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Without hesitation, the teen unloaded her chubby-cheeked daughter into his arms. She gurgled and giggled, joyfully waving her toy as her mother snapped several photos on her digital camera.

After a flurry of ebullient thank-yous, the trio headed for the mini carousel, and Evie had Nick all to herself again.

She freed a few pink strands of cotton candy. “Just like Jake.”

“Oh god no.” Nick blotted a patch of drool on his sleeve with a tissue from his pocket. “That was me acting my balls off.”

Evie popped the floss into her mouth, the spun sugar dissolving into crystalized beads on her tongue. “You don’t like babies?” She tilted her cotton candy toward him.

Chucking the tissue in a trash bin, Nick made a face. “It’s not that I don’t like them. They’re cute, but”—he tore off a tuft of pink fluff—“even when Rupert and Tarquin were born, I steered clear. Their wailing and smells, enthusiasm for gumming up my toys and clothes? No thanks.”

“I thought you loved playing Jake.”

“I did, but I didn’t enjoy the teenage dad part. The little dude hated me.” Nick slipped the floss into his mouth as they passed a pen of bleating goats. “What about you? Already choosing baby names?”

“For pets? Always. Humans? Never,” said Evie. “The whole idea of giving birth freaks me out.”

“I guess Amanda dying on the show didn’t help.”

“Nope.”

“I got loads of fan mail about that saying the same.”

“You’re great with them by the way.” Evie smiled proudly.

“Fans? I try. I don’t get stopped as much as I used to. People forget you when you’re no longer on telly.”

True. Fiona’s like that. Evie nibbled on a knot of floss, the roar of chainsaws growing louder. “Have you read any scripts lately?”

“I have! Most of what I’m sent these days is Jake 2.0, but the one I’m reading now is a whole other level. It’s a musical!”

“Really?!”

“Yeah!” Eyes glued to the chainsaw sculpture demonstration on their left, he raised his voice. “And I also bagged a fifth callback for a high-budget, fantasy/drama series called Plunder the Crown.”

“A fifth?” She shouted. “Nick, that’s fantastic! They really want you!”

“Hope so!”

They both upped their speed, leaving the noisy chainsaws behind.

“I’d sell a flippin’ kidney to book it,” said Nick. “Get this: filming’s slated for Iceland, Northern Ireland, and Malta!”

“Wow! That’s awesome!”

“Right? It could be a total gamechanger—my first adult role.” Nick blinked, and a lash landed on his cheek.

Evie couldn’t stop staring at it. “When’s your callback?”

As he glanced at his muddy shoes, a frown trespassed across his face. “End of month.”

“Sorry, I have to…” Leaning in, Evie stole his eyelash with a tap of her finger. “Timing couldn’t be more perfect. Make a wish.”

With a quick puff, Nick blew it away.

“I can picture you now.” Evie smiled. “Wielding a sword, wearing leather, riding a horse! You’ll be freakin’ incredible.”

His eyes gleamed. “Here’s hoping the casting peeps think so. Filming is scheduled for next summer, which is perfect. I wouldn’t miss uni.”