Page 91 of The Lost Book of First Loves

“Sure. Let me grab my tent out of the garage for you, then we can head over.”

“Sounds good. Thanks, Beck.”

As they both walked toward the garage, he felt a twinge of apprehension. He could only hope June would still talk to him after Ali told her all the secrets they had both been keeping from her.

Chapter 30

Alison

As she made the drive toward the cabin, which probably took twice as long as it would have done if they had simply walked over from Beck’s place, Ali felt as if the butterflies in her stomach were putting on some kind of Vegas-style acrobatic show.

How would she ever find the right words to tell June the truth? She was going to upend her life completely. How could she simply blurt out the news that Carson was her father?

While that was the main thing giving her anxiety right now, it didn’t help that she was suddenly—and wholly unexpectedly—stressing about her trip in the morning with Xander.

She was not nervous about the trip itself. She loved riding into the Wyoming backcountry. The last time she had been to this particular area of the wilderness had been two summers ago with her father, and she was certain the familiar terrain would bring back a host of memories, both good and bad.

No. Her nerves seemed to intensify whenever she thought about spending two days with Xander, given the strange shift in their relationship.

She couldn’t seem to stop thinking about dancing with him the night before, and how she had wanted to rest her head against his shoulder and stay there all night.

What was wrong with her?

Something seemed to be changing between them. Whenever she thought of him, she felt edgy and off balance.

She had to hope this trip into the mountains would help her regain her equilibrium and return their relationship to its normal moorings.

She would worry about Xander later. Right now she had to face the half sister who had no idea they were related.

She pulled up in front of the cabin and opened her vehicle door before Beck could come around and do it for her.

The clearing in front of the cabin smelled delicious, of chicken and lemons and some kind of subtle spice.

June stood on the side deck wearing an apron while she worked the grill her dad kept there so he could cook the occasional burger while he was writing.

Ali could almost picture him standing in exactly that spot, in the very same apron. It was still so wrong to be here at The Painted Sky without him.

If June was surprised to see her arriving with Beckett, she didn’t show it.

“Hi, Ali.”

“Hi. I hope you don’t mind that I made Beck bring me along. I stopped at his place to pick up his tent and when he told me he was heading over here to start looking through Dad’s boxes, I wanted in.”

“It’s no problem. I’m about to pull some chicken off the grill.”

“Even I wouldn’t be rude enough to invite myself over for dinner. I already grabbed a sandwich when I closed up the bookstore today.”

“If you change your mind, there’s plenty.”

“Thanks.”

June seemed genuine in her welcome. Ali hoped she was still happy to see her after she told her everything.

“You look great,” she told June. “Every time I’m here, you seem a little more healthy.”

“I think the fresh air here has been good for me.”

“I’m glad.”

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