Page 76 of Meet Me at the Fudge Shop

“I’m guessing they didn’t take that too well.”

“Not well at all. They basically said if he moved, Uncle Craig was dead to them.”

“Not cool.”

He smiled at how succinctly she’d put it. “Not cool at all.”

Another squeeze at his fingertips. “So what happened?”

“Uncle Craig chose love. He moved. And I never saw him again.”

“Wait,seriously?”

“Unfortunately, yes. When I asked my mom what had happened to him, she told me, ‘Family always comes first. He was selfish to prioritize his own happiness and leave the rest of us in the lurch.’ All because he wasn’t here anymore to take over the practice.”

“Wow. I’m sorry, Dec. But you know she wasn’t right in that, yeah? That was her own fear talking.”

He shrugged. His thumb swiped across the back of Lily’s hand, so soft in his. “Looking back, yes, I’m sure she was speaking largely out of hurt. They were really close, and she missed him.”

“It’s not like he was dead, though. She could have still had a relationship with him.”

“In case you haven’t figured it out, my mother is an all-or-nothing kind of person.”

She’d come to face him, resting her head against the swing’s chain. Offered him a small smile. “I did kind of guess that. But she was wrong, you know. It isn’t selfish to want to be happy.”

“I know that now. Or at least, I’m trying to.” He inhaled a deep breath. Here it went…“And do you know what’s made me happier than I’ve been in years?”

Lily pressed her lips together, eyes wide as she shook her head.

Declan looked her straight in the eyes, without blinking, and uttered the one word that might finally change everything between them. An admission with the power to blow up their worlds—for better or worse. Hopefully, mostly better.

“You.”

* * *

And there it was.

The thing they’d been building toward since Declan had kissed her senseless in the kitchen last night—though to be honest, for her, it had started long before that.

Had there ever been a moment, ever since that Disney World trip when they were eighteen, when at least some part of her hadn’t loved Declan Kelley?

Maybe not.

And Lily was oh-so-tired of pretending, of holding back this living, breathing, and yes, growing desire inside of her.

Which was why she bounced to her feet, rounded on Declan, and grabbed on to the swing ropes on either side of him. She leaned in, her breath mingled with his as her hair fell forward over her shoulders.

Declan reached up and gingerly pushed it behind her ears, his large hands cupping her face, his eyes liquid in the moonlight. “What doyouwant, Lily Ann Hart?”

“I want…” She inhaled and decided to be brutally honest. “For just once, I want someone to chooseme. Not just when it’s convenient. Not just when it feels right. But always.”

He flinched. “I know I already said this, but I’m so sorry for what happened in high school. I shouldn’t have?—”

“I know.” She leaned closer. “It wasn’t just you.”

“What do you mean?” His gaze darkened. “Who else hurt you?”

“Nobody of consequence now.” Straightening, she backed away from Declan. A sudden breeze had her wrapping her arms around herself—but it was the memories too that chilled her.

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