Page 8 of The Last Special Thing

“Oh, if I were passed out somewhere,” he dipped his head, his voice lower, “you’d definitely be the one I’d want to see.”

She swallowed and let the words hang in the night. She had no idea where things went from here, how they had gotten here to begin with. She wanted to kiss him, but that was crazy; she didn’t know him. With the adrenaline pumping through her, she had to leave before she did something reckless.

“See you soon,” she said.

Then she pivoted before he could respond. Before he could see through her calm, practiced disposition. The intoxicating energy ribboning through them was unlike anything she had known before. Walking away, she felt his gaze, but she didn’t look back. You never look back.

CHAPTER FIVE

“Are you sure you don’t want to come out on the boat with us today?” Lauren asked, dumping a packet of raw sugar into her coffee.

“No, Madisson has other plans for the 4th of July for us. We’re going to the beach, though.” Amelia slouched on the stool at the walnut countertop in front of her breakfast. Behind Lauren, the morning sun broke through the kitchen window, casting a light yellow across the original wooden floor.

James strolled into the room, holding an empty coffee cup. “Good morning, ladies.”

“Morning, Dad.” Amelia took a bite of avocado toast sprinkled with red pepper flakes.

“Amelia was telling me that she wouldn’t be joining us today.”

“Oh. Okay.” He smiled at her and set his cup by the sink. “Lauren, honey, can you make sure to bring that cheese platter? The one with the little nuts?”

“Of course.” Lauren rinsed his cup and placed it in the top row of the dishwasher.

Two knocks came in quick succession on the grand front door.

“Ugh,” Amelia moaned. “Weston just come in!”

After two years, he still preferred to knock. Setting down her coffee, Lauren made her way to open the door before he could let himself in.

“Weston! So good to see you.” Lauren pulled him into a hug.

“You as well, Mrs. Cox,” he said, following Lauren into the kitchen.

James perked his head. “You didn’t say you’d be with Weston today.”

Amelia took another bite of her toast, remaining on the stool.

“Weston, my boy, how are you doing?” James extended his hand.

“Very well, and yourself?” Weston shook it. He moved toward Amelia and put his hand on the chair next to hers.

“Oh, we can’t complain on a day like today, now can we?” James asked.

“Certainly not,” Weston agreed. As he started to pull out his chair, Amelia shot up.

“We’re ready, right?” she asked him through closed teeth. They didn’t need to be here any longer for her parents to gush over the man who shattered her heart.

“Oh, yeah.”

“Have fun today.” Lauren was glowing at the sight of her and Weston. “Don’t forget to apply sunscreen. You don’t want to be wrinkled by twenty-five.”

Amelia gave half a wave, then led Weston to her car.

She palmed him the keys and settled into her passenger seat. She turned on the new alternative music playlist on Spotify.

“New songs today?” Weston asked as he took his usual place in the driver’s seat of her car.

“Every week.” She pulled up the lyrics and started reciting. Her guilty-pleasure show was “Don't Forget the Lyrics!” She hoped to find her way onto it once she got to L.A.