Page 147 of A Duet of Darkness and Dreams

“James and Becks,” I admit. “Becks asked him to model an outfit she designed for one of her classes. Told him he had the body for men’s fashion. He was quite agreeable to having his photo taken after hearing that. Not sure how she got through the ordeal without throwing up.”

“He really is the worst kind of narcissist.” She squeezes my hand. “Thank you.”

“I would do anything to make you laugh like that,” I confess.

The beautiful dimple appears in her cheek and my heart has never felt so whole. I open my door and get out.

“Dave,” she calls, “where are you going?”

“Come take a walk with me,” I say, coming around to open her door.

She nods, and we entwine our fingers as we head down the boardwalk. When we reach the edge of the pier overlooking the bay, we stare out into the distance and watch the glittering water as the sun rises higher into the clear blue sky above us.

“So . . .” I say, leaning on the rail. “A book?”

She doesn’t turn to me, but her cheeks pinch with the smile that grows on her face. “That would be something, wouldn’t it?”

“Yeah, it would.”

“And Carnal Sins, naked, on the front cover ofEarworm Magazine?” she says, arching her brow and glancing at me out of the corner of her eyes.

“Mostly naked,” I correct. “You have to admit, it would be scandalously brilliant.”

She laughs. “You don’t need to lie anymore, you can tell me it was your idea.”

“It was not!” I argue. “I swear . . . Joel—”

“Oh please.” She rolls her eyes. “You just want to show off that body of yours.”

I slide a little closer to her. “Are you jealous that other people will see me?” I speak into her ear.

Goosebumps rise on her skin, and I trace a finger down her spine. “Hmm . . .” She pauses to think. “If you had asked me that four months ago, I would’ve said yes. But, now?” Turning toward me, she steps closer and pushes the hair away from my face. “Now I know your heart belongs to me, so they can eat their hearts out.”

I laugh, my belly contracting, and I pull her into a tight hug to bury my face in her sweet-smelling hair.

“Does this moment make your list?” she asks.

Pulling back, I stare down into those questioning chocolate eyes. “It would be at the very top if I ever thought it was possible before a few days ago.”

“You really never thought this could work?” she asks with a frown.

Gazing out at the sea, I take a long, deep breath. “I’ve always had such bad luck in life. From my mom, to school, Emily and my first band. It was a way to keep track of all the good things I thought Icouldmake happen.”

“I don’t think it was ever really about luck, Dave,” she says. “You worked hard to get where you are.”

I nod. “Yeah, I know. It’s stupid, but I have to admit it’s hard to let that go.”

She lays her palm against my cheek. “Whatever happens, we can face it together.”

I smile gently. “Then maybe you should hold on to this,” I say. Reaching into my pocket, I pull out the keychain. The one I found months ago when everything started to turn. My good-luck charm. I pick up her hand and drop it onto her palm.

Her eyes lock on the little plastic sun peeking out from behindthe cloud, and she freezes. I can feel it in the way her breath falters before she looks up at me with tears in her eyes.

For a moment, I’m horrified. What could I have done to upset her? “What’s wrong?”

She grips the keychain tightly. “This . . . this is mine.”

It’s possible my heart completes a quadruple flip. “What?”

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