special first introduced me to Sunnyvale, and I’m glad to be back after all these years to enjoy everything this town has to offer.” A smile curved the corners of his mouth, and I held back a laugh, knowing that he was referring to our tarantula hike.

Wyatt began describing the plots of his novels and then moved on to give an overview of his writing process. I listened intently, proud of the work he’d done and the name he’d made for himself.

After reading a chapter from his latest book, he scanned the room. “And now I’ll open up the floor for questions.”

About a dozen hands shot up, and Wyatt pointed to a tall woman with round glasses. “Where do you get your ideas from?” she asked.

“Great question. I get them from all over the place. Mostly from current events and my own life.”

He then called on another woman about my age, with long, dark auburn hair and a StarFire T-shirt stretched tight across her ample chest. “Hi, Wyatt. You’re much more good looking in real life than you are in photos.” She giggled. “I don’t have a question, but I just wanted to say I’m a huge fan. I even have the StarFire symbol tattooed on my arm.” She rolled up her sleeve to show Wyatt and the rest of the audience.

His eyebrows rose. “That’s phenomenal. Thanks so much for your support.”

“Of course. You’re my favorite author. I also have another tattoo, but I’m afraid I can’t show that one in public.” The woman gave him an exaggerated wink and a collective snicker ran around the room.

I hadn’t even realized I’d clenched my hands in my lap until Indie rested a hand on my arm. “Calm down, Rocky,” she whispered. “Put those fists away.”

I released a long breath and relaxed my shoulders and hands. “You’re right. Fists won’t do. Hand me one of your knitting needles.”

Indie let out a burst of laughter, earning a few sideways glances from the people sitting around us.

Wyatt cleared his throat, and the crowd settled. “I appreciate your enthusiasm for the series. Does anyone else have a question?”

A teenage boy with bright blue hair stood. “I read on the boards that your series is being optioned for a movie. Any news on that?”

That wasn’t something I’d heard before. I waited for Wyatt’s response, excited to know the details.

Wyatt’s smile slipped. “Those are only rumors, I’m afraid. There are no immediate plans to turn the series into a movie, but if anyone here can make that happen, talk to me about it later. Fortunately, I have been working on another dream project. If you’ve been following me on social media, you’ll be aware that my friend Cole is about to launch a brand-new webcomic app right after Thanksgiving, and I’m thrilled to be one of the featured creators. Drawing a webcomic series has challenged my creativity and, hopefully, will provide fans with more glimpses into the StarFire universe.”

Several more audience members asked questions after that, then Johann announced that it was time for Wyatt to sign books. Indie and I made sure to get spots at the end of the line, and when we eventually reached the front, Wyatt gave us a tired but happy smile.

“How’d I do?” he murmured, eying the few attendees still milling about.

“Freaking fantastic,” Indie said. “I’m looking forward to seeing this new app and reading your webcomic.”

Wyatt rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. “Thanks. Sometimes this all seems so surreal. It’s like everything I ever dreamed about back in college is coming true.”

His eyes met mine, and my heart did a funny flip in my chest. He wasn’t only talking about his writing anymore. He was talking about me.

Beside me, Indie cleared her throat as Wyatt returned the signed book to her. “I’m going to take the car and head home. Stay out as late as you want.” She blew me a kiss and then left.

Wyatt walked around the table and wrapped me in his arms. “Hello, gorgeous. Care to take a walk with me?”

“Sure.” I sank into his embrace and sighed. If this was dating Wyatt, I’d take it.

Hand in hand, we strolled down the street, stopping to admire the storefronts before heading onto the boardwalk. The wind always picked up at night, and a breeze tugged at my hair as I leaned on the old wooden railing and stared out into the dark waters, feeling as tumultuous as the choppy ocean below. I’d finally started dating a good guy, someone who understood and supported me, and yet in a few short weeks, he’d be gone. Lukas and I lived only two hours apart, and that distance had been hard enough. How would Wyatt and I manage?

My relationship with Wyatt is going to be different.

I believed that with all of my heart. With Lukas, I was cautious, wary that I’d say or do the wrong thing. But Wyatt and I had been friends first. He’d always been a strong and steady presence in my life. It would be so easy to love him and let him love me.

Wait. Had I just used the L-word?

Frightened by the enormity of my feelings, I glanced over at Wyatt, who was stared out across the ocean. “I forgot to tell you,” I blurted out. “My parents invited you to Thanksgiving dinner next week, but I told them you’d probably want to celebrate it with your brother.”

Oops. I shouldn’t have brought up Lukas. I anxiously studied the profile of his face. How would he react? Was there any way that this would grow less awkward with time?

Wyatt shifted closer to me. “I’d love to come. And since we’re discussing holiday plans, I was thinking we could spend Christmas together in Sunnyvale too.”

“Sure.” I relaxed my face. “You can help me choose and decorate my folks’ tree. We’ll bake a ton of cookies and watch cheesy movies with Indie, and I’ll take you around town. Sunnyvale does this really cute tree-lighting ceremony.”

“That all sounds fine and good. But while we’re on the subject, I’d like to spend Valentine’s Day here as well. And Pi Day. And St. Patrick’s Day. And Easter. And July Fourth.”

The weight on my shoulders lessened. Wyatt coming down that often would make our long-distance relationship more bearable. “That sounds great. You can come down for all the holidays, although I’m not sure how to celebrate Pi Day. Maybe by eating pizza?”

“Perhaps.” He cleared his throat and watched me, his gaze searching. “I was also thinking that instead of driving down here each time, it might be easiest for me to just stay here in Sunnyvale. That way, we can celebrate all the holidays and the in-between days together. How do you feel about that?”

It took a few moments for the words to register in my brain. “You’d move here? For me? But what about your work?”

“I can write anywhere. And I’ve talked to Cole about it. The jerk is already looking for another roommate.” Wyatt reached out and took my hand in his. “I’d like us to take this next step together, but I don’t want to overwhelm you. What do you think? Is this too soon? I know that you’ve been hurt in the past and—”

I threw my arms around his shoulders and kissed him. Hard. “Stay.” I punctuated the word with a kiss. “Stay here. With me.”

Always.

He smiled against my mouth and wrapped me in an embrace. “There’s only one problem with this plan. Do you think your parents will let me stay in the rental unit?”

I tilted my head back and laughed. “Well, they let a nudist stay there, so they clearly have pretty low standards.”

