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She’d known him for years, and yet she’d never noticed the small freckle on his lower lip. Colleen wanted to reach out and touch it, run her finger across his lip. She wanted to kiss it. Her heart beat faster thinking what it would be like to be kissed by Finn. Rousing herself, she could only articulate a one-word reply. “Okay.”
“I can’t wait.” He brushed his hand against hers, gave her another dazzling smile, and swam away.
Colleen watched as he joined the others, tossing a water polo ball around. Her skin tingled from where he touched her hand. That was no accident. As subtle as it was, Finn wanted her to know his touch was intentional. She leaned back with a soft sigh, full of expectation about being with him later.
“I’ll be right back, Dad,” Colleen said, catching Finn’s eye as she walked past the living room into the kitchen. They’d finished dinner and Finn had joined her brothers and father to watch TV.
“I’m going to straighten out the patio,” she said, entering the kitchen.
“You don’t have to do that. Sean said he’d take care of it,” her mom said, wrapping up leftovers with Mrs. O’Connor.
“It won’t take long.” Colleen stepped out onto the patio. There were piles of abandoned beach towels and various pool toys scattered all around. Gathering up the towels and placing them in a laundry hamper, she smiled as her white swan pool float glided by her brothers’ bright neon swim tubes with majestic indifference.
The sliding door opened and closed behind her. This time, she knew who was joining her and her pulse sped up in anticipation.
She turned around to see Finn standing with his hands in the pockets of his shorts. “Hi.” He no longer had his usual confident expression. Was he nervous about something?
“Well, here we are. What’d you want to talk about?”
“I have a question for you,” Finn said, his eyes searching hers with keen interest. He ran a hand through his hair, taking a deep breath. “I was wondering if maybe—” Finn stopped talking and rubbed his chin. He was nervous. She’d never seen him like this before.
“Wondering what?” She picked up an armload of diving toys and tossed them in a nearby basket. It wasn’t like Finn to hesitate talking about anything.
“Colleen?” Colleen’s father called from the patio door. “The movie’s about to start.”
Colleen took a look over her shoulder. Her father stood at the door, still wearing his Super Dad BBQ apron, gesturing for her to come inside. She turned back to Finn, uncertain what to say. If he wanted to go back inside, there probably wouldn’t be another chance to be alone together.
“Let’s take a walk,” Finn said.
“Colleen? Finn?” her father called out again. “Are you coming?”
Colleen grimaced. She was eighteen years old now. Watching the latest Disney movie with her family was the last thing she wanted to do. She wasn’t going to pass up this opportunity to be with Finn. “We’re going to Scoops,” she answered on impulse.
Finn leaned in close. “Ice cream. Genius idea.” He grinned his approval.
Her heart pounded like a drum. He wanted to be with her as much as she wanted to be with him.
“All right. Don’t forget, it’s your turn to do the dishes,” her father said with a wave.
“Okay.” Colleen peeked up at Finn and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
Colleen’s younger brother, Ryan, came running outside, followed closely by Sean.
“Scoops?” Ryan shouted.
“Hey, little brother,” Sean said, running after Ryan and restraining him in a wrestling hold. Ryan was in middle school, but he was already stronger and taller than most of his classmates.
“I want some ice cream!” Ryan cried, struggling out of Sean’s arms.
Colleen stared at the patio door in frustration. What if her father insisted that she take her little brother for ice cream?
“Me, too.”Aidan, Ryan’s smaller, more patient fraternal twin joined them outside. Great, now she’d have to figure out a way to ditch both of them. She looked to Sean, silently pleading for his help.
Sean grabbed Aidan by the arm. “We have plenty of ice cream in the freezer.”
“Then why do Colleen and Finn get to go to Scoops?” Ryan whined.
“Here.” Sean tossed his car keys to Finn.
