AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I nodded as I pulled out of the driveway and headed down the dark country road toward downtown Outtatowner. “We’ll grab a beer or two before Duke gets itchy and wants to bolt. Head down to the beach for a bonfire.” I risked a glance at her, from the sharp line of her collarbone to the soft swell of her breasts in the vee of her dress. “You could come, too, if you’d like.”
Lark gave me a soft smile as her eyes lowered to where my thumb was drawing soft circles on her skin. “You mean you’re not sick of seeing me every day?”
I chuckled. “Not yet.”
The tension in the car was palpable. Though my hand stayed on her leg, I wanted to run it higher, explore her body again.
I hadn’t planned on asking Lark to come out to the bonfire, but the moment the words left my mouth, I was glad I had. A tiny wave of disappointment washed over me when Lark tipped her head and smiled. “Girls’ night.”
“Got it.”
Lark’s long fingers toyed with the hem of her dress. Her nails were painted a soft cotton candy pink—one I recognized from Penny’s collection of nail polish. My own toes were painted the exact same shade.
“I like your nails.”
She smiled. “Thanks. We had a spa day.” Lark grew quiet, and I pulled the soft perfume of her hair deep into my lungs. “Hey... um, I’m a little worried about her. Penny.”
My jaw went tight.
When I didn’t comment, Lark continued. “So I noticed that she hasn’t really made any friends. I know she’s new here, and I’m sure she’ll have a ton of friends once school starts, but...”
I nodded, my jaw working overtime.
Lark gently cleared her throat. “And I love hanging out with her, don’t get me wrong. But I was thinking that maybe signing her up for one of the activities at the library or a summer camp or something might be a good way for her to meet some girls her own age.”
Worry flickered through me. Penny and I had moved around a lot in the last few years, and while I worried about her making friends, it had never seemed to be an issue until now. Penny had always gravitated toward adults, particularly any babysitters or nannies that had come into our lives.
My hand squeezed her thigh. “Thank you.”
Lark gave herself a little satisfied smile, and I couldn’t seem to get over how perceptive and good-natured she was. I realized that maybe I had been too quick to judge her when we’d first met. God knows she had been surprising me left and right lately.
When we pulled into a parking space, we walked side by side toward the local bar. The crowd was picking up, and a little jolt of pride ran through me when Lark entered and immediately turned to the west side of the bar to sit with the Sullivans.
With one last smile just for me, Lark peeled off and joined Annie at a table with a few other women. Lee was at a high-top table with Duke, who was already looking uncomfortable and ready to bolt. Lee lifted a hand to signal me over and slid a cold beer in front of me as I walked up.
“You look hungry.” Lee’s grin spread across his face.
I picked up my beer and tipped it toward him. “You mean thirsty?”
His smile widened as he looked over at Lark. “Nah.”
What a shit.
Duke looked up from his phone. “Beckett is driving in. Said we can meet him at his place in an hour or so. He’ll have the fire all set up.”
I nodded. Beckett’s family had summered in Outtatowner for much of his life. One summer he and Duke had struck up a friendship, and they’d kept in touch over the years. Beckett had taken a job as some big-shot contractor in Chicago but came back every few months to visit. His little brother, Declan, was the piece of shit who strung Katie’s along and broke her heart. I tried not to hold it against Beckett, but it was hard not to when Lee so accurately recalled how hard she cried over what Declan had done to her.
Their family owned one of the large beach houses along the shore. Built into the side of a dune, it was massive, and the entire wall that faced the water was made of glass, but the beach was private.
While we drank our beer and made small talk, I was acutely aware of Lark. Nothing about her seemed out of place in my little hometown. The women laughed and talked and danced along to the music coming from the band. Any outsider could easily mistake her for someone who’d been a part of our community forever.
Across the bar, I spied the King brothers. Mostly they seemed to be keeping to themselves, shooting the shit like we were. I didn’t miss the way Royal’s eyes locked onto Lark as she and her friends danced. The familiar wave of jealous possessiveness coursed through me, but I only gripped my bottle tighter. I wouldn’t embarrass either of us by starting shit and ruining Lark’s night.
“You ready?” Duke had drained his beer and was already wanting to leave.
I tipped my bottle to my lips and set it down with a hard clank. Leaving was a good idea, because if I stayed any longer, I wouldn’t be able to help myself. I was pretty certain it was only a matter of time before I wound my arms around Lark and pulled her into me on the dance floor.
And I never danced.