He laughed too and happiness enveloped me like a cozy blanket.

Wyatt was staying. Here. For me. For us.

22

EVERLY

My father greeted me with a hug. “Honey, Everly’s here.”

“And I brought pie.” I showed my father the covered pan.

My dad eyed it greedily. “Pumpkin?”

“Sorry. Apple.”

It was a running joke in our family. While pumpkin pie was traditional at Thanksgiving, I hated it so much that I always brought an alternative. Last year it was strawberry rhubarb. The year before, a chocolate pie. But this year, I’d gone with good old-fashioned apple.

My father tsked. “Well, we have only one pumpkin pie, so that means there won’t be enough for you.”

“Too bad.” I screwed up my face in mock disappointment. “There’s always next year.”

My dad nodded solemnly. “There’s always next year.”

“Stop teasing the girl.” My mother gave him a gentle shove and wrapped me in a tight embrace. Her hair was tied in a bun and she wore lipstick, something she only put on for the holidays.

“Your brothers are here. And Wyatt too.” She peered behind me. “Is Indie coming later?”

I shook my head. “She’s having lunch at the nursing home.” Last year, Indie started volunteering at Peaceful Pines, our neighborhood nursing home, and this Thanksgiving, she decided to spend time with a few of the residents she’d grown close to.

My mom nodded. “What a wonderful idea. I’m sure the residents will appreciate her company. I’ll make her up a plate for you to take back. Come on inside. The boys are hanging out in the backyard.”

After depositing my pie in the kitchen, I walked through the dining room and stepped out onto the deck. Aiden sat at the patio table, staring at something on his phone, while Ben and Wyatt stood in the yard, tossing a football back and forth.

“What pie did you bake this year?” Ben called out.

“Apple.”

Ben grinned. “Awesome. You can never have too much pie.”

Wyatt jogged over and kissed me on the cheek. “Hi there,” he said with a smile. “You look pretty today.”

I did a twirl, making my yellow skirt spin. “Thanks. You look handsome too.”

He’d slicked back his normally tousled hair and wore a lightweight, brown sweater. I previously thought green was my favorite color on him, but he looked mighty handsome in brown as well.

“Whoa. Wait just one second.” Ben crossed the yard, scowling. “Did you just kiss my sister? Is there something going on between you two?”

“They’re dating,” Aiden said without looking up from his phone.

Ben’s eyes narrowed. “Clearly. But when did this happen?”

Wyatt opened his mouth to answer, but I beat him to it. “Does it matter? Wyatt and I are seeing each other, and it’s none of your business. I don’t interrogate you about the girls you go out with, and I’d appreciate the same courtesy. You have no right to ask me about my dating life.”

Aiden looked up from his phone and gave us one of his rare smiles. “She has a point, Benjamin.”

Ben huffed. “Don’t call me that. And how come you’re just sitting there like nothing’s happened? We’re her older brothers.”

Aiden slid his phone into his pants pocket. “I have a good feeling about Wyatt.”

“That’s it? A good feeling?” Ben shook his head. “This from Sunnyvale’s finest cop?”

“Well, I can always arrest him if needed.” Aiden chuckled.

“Lunch is ready!” Mom announced from inside the house. “Come on inside and stop pestering Wyatt and Everly.” She gave me a knowing smile.

So Mom already knew too? And how come Aiden was so calm about things?

“I ran into Aiden and your mother at the store the other night,” Wyatt whispered as we walked inside. “I was asking them about different places to live around town, so they must have put it all together.”

“So Ben’s the only one to find out about our relationship today?” I whispered back.

Wyatt nodded. “Seems like it.”

I hid a giggle, knowing how much that would annoy my brother. He hated being the last one to find out about things.

The six of us gathered in the dining room, where Mom had decorated with candles and tiny pumpkins and dishes of delicious smelling food sprawled across the entire length of the table. As always, Thanksgiving lunch was a feast, complete with turkey, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, green beans, macaroni and cheese, and two kinds of pie for dessert. Conversation flowed easily, with topics ranging from what was happening at Ben’s work to funny things the kids said at school, Wyatt’s book series, and Aiden’s upcoming promotion to detective. Like the best types of gatherings, we laughed a lot and talked about everything and nothing.

Once we’d finished dessert, I joined my mother in the backyard, admiring the new bird feeder she’d installed while the guys cleared the table and washed the dishes. It was a Knight family Thanksgiving tradition. Dad always insisted that since Mom spent all morning cooking, the least he and the boys could do was to clean up.

Mom took my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I was ecstatic to hear about you and Wyatt. That man’s been keeping tabs on you ever since college. It’s wonderful to finally see you two together.”

I agreed. “He makes me happy, Mom.”

“Good.” She patted my hand and let go. “Have you two discussed what you’re going to tell Lukas about your relationship?”

I tensed on hearing my ex’s name.

Mom’s expression softened. “I’m sorry, honey. I hate to bring up such a difficult topic, but Lukas and Wyatt are brothers. They’re family. And that means something, especially at this time of year.”

Several tiny finches landed on the birdhouse and pecked at the sunflower seeds inside. I processed my mom’s words while watching them eat.

“We haven’t had time to talk about that yet.”

“That’s understandable. You’re in the beginning stages of your relationship, but it seems to me that you’re both serious about seeing this relationship through. Wyatt’s moving here for you, isn’t he? The three of you have history, so if you and Wyatt are to have any kind of future, you’ll need to figure out what to do about Lukas.”

The birds flew away and I sighed, turning back to my mother. “I don’t ever want to talk to Lukas again. You know what he did. How much it hurt me.”

Pain flashed in my mother’s eyes. “Oh, I remember. And I was so angry at that man. Still am. Frankly, I’d be happy to never hear from or see him again, but he is Wyatt’s older brother, and people make mistakes. Those two lost so much. It would be heartbreaking if they also lost each other.”

Her words stayed with me as Wyatt and I walked back to his place after lunch.

“Overall, I’d say that went well.” Wyatt gave me a curious look. “What do you think? You’ve been pretty quiet since we left.”

I gave him a small smile. “If you mean once Ben got over his mini-meltdown, then yes, I agree the meal went rather well.” I paused when we reached the cottage, gathering the courage for what I was about to say. My mother was right. Lukas’s actions hurt me, but he was the only family that Wyatt had left. “Do you know how your brother celebrated Thanksgiving?”

