Page 17 of Until We Come Home

Which is how he ends up stuck in conversations like this one, nodding along and shifting his weight, waiting it out until he can find an excuse to leave. Larissa rests a hand on his forearm and laughs at something he says, and he gives her a tight smile and takes a small step back.

I watch him a moment longer and sigh.

"That sounded weighty." Lark cocks an eyebrow at me. "Thinking about Derek?"

"I wasn't," I say, laughing and reaching for another marshmallow. "But thanks for putting him back in my head."

She grins. "My bad. Just figured that's where you went."

“No big deal.” I wave it off. "Derek and I actually talked briefly last week over the phone and it went totally fine. Low-key, just everyday stuff, especially since he's setting choreography for a tour one of my dancer friends is on."

"Well, that’s good at least," Lark says, tilting her head.

I glance back toward Mateo, who is finally making a polite retreat from Larissa.

Lark follows my eyes across the grass, smirking. "Checking on our local brooding hero?"

"Always. I even attempted a little matchmaking earlier, for all the good it accomplished."

"Wait, weren't you just giving a full monologue the other week about how not everyone needs a relationship, and people should stop treating single life like a tragedy?" Lark points out. "Isn't he just living by your motto?"

"It's not a tragedy, and I stand by that,” I say. "But that applies to people who prefer being on their own. I love romance, though I prefer it in fun, manageable doses. But Mateo isn't built like that. Deep down, the man is a total romantic. He wants the whole forever thing again, I know he does. He just needs a gentle nudge."

"Naturally," Lark says, laughing. "And you've appointed yourself the shover."

"Yep, but the trouble is I can't even get him to flirt with a ridiculously pretty girl.”

"He flirts with you constantly." Lark gives me a pointed look.

"He does not," I object instantly. "He's just comfortable around me, so he drops his guard. That's the only time you see how funny he actually is."

"Right, because he definitely isn't flirting with the gorgeous dancer who spends all her time teasing him," Lark says dryly.

"Shame on you, Lark," I say with a theatrical sigh. "It's so outdated to think a man and woman can't just be best friends without something else going on."

"Yeah, well, I've seen When Harry Met Sally," Lark counters, flashing a wicked smile.

"You're impossible," I laugh, tossing a twig into the embers.

She shrugs and turns her marshmallow over the coals as Jack wanders over and drops a hand onto her shoulder.

“Are you two about ready to call it a night and head back?” he asks, leaning down toward her.

She lets out a long yawn and stretches. “Yeah, I’m pretty beat from the travel this morning, and we’ve got an early call time tomorrow.”

Jack looks over at me. “You riding back with us?”

I hesitate. The fire’s still going, the midnight show hasn’t even started, and I’ve been looking forward all night to seeing what the mystery man on the point can do, but the hotel’s twenty minutes away and I’m the one without a car.

Maren leans over from her chair, one hand petting Laila. “If you want to stay for the midnight show, you can crash in the cabin. Mateo’s in one side, but the other side’s free, and we keep it set up as a guest room for whoever needs it.”

She tucks a strand of blonde hair back with her free hand, and the golden thumps her tail against the grass, nudging Maren’s palm the second the scratching slows down.

“Seriously?” I sit up straighter. “That would be amazing, if you really don’t mind.”

“Not at all,” Maren says, smiling. “There’s toiletries, extra towels, and I can grab you something comfy to sleep in. Easy. I’m taking Henry to the bakery for cinnamon rolls first thing, so I can drop you off on my way if you want.”

“You are an absolute angel,” I say. “Though I’m notoriously bad at early wake-ups unless a job demands it, so if I sleep through your early run, I’ll just drag Mateo out of bed to drive me.” I turn to Lark and Jack. “You two go ahead.”