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“Get off me.” He tried to shake her off but she held on tight.
She yanked him toward the back of the lemonade stand. “Thanks for making us look like a Jerry Springer episode,” she snapped. “What is going on with you? Why do you care if I date Rick?”
Sullivan bent over and ran his hands down the front of his jeans. He took a deep, shuddering breath. “You don’t understand.”
“That’s why I’m asking. We have to talk about stuff. For the first time in our entire lives, we need to talk about our feelings.” She bent over too so she was more on his level.
He glanced over at her. “I miss Kendra.”
Her heart squeezed. “I know. I’m sorry.”
“I don’t ever want you to feel this pain. I feel like I’m drowning. Like I keep grabbing for the surface and I can’t find it. The current just drags me back under.”
Sloane ran her hand over her brother’s back, tears rising in her eyes. “But Sul, would you have rather never met Kendra? Would you have missed out on that love if you could have?”
He stood back up, pressing his fingers to his forehead. “No. I wouldn’t.”
“Then let me have that. I’ve never had that.” Her voice caught. “I was married almost as long as you and I never had one one thousandth of that kind of love. I can have that with Rick. And if I get hurt, at least I tried. At least I feel something. I’ve been numb for years.”
It was true. She felt like for the first time ever she was actually alive and living.
“Did it have to be Rick?” He pulled a face.
“Better him than some guy you won’t like. Think how convenient this will be.” She nudged him. “I won’t interfere with poker night, I promise.”
“Fuck. Are you really happy?”
She nodded.
“Damn it. Then I’m happy for you. The idiot has been in love with you since the tenth grade.”
“Remember when he kissed me in the bathroom?” she asked, wanting her brother to understand. “I flipped out because the truth was it was the best kiss I’d ever had. Fireworks, baby.”
Sullivan snorted. “Now that’s funny. I have to admit.”
“It is. Now let’s enjoy the damn Fish Festival, please.”
“I guess I have to apologize, don’t I?”
“That would be helpful.”
Rick was holding River against his chest and wiping the tears from her eyes. “Don’t worry. Sullivan and I are still friends.” He looked over at him. “Right?”
Her brother swallowed. “Of course. I’m sorry. That was out of line. If you want to date out of your league, go for it.”
Rick laughed. “Thanks. I will.”
Her father was holding Finn now and he looked at her closely. “You good? Everyone good?”
That almost made her roll her eyes. That emotion thing was going to take some working on in her family. “Yes, Dad. I’m good. And yes, Rick and I are together. So everyone just be happy and let’s move on. Now I am going to go get a pickle on a stick.”
Rick grinned. “You’re so romantic, beautiful.”
For some reason, she blushed. She made eye contact with him and she legitimately blushed. There was just something about the way he looked at her that made her giddy and she could not wait to be alone with him again.
* * *
Rick held Sloane in his arms and sighed in contentment. They were out on Axl’s boat, enjoying a view of the Fish Festival fireworks being shot off a barge way out on the lake. The boat was gently rocking, the water inky, moonlight and the flares from the fireworks illuminating the surface. He was sitting on the back bench, Sloane between his legs, leaning against his chest.