The smile vanished from Wyatt’s face. “No idea. We haven’t talked in a while.”

My heart broke on hearing that. “I don’t want you to break off your relationship with Lukas because of me.”

“He hurt you, Ev. Plus, he went behind my back.” Wyatt’s expression darkened. “That man is out of my life. End of story.”

I cupped his face, intending to give him a soft kiss to ease his pain, but his mouth slammed into mine. Hard and hungry. I let out a soft whimper when he pressed me up against the door and placed kiss after searing kiss on my swollen lips.

“I love you, Everly,” he murmured.

My eyes fluttered open and I gasped. It couldn’t be. Had I imagined those words in my near delirious state?

Wyatt gazed down at me with take-no-prisoner eyes. “I mean it, Ev. You’re beautiful and kind and creative and passionate and you smell like peaches. I love everything about you. You don’t have to say anything back, but I need to let you know how I feel. You’re it for me.”

I grinned at the sweet man brave enough to bare his heart. “I love you too.” The words came as effortlessly as breathing.

THAT NIGHT, I lay awake in bed, texting the girls.

Indie: Guess what? Bea finally asked Henry out!

Joy: No way. That cute couple at the nursing home?

Indie: Yup. And guess who got them together?

Quinn: You?

Indie: Yes! I’m a bona fide matchmaker. It only took one missing dessert, a stolen shoe, and a teeny white lie

I SNORTED.

Quinn: I caught up with some college friends

Quinn: And my sister and I convinced our mother to sign up for a speed dating event

Indie: Are there costumes involved?

Quinn: No. It’s for mostly corporate types

Indie: Too bad

Joy: The boys and I had fun at my sister’s place. Lots of card games

Joy: Thank goodness they finally moved on from Chutes and Ladders. I hate that game with a passion

Indie: Ev, you’re awfully quiet. How was your Thanksgiving?

I SMILED, remembering the special moment that Wyatt and I shared.

Me: It was really nice

Indie: Nice? That’s all we get?

Me: The apple pie was a hit! Thanks for the recipe Joy. Even Dad liked it

Joy: Awesome. The secret’s in the mix of sweet and tart apples. It makes for a more balanced taste

Indie: Forget the pie! What about Wyatt?

Indie: Did your brothers rake him over the coals?

Me: Ben tried to, but Wyatt’s a good guy and they know it

Me: He told me he loved me

Indie: And what did you say?

Me: That I loved him too

Joy: I’m swooning!!!!!!!!

Indie: I knew it. I called it!

Quinn: I’m so glad for you two. Wyatt seems like such a sweet guy

Indie: On that happy note, I’m off to bed. Goodnight, girlies!

Indie: Knitting club celebration at our place this Thursday?

Joy: Sounds like a plan. And if anyone’s free, Everly and I are painting a wall on Wednesday night @ 6

Quinn: Wish I could help, but I’ll still be at my mom’s place. Good night

Me: Can’t wait. Night!

I’D JUST TURNED off my light and closed my eyes when my phone buzzed again. I picked it up, expecting Indie with another joke, but was surprised to see who’d messaged me.

Lukas: Hey

Lukas: Happy Thanksgiving

I HESITATED. Why was he contacting me?

Lukas: I know I don’t deserve it, but can we talk?

Lukas: Please?

NO WAY. I was about to delete his messages when my mother’s words sprang to mind. Lukas and Wyatt were brothers and despite Lukas and my past, I hated knowing that Wyatt would regret not having him in his life.

Me: Are you free on Wednesday around 5?

Lukas: I can make it. Where?

Me: Stellaluna’s café in Sunnyvale

THE OLD LUKAS would have scoffed at the idea of coming all the way to Sunnyvale to meet up. Would he agree?

Lukas: I’ll be there. Thanks

MY BREATH LEFT my body in a loud whoosh, and I shut my eyes. Looked like I was going to see my ex again.

23

EVERLY

Me: Good luck today! I wish I could come to FanCon to hear you

Wyatt: Don’t worry. I know you have to work

Wyatt: There’s a ton of people here. The convention hall is packed

Wyatt: I even saw some people dressed up as Serena and William

Wyatt: It’s wild that the StarFire fans are so dedicated

Me: That’s wonderful! How’s Ben?

Wyatt: He ditched me the moment we got here. There were a couple of talks he wanted to go to

Wyatt: Also, WebComics just went live and the numbers blew our expectations out of the water

Me: That’s amazing!!! Celebration tomorrow night?

Wyatt: Definitely. We can celebrate FanCon and your mural

Wyatt: Did you choose a design yet?

Wyatt: You must be excited to see your artwork out in public

I hesitated for a moment, debating how to answer that. Joy and I had already chosen a design for her mural, but excitement was the last emotion I felt right now. Fear and dread were more like it.

It was four thirty, half an hour until my meeting with Lukas. I’d chosen Stellaluna’s since it was across the road from Joy’s plant shop, Blooming Queen, and came into her store early because I’d been a wreck all day.

Wyatt: Sorry, I have to go set up

Wyatt: Love you. Can’t wait to see your latest painting

AFTER A LOT OF DEBATING, I’d decided not to say anything to Wyatt about my meeting with his brother. I didn’t want to stress him out before his panel. I’d tell him later.

“Things seem to be going well at the convention.” I slid my phone into my purse and picked up a small plant off one of the display tables, admiring its beautiful spotty pink leaves.

Joy paused her dusting. “Great. And how are you feeling?”

“Like I’m about to vomit.” I put the plant back down with the others. The last time I saw Lukas was at our engagement party, locked in Seline’s arms.

Joy put down her dusting cloth and placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “You’re doing the right thing.”

That was hard to believe when my stomach was tied up in knots. “Am I?”

“You certainly are.” She spoke in the same soothing tone I used with my students when they were hurt or sad. “Your ex cheated on you. You owe him nothing, but you’re being the bigger person and meeting with him anyway because you love Wyatt.”

I wrung my hands and nodded. I didn’t want to be the reason they stopped talking altogether.

“Doing something for someone you love is all well and good, but I’m going to challenge you to do this for yourself as well.” Joy placed a hand on her hip and her eyes narrowed. “You never got the chance to tell Lukas how much his betrayal hurt you. Maybe it’s time for you to let him know, so you can move on too. It’s difficult to start a new relationship with an old one hanging overhead.” Joy’s mouth was set in a firm line.

Why did it feel like we weren’t talking about Lukas and me anymore? I wasn’t privy to all the details of Joy’s relationship with Jasper and Leo’s father, but I knew enough to realize how his irresponsible behavior affected their lives daily.

“Life is messy,” I said carefully, reminding myself as much as her. “Relationships are complicated, and everyone has a past.”

“But how much messiness are people willing to accept? Why would a guy even contemplate dating someone who has so much baggage she could practically open her own luggage store.”

Oh, Joy. How could someone so amazing get it so wrong? “Who earned a degree while also running her own business?”

She blinked. “I did.”

“And who figured out how to potty train two boys at the same time?”

“Well, me, but it was a horrible experience that I’d like us to never mention again.”

I laughed, completely understanding. Some of the kids at school were still working on their bathroom skills; it was a slow and messy process. Literally.

Joy twirled a strand of hair around her finger. “I get what you’re doing. I’m amazing and clever, and on some level, I know it’s all true. But I still don’t feel like I’ll ever meet someone. I’m trying to be a strong role model for my boys and not depend on anyone, but sometimes it gets lonely.”

I could relate. Why else would I own so many pillows? Surrounding myself with soft, huggable things made the nights seem a little less lonely and dark.

“Someone’s going to fall in love with you and the boys. I don’t doubt that for a second. And that person will make you laugh and help you clean up life’s messes, so you aren’t always doing it on your own.”

Joy let out a long sigh. “Well, it would be nice to have someone unclog the toilet or fix the garage door when it jams. I’m sure Aiden would appreciate it.”

“Actually, he doesn’t often complain about it.” I glanced at my phone.

4:55.

The knots in my stomach tightened. This was it. No more stalling. “It’s time.”

Joy grabbed my hands. “Good luck. I’ll be peeking out the shop window to check on you. And when you’re done, we’ll paint this mural and get takeout. My treat.”

At least that was something to look forward to.

I left the store and crossed the street. Lukas was already sitting at a table outside Stellaluna’s, a pair of sunglasses on, presumably to conceal his face, and a baseball hat pulled low over his forehead. Out of habit, I slowed my pace and scanned the surroundings to see if there were any paparazzi nearby. It had been a year since I’d last stepped foot in his world, but I still remembered the lessons as if I’d learned them yesterday.

Head up.

Hips back.

Walk with purpose.

No, I mentally admonished myself. That wasn’t my life anymore. There was no need for me to be “on” all the time.

“Hello, Lukas,” I said as I approached him.

He got to his feet when he saw me. “Hello, Everly.” He reached out as if to hug me, but I jerked away.

Lukas’s smile wobbled, but he lowered his arms and motioned to the table. “If it’s alright with you, I ordered you a chai tea made with oat milk. I remember it was your favorite. But if you don’t like those anymore, I can order you something else.”

“That’s very thoughtful. Thank you.” I sat and pulled the cup closer.

He relaxed back in his seat and tapped the wrought iron table with his long, tapered fingers.

“So, how are you?” I asked at the same time as he blurted out, “I wanted to—”

We stared at each other and laughed nervously.

“You first.” I sipped my tea.

Lukas stopped tapping and leaned forward in his seat. “Thank you for agreeing to meet. I reached out to apologize for how our relationship ended. Guess I really messed everything up, didn’t I?”

“Neither of us was perfect,” I said, trying to be generous.

He barked out a laugh. “You don’t have to be polite with me. I was a jerk, and we both know it. I never should have kissed Seline that day. It was our engagement party.”

That day? My mouth drew up in a frown. “Is that why you’re apologizing? Because I caught you making out with your publicist on a day that should have been special for us? When would have been a better time to make out with another woman? Perhaps another day when I wasn’t there?”

Lukas’s face reddened. “Geez, no, I didn’t mean it like that. I’m sorry. For everything.”

“Was that your first time cheating on me?” I speared him with a look. If Lukas truly wanted to make amends, I needed the truth.

He took off his hat and ran a hand through his blond hair. It was longer and lighter than the last time I saw him. “No,” he muttered, the corners of his mouth turning downward. “That wasn’t our first time fooling around.”

I gripped my mug, trying to control the erratic hammering of my heart. White hot rage flared within. Lukas and I broke up a year ago. What he did behind my back shouldn’t matter anymore. The past should remain in the past. But the more I tried to convince myself of that, the more I realized how much the truth hurt.

“And Seline wasn’t the only woman I saw on the side.”

“Stop.” I held up a hand, not wanting to hear anymore. “Why did you continue dating me if you wanted to see other people? Or insist we get engaged? You should have broken up with me. Why string me along?”

“I stayed with you because I needed to have a steady girlfriend. For appearances.”

I wanted to scream. A year and a half of my life wasted by a man who only dated me to project the right image. So much anger at his cruelty crashed over me; I was practically drowning in it. Joy and my mother were wrong. This conversation would do nothing to make me feel better.

“Sorry,” Lukas mumbled, playing with the brim of his hat. “I never meant to hurt you. I’m trying to be honest and make things right here.”

Did he really believe the words coming out of his mouth? “You just admitted to stringing me along. How does that make it right? Did you even love me?”

Lukas nodded. “I did.”

I gave a bitter laugh. “Then you and I have very different definitions of love. You don’t cheat on someone you love. You think saying sorry will fix things? Well, I hate to break it to you, but it won’t. What happened with Seline left me devastated, and your fans skewered me online. I had to stop checking my messages for fear of what I’d find. They called me names, told me the world would be a better place if I wasn’t in it. Do you have any idea what that does to a person?”

Lukas took off his sunglasses. He had dark circles beneath his eyes and there was a weariness in his expression. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea how vicious things got.”

“No, of course you didn’t. Just like you failed to see why breaking up with me would be better than dating me to get ahead in your career.” I held back the tears that threatened to fall. “Our relationship was all about you. You’re selfish, Lukas Alexander, and you don’t care what you do to others as long as you get what you want.”

Lukas looked at me as if I’d struck him. “You’re right about everything. I truly am sorry. That’s why I’m here. I’m trying to change.”

“Save the acting for the screen.” No longer wanting to be a part of this conversation, I shot him the darkest look I could summon and stood, ready to leave.

“Wait. Please. I deserve everything you said. I accept that I can never fix our relationship, but I’m begging you for a little more of your time. There’s one more thing I’d like to talk about—the reason Wyatt came here.”

The skin on the back of my neck tingled.

Don’t listen to him. He’s just baiting you.

I stepped away from the table, but curiosity got the better of me, and I sat back down. “What do you mean?” I hissed, not wanting to draw the attention of the customers around us. “Wyatt said that he came to Sunnyvale to do a talk at Landry’s before going to FanCon.”

Lukas slid his sunglasses and hat back on. “That’s not the only reason. There’s this role in an upcoming romantic comedy, and my agent thought I’d have a better chance of getting the part if I showed I was leading-man material. If I had a steady girlfriend like before.”

I rolled my eyes. “Please. As if anyone would believe that you’d settled down.”

“Well, they believed we were once in love. That’s the real reason Wyatt came to Sunnyvale. He was supposed to convince you to pretend-date me for a couple of months so I could land the role.”

Dread twisted my stomach. I didn’t want to believe him, but it explained concerns I’d had but couldn’t quite put my finger on. Wyatt hadn’t spoken to me in over a year, and then he randomly turned up in my hometown to do a book signing? Us being thrown into each other’s lives again had seemed a happy coincidence, but now the rose-colored glasses were off, and I saw what a naïve assumption that was.

“What did Wyatt say?” I forced out.

“At first, he agreed. But then he refused to go through with it because he’d fallen in love with you.” Lukas lowered his gaze. “Or perhaps he was always in love with you. I kind of let it slip that I suspected he had feelings for you before we started dating.”

I stared at him in astonishment. “You were aware that Wyatt liked me, but you still asked me out?”

Lukas rubbed his temples. “I know. I’m the worst sort of person. Wyatt was understandably furious when he found out. Look, I get that I don’t deserve a second chance, but I’m trying to make things right between you and me because it’s important that I own up to my mistakes, and also…”

“You miss Wyatt,” I finished for him.

He nodded. “My brother’s always been there for me. When we were kids, he followed me around like a shadow. He looked up to me. Even when I wasn’t getting roles, Wyatt was still my biggest fan, and now he won’t speak to me. With good reason,” Lukas added hastily on seeing my displeasure. “I never should have said that he owed me his fame. He’s an amazing writer in his own right and I shouldn’t have held the movie option over his head.”

Wyatt had mentioned that the movie wasn’t happening, but I’d had no idea Lukas had anything to do with that.

“When Wyatt changed his mind about talking to you, I told him I’d get his book optioned if he convinced you to fake-date me. But he still refused.”

That didn’t make sense. “Wyatt gave that up for me?”

“He did. It’s been his dream for years to have his stories turned into movies. At first, I didn’t get why he’d changed his mind, but after thinking things through, I realized how good the two of you are for each other. I never loved you like he does. I took everything for granted… you, and especially my brother.”

Lukas’s confession stunned me into silence. Somebody once told me that when you forgive another person, you free yourself in the process. My relationship with Lukas would never be the same, but I wasn’t vindictive enough to ruin his relationship with his brother. I stood and pushed in my chair, the iron legs scraping across the concrete.

“I’ll talk to him for you.”

Lukas’s head bobbed up. “You’d do that? Thanks, Everly. I don’t deserve any of this, but I’ll be better. I promise.”

For Wyatt’s sake, I hoped so. “What will you do about that lead role you want?”

Lukas shrugged and followed me onto the sidewalk. “No idea. Guess I’ll just have to win the part on my own talents.”

I laughed at his sheepish expression. “Now, wouldn’t that be a novel approach?” I stepped off the sidewalk and turned back to wave goodbye. “I’ll see you—

“Everly!” Lukas shouted.

But before I could react, he dove forward, wrapped his arms around me, and pushed me to the ground.

There was a screeching of tires followed by a sharp pain in my head, then everything went black.

24

WYATT

“And who’s this book for?”

“For Josh, please.” The older woman across the table smiled. “My son adores your stories, but he couldn’t be here today.”

I’d just finished a round-table discussion with four other fantasy authors, and we’d moved on to signing books. If you’d told me when I attended this convention as a high schooler that I’d be back signing books for fans one day, I wouldn’t have believed you. But here I was with a cramping hand, writing messages for fans.

“He’s a lucky guy to have such a great mother.” I wrote a brief note and scribbled my signature below it. “Why couldn’t Josh make it?”

“He’s getting treatment for cancer.”

The deep sorrow in the woman’s eyes was like a punch to the gut.

“I’m so sorry to hear that. I hope he gets better soon.” I added a short PS to the bottom of my note.

Keep up the good fight.

Josh’s mom left and I stretched my arms above my head as the last person in line approached. He slid Moon Fire, the third book in my series, across the table.

“Make it out to Donavan.”

“Sure thing.” I scrawled the same generic message I always wrote, and as I returned the book to its owner, Ben ran into the conference room, waving his hands to get my attention. I held up a finger to tell him I’d be done soon.

“Sorry to hear about your movie option falling through,” Donavan said.

My jaw bunched. “It happens.” I gave him a tight smile, in no mood to get into the nitty-gritty of why it fell through. The fact that my brother thought he could manipulate me like that still stung. I’d always admired Lukas when I was younger, but now that he’d revealed his true character, he wasn’t someone I cared to have in my life.

Ben waved his hands again and gestured for me to wrap up the conversation. Why was he in such a hurry? The last fan still stood in front of me, seeming like he wanted to talk some more.

“What if I told you I’ve been looking for a series like yours for a while?” Donavan asked.

Ignoring Ben’s frantic gestures, I smiled. “Glad you found my books. And don’t forget to check out the WebComics app for the StarFire cartoon. I’ll be uploading a new episode each week.”

Donavan slipped his book back into his leather bag. “I’m not talking about your books, son. Or your comics either, although I’ll pass that info along to my son. They’re more his thing. I’m talking about turning your books into a television series.”

My eyes narrowed and I studied the man in front of me. Donavan appeared to be in his late fifties at a guess, with pepper-gray hair and extremely tan skin. His expression said that he knew I was trying to figure him out, and he found it amusing.

“Wyatt, I work for FanFy Network, and I’m always keeping an eye out for the next big thing. I think our audience would love seeing your stories come to life on the screen.” He pulled out his wallet and took out a card. “Call this number and have my assistant set up an appointment. Let’s get the ball rolling.”

I stared at his card. Donavan Dark. “Thank you. I’ll check this out and be in touch.”

“You do that. I look forward to chatting with you real soon.”

As Donovan walked away, Ben came running up. “What are you doing? Let’s go.”

I stood and stretched again. “Traffic is going to be bad no matter when we leave. Why don’t we grab something to eat first?” I’d been so nervous before my talk that I hadn’t eaten lunch.

“Don’t you want to see how Ev and Lukas are doing?”

My heart stalled in my chest. “What did you just say?”

Ben’s eyes widened. “You haven’t read your messages. Ev and Lukas are at Mercy Hospital. They were in a car accident. That’s why I was trying to get your attention.”

No. No. No. I whipped out my phone and scrolled through the messages with trembling fingers.

Indie: Everly and Lukas were hit by a car

Indie: Ev suffered a concussion and bruising, but she’ll be ok

Indie: Lukas has several broken ribs and a broken leg. He just went in for surgery

Indie: They’re keeping them both overnight for observation

AS THE ROOM spun around me, I grabbed hold of the table with both hands, trying to steady myself. Everly and Lukas were hit by a car. They could have died.

“Wyatt?” Ben eyed me with concern. “They’re safe. My parents called and filled in the details. Apparently, Everly was about to cross the street when some driver ran the light and sped across the intersection. Lukas saw the car coming and pushed her out of the way. He bore the brunt of the impact.”

They were together, and my brother… saved her?

Ben waved a hand in front of my face. “You’re looking gray. Maybe we should get you something to eat and then drive back.”

No. There wasn’t a moment to waste. “I’m fine,” I barked. “I’ve got snacks in the car.”

Ben opened his mouth as if to argue, but then he shook his head and gestured toward the door. “Fine. Eat the snacks. You’ll do her no good if you’re running on empty. I’ll drive.”

By the time we got to Mercy, it was close to ten. Indie and Quinn met us in the waiting room, both looking as if they’d been crying.

Had something gone wrong with Lukas’s surgery?

“Where are they?” I asked in a rush.

“Everly’s in Room 25, and Lukas is in 29,” Indie said.

Quinn wrapped her arm around Indie’s shoulder and glanced at me and then Ben. “Everly’s resting and Lukas just got out of surgery.”

Ben and I sprinted over to the nurses’ desk, where a petite woman with brown hair and glasses worked on a computer. “We’re here to see Everly Knight and Lukas Alexander,” I said.

The woman looked up from her screen and pointed to a sign on the desk. “I’m sorry, but visiting hours end soon. You’ll have to come back tomorrow.”

I glanced up at the clock on the wall. “But it’s five to ten. We’ll just pop in and out.”

“Please,” Ben added. “We’d have been here sooner, but LA traffic was horrible. Can’t we see them for a few minutes?”

“Sorry,” the nurse said, her chin raised. “No exceptions. Our patients need their rest. Come back tomorrow morning.”

Panic threatened to overtake me. I needed to see them, I had to make sure that they were safe. “But we still have five minutes.” And time was being wasted with each passing moment.

“Excuse me.” Quinn joined us at the desk and gave the woman a tight smile. “Sorry for interrupting, but I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation. My name’s Quinn Mitchell. My mother, Imani Mitchell, is a member of the hospital board and one of the main organizers of the annual fundraising ball. She’s also a close friend of Howard Neero, who, as I’m sure you’re aware, is the hospital’s CEO.”

The nurse’s brow furrowed. “Ye-yes. I’ve heard of him.”

Quinn’s smile widened. “Wonderful. Now, these two gentlemen are my dear friends, and I’m sure that my mother would appreciate knowing that you let them visit their family members.”

“Well, I’m not sure,” the woman stammered. “I don’t want to get in any trouble.”

Quinn leaned forward, causing the thin gold chain around her neck to dangle over the edge of the desk, revealing a delicate gold ring. “I completely understand. And we all appreciate how important it is to adhere to the rules. But they’re only asking for a few minutes. Wyatt is Everly’s fiancé. Put yourself in his position. I’m sure you can imagine his fear at not being able to see for himself that she’s okay.”

I glanced at Quinn in surprise. What was she saying? Everly and I weren’t engaged.

The nurse covered her mouth with her left hand, revealing a sparkling diamond engagement ring. “You’re right. I do understand. Alright. Fifteen minutes. Tops. But that’s all I can allow you.”

“Thank you so much.” Quinn beamed.

Beside me, Ben stared at Quinn, mouth agape. Not wanting to waste a single precious second, I grabbed his arm and dragged him away before the nurse changed her mind.

When we walked into Everly’s room, her parents stood beside her bed. Ev’s mom came over and hugged Ben before hugging me too. “She’s fine.” She sniffed. “They’ve given her something to help with the pain.”

As I stumbled up to the hospital bed, my heart skidded to a stop. Everly had her eyes closed. Her face was pale, and gauze covered her right cheek.

“Ev?” I whispered, but she didn’t stir.

“Ev?” This time, I placed a hand on top of hers, drawing reassurance from its warmth. How close had I come to losing her today? “I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you.”

Her eyes fluttered open. “Wyatt?”

She was awake! A huge weight lifted off my shoulders. “How are you? What can I do?”

“Could I have drink, please?”

I picked up the cup on the nightstand and brought the straw to her lips. “How do you feel?”

She took a few sips before answering. “Not great. But I’m better than I would have been if Lukas wasn’t there. It’s okay, Wyatt. I’m safe.”

I hadn’t even realized the tears were falling until she reached up and brushed them off my cheeks.

“Get used to seeing this face,” I murmured, “because I’m never leaving your side again.”

“Well, that might be tricky with visiting hours almost over.” She tilted her head and gave me a tired smile. “Have you seen Lukas yet?”

“Not yet.” But I planned to. Whatever issues my brother and I had would have to take a back seat.

“I’m sorry for not telling you about our meeting. I was going to wait until after you got back from FanCon. We just talked. He told me about your agreement.”

I stilled, hating that she’d had to find out the truth this way. “I shouldn’t have agreed to his plan.”

Everly gave my hand a gentle squeeze. “It doesn’t matter now. You chose me over your movie deal. That’s what’s important. I know I was angry with him in the past. But I think you should talk to him. Lukas misses you, Wyatt. And he regrets everything that happened.” She let out a long yawn and blinked slowly. “Sorry, the medication’s making me tired.”

I placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. “Get some rest. I love you, Ev.”

“I love you too.” She yawned again and closed her eyes. “After this is all over, let’s travel the world, shall we?”

“You can count on it.”

WHEN I REACHED Lukas’s room, I paused outside, unsure what to say once I entered. The last time we talked, I’d told my brother I never wanted to see him again. That conversation now seemed a lifetime ago. As upset as I was that he’d disregarded my feelings and cheated on Everly, my brother saved her life. Thanks to his actions years ago, I’d lost the opportunity to confess my feelings to Everly sooner. But if it weren’t for his actions today, I might have lost her forever.

I knocked on his door and stuck my head into the room. “Knock, knock.”

“Come in.” The rasp in Lukas’s voice put me on alert. “You can tell me the truth. How do I look?” Beside him, a machine beeped steadily.

I sat in a chair next to his bed, trying not to stare at his leg wrapped in a cast.

A lump formed in my throat. “Not too bad.”

“Liar. If you think I look beat up, you should have seen the car. My big head put a dent in it for sure.” The smile on his ash-gray face wobbled and fell. “Thanks for visiting. I hope you realize how sorry I am, Wyatt. I never should have forced you into that awkward position with Everly. Shoot, I shouldn’t have even dated her in the first place. That was a real douchebag move.”

Lukas’s breathing was labored, and he spoke slowly, as if producing each word physically pained him. I swallowed hard and blinked. My larger-than-life big brother had never looked so human. Or so miserable.

“And I’m sorry I didn’t get Everly out of the way in time. If only I’d been a little faster, I could have—”

“No.” While I’d accept his apologies for past behaviors, I wouldn’t let him beat himself up over this. “You saved her. If you hadn’t been there—” My voice caught in a sob as the horrible alternative to today’s events struck me.

“She’s safe,” Lukas murmured. “And don’t worry about me, bro. Tomorrow I’ll call my agent and ask him to start booking me roles in horror movies.”

The corner of his mouth twitched, and all the tension I held inside released in one burst of laughter. “Seriously? You’re thinking about work at a time like this?”

Lukas chuckled but then sucked in a breath and groaned. “That was a bad idea. Remind me not to laugh for a while. It feels like eighty Tindor demons are simultaneously slicing my ribcage with their obsidian blades.”

My expression turned to one of astonishment. Had my brother just referenced characters from my books? “You read my StarFire series?”

“Course I did. I can’t go around recommending books I haven’t read myself. You’re an amazing writer, Wyatt, and I apologize for not telling you that sooner.” Lukas paused for a moment before adding, “Although, if you wouldn’t mind a request for the plot of your final book, I think Baylor needs a redemption arc. I get that he betrayed his brother and the entire kingdom, but I still believe the guy could change, don’t you?”

I stared into my brother’s hopeful eyes and nodded. “Yeah, I do. And don’t worry. Girls really dig that half-dead mummy look.”

Lukas closed his eyes and grinned. “You always were a numbskull. How did I put up with you all these years?”

Love you too, big bro.

25

EVERLY (1 MONTH LATER)

“Hurry up. We have to be ready for their call.” I tugged on Wyatt’s arm.

He shut his laptop and turned to me with a lopsided grin. “Sorry, I lost track of time. I was just in the middle of writing this epic scene where Baylor beheads the Zovian queen and reveals that he was secretly helping Serena and William all along.”

“You’re so hot when you talk StarFire to me.” I leaned over and gave him a lingering kiss. “But only you would be distracted by work when we’re in the middle of paradise.” I gestured to the surrounding beach and ocean. This past Christmas, Wyatt surprised me with tickets to Queensland, Australia, to visit the Great Barrier Reef. And that’s how we’d ended up celebrating New Year’s in a cottage by the sea on the opposite side of the world.

Wyatt pulled me into his lap and kissed my shoulder. “Perhaps. But I’m not the one who brought her knitting to the beach.”

It was true. When they sent me home to rest after the accident, I’d got so bored that I finally asked Indie to teach me how to knit. I wasn’t great at it yet, but I had just mastered how to knit and purl. At the moment, I was making a scarf for myself, which, judging by the rate I was knitting, would be ready by next Christmas.

My phone rang, and I leapt out of Wyatt’s lap and answered it.

“She’s here!” Indie called out.

The image jiggled, and Joy’s face came on the screen. “You look good. Nice and tan.”

“Thanks.”

Quinn’s face replaced Joy’s. “Have you seen any sea turtles?”

I nodded. “Wyatt and I went out on a glass-bottom boat yesterday, and a sea turtle swam right beside us.” It was a dream come true; I could still picture it gliding through the water.

“Forget the wildlife.” Indie’s face reappeared on the screen. “How about you and Wyatt? Are you having a wild time?”

“Is she asking about us?” Wyatt wrapped his arms around my waist. “Everly and I are having a wonderful time, aren’t we?”

I giggled when my friends unanimously sighed over the phone.

“I knew this dating pact was a good idea when I came up with it.” Indie leaned back on the couch and grinned.

She was kind of right. I’d ended up with Wyatt, but the other guys they’d selected for me had been completely off the mark.

“Can we get a tour?” Joy asked. “I want to see the beach.”

I pulled away from Wyatt. “Sure. The sand here is lighter colored and finer.” I held out the phone and panned across the pristine beach and turquoise-blue waters.

“Hey! Is that a shell on the ground?” Joy asked.

I peered ahead and squinted. “It is. Wow. You have amazing eyesight.”

“Let’s see it!” Indie yelled. “I want to see what an Australian shell looks like.”

I’d known Indie for years but had never seen her that excited over a shell. “Probably not that different from the shells in California.” With a chuckle, I walked over to pick up the shell and noticed a small golden hinge on its side.

How strange. “This isn’t a shell. It’s a box…”

“Open it.” Wyatt appeared at my side. “Here, give me the phone. Looks like you’ll need two hands.”

“Sure.” I slid the phone into his hand. “This is fun. I feel like I’m on a treasure hunt.” I wrapped my fingers around the top and bottom of the shell and tugged it open to reveal a rose gold ring with a pink stone nestled inside.

Wait. Was this…?

Wyatt placed the phone on the ground and dropped to one knee. “Everly, you are the love of my life. You’re my best-friend love, my uncomplicated love, my we-walked-through-fire-and-made-it-out-together love. You’re the love that I want to fall asleep next to and the love that makes me glad to be awake. The love that pushes me to dream, to create, and to become a better man. You are my yesterday love, my today love, and hopefully, my forever love. Everly Juniper Knight, will you make me the happiest man in the world by agreeing to be my wife?”

Tears streaming down my cheeks, I gazed down at the man I trusted with all my heart and I’d never felt so sure of anything in my life. “Yes, Wyatt Thomas Alexander, of course I’ll marry you.”

Screams and shrieks of delight emerged from my phone.

Wyatt’s arms were instantly around me, and his lips met mine.

“You planned all of this?” I asked.

He rested his forehead against mine and kissed me again. “When you agreed to come to Australia with me, I knew this was where I wanted to promise you forever. And because I know how much you love your friends, I figured out a way for them to be a part of it too.” He looked down at my phone. “Although I think they’ve hung up already. Sorry about that; I know you were looking forward to talking to them.”

I nipped his bottom lip and grinned. “Oh, don’t worry about them. I can think of a few things we can do, just the two of us.”

26

JOY

“I love a happy ending.” Indie lay back against the couch.

“When do you think the wedding will be?” Quinn asked. “The average engagement length is between twelve and eighteen months.”

Indie shook her head. “They won’t wait that long. Everly’s always wanted a small wedding at her parents’ ranch. The venue’s already sorted, so all she’ll need to organize is a dress and the catering. My guess is they’ll get married sometime this summer.”

So soon? I took a sip of the champagne Quinn had brought to my house for knitting club tonight. That meant the next couple of months would be busy with wedding plans. The thought made me smile. After all those years of living apart, Everly and Wyatt deserved their happy ending.

Excited, I visualized the flowers they’d have at the wedding. As a plant person, my thoughts always went to the greenery first. Perhaps I could volunteer to make some succulent arrangements or bake the wedding cake. I loved baking too, and it would be a fun challenge to make something delicious for their special day.

I took another sip of champagne and was already dreaming up cake designs when Jasper and Leo burst through the door. “Mama!” Jasper said, “We need our cars. Aiden and Ben are building us the most epic car racing track ever.”

Leo raised both arms. “It’s going to be this big. No, wait. Even bigger!”

My mouth curved into a smile, just as it always did whenever I saw my boys like this. Usually, my sister watched them Thursday nights, but she and her family were taking a much-needed vacation, and the babysitter I’d hired had bailed on me at the last minute. I’d been about to tell the others to meet without me when Everly said her brothers would watch the boys.

Aiden popped his head in the door.

Speaking of a certain hot Viking of a man…

“Sorry to interrupt your club time,” Aiden said, his voice deliciously growly, “but the boys promised they’d slip in and out without anyone noticing.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Indie said. “We just watched Wyatt and Everly get engaged, so the night’s main event is over.” She rested a hand on my shoulder. “According to my schedule, once Everly returns from vacation, it’s Joy’s turn next.”

Aiden’s eyes met mine, and I inwardly swooned. The man was hot enough to melt butter, for goodness’ sake. Smiling uncomfortably, I took another, longer sip of champagne. Good thing Aiden couldn’t read minds. He was a great landlord but could be downright grumpy at times, and he certainly wouldn’t have appreciated where my thoughts had just gone.

Although it might have loosened him up a bit.

“We found our cars!” Jasper ran out of their bedroom, carrying a plastic bin. “Do you think this will be enough?”

“Wait for me!” Leo yelled before charging out of the bedroom with a second identical bin.

Both boys raced past and held up their tubs of cars for Aiden to inspect.

A grin broke out on Aiden’s face, and it was like seeing Santa Claus and the tooth fairy riding a tap-dancing unicorn. The rare sight transformed his features and I had to hold myself back from fanning myself. Holy hot chocolate and marshmallows! That was one handsome man.

“That’s definitely enough. Now we have to get the ramp set up. I’ve got some scraps of wood in the garage we can use.”

“This is going to be amazing!” Leo cheered and then turned back and waved. “Bye, Mama. Come check out our ramp when you’re done knitting, okay?”

“Okay, baby,” I said.

The boys ran out the door, and I stood. “Aiden?” I approached him with caution.

“Yes?”

“Thank you for watching them. Is there anything I can do to repay the favor?”

His gaze swept my face before he cleared his throat and rubbed a hand over the stubble on his chin. “If you made some of your peanut butter cookies and dropped them off at the station, I’d say we were square.”

That’s all he wanted? I’d bake the man three thousand cookies if he asked. “Done.”

He took a step toward the door before stopping himself. “Have a good night, Joy.”

Oh, I would. Thanks to him and Ben.

I returned to the couch, where Quinn and Indie sat whispering.

“Are you looking forward to going on your dates?” Quinn asked.

Definitely.

This year, I had a new resolution. I was going to start dating again and, hopefully, find someone who loved us enough to stay. My boys deserved a good man in their lives.

And so did I.

INTRIGUED? Check out Joy and Aiden’s story today!

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~Ginger Li

ALSO BY GINGER LI

Knitting Club Gals Sweet Romance Series

The Dating Pact (Everly and Wyatt)

The Baking Pact (Joy and Aiden)

The Faking Pact (Quinn and Ben)

East Beach High Sweet Romance Series

XOXO, Piper (Book 1)

XOXO, Violet (Book 2)

XOXO, Olivia (Book 3)

Light and Fire YA Fantasy Series

Half-Blood Mage (Book 1)

The Lady Thief (Book 2)

Haven of Smoke and Shadows (Book 3)

A Heart So Dark (Book 4)

Light and Fire Complete Boxset (Books 1-4)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ginger loves the color yellow, baked goods, and all things Halloween. When she's not busy playing with kids, she enjoys reading, painting, gardening, listening to sappy pop music, and dreaming up love stories. Originally from New Jersey, Ginger now lives with her husband and two Pokemon-loving boys in sunny California.

To find out more about Ginger and her books, visit here.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Thank you!

Contents

Also by Ginger Li

1. Prologue: Everly

2. Everly (Ten months later)

3. Everly

4. Wyatt

5. Everly

6. Wyatt

7. Wyatt (Senior Year of College)

8. Everly

9. Everly

10. Wyatt

11. Wyatt

12. Everly

13. Everly

14. Wyatt

15. Everly

16. Everly

17. Everly

18. Wyatt

19. Everly

20. Wyatt

21. Everly

22. Everly

23. Everly

24. Wyatt

25. Everly (1 month later)

26. Joy

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Also by Ginger Li

About the Author