Page 72 of Meet Me on Lilac Lane

Maybe her friends were right. Being with Cody was worth the risk.

Cody put his hand over Mia’s tucked into his elbow. He never wanted this night to end.

He let go of Mia when they reached the easels.

“So, did you ever kiss her?” Mia picked up a yellow paint pot and uncapped it.

“Kiss who?” He opened the blue pot.

“Lisa Miller.”

“Are you still on that? No, I never kissed Lisa Miller. Didn’t her family move away after that trip?”

A frown line had developed between her eyebrows as she concentrated on making a few strokes with her paintbrush. “Who was your first kiss, then? I can’t believe I don’t know this already.”

“I don’t think I like this game anymore,” he growled.

She laughed. “Too bad. You agreed to play. And it was my turn to ask a question.”

Did she really not know? “You.”

She stood up straight. “What?” She searched his face.

“I know you want to move slow, and I respect that, but Mia, you should know that I’ve never kissed anyone but you.” He met her gaze. Her mouth opened into an O. He wanted to kiss it shut but held back.

“Well. That’s unexpected. I know you dated a few girls.” She held her paintbrush aloft and a yellow drip fell onto the grass.

“I didn’t want to kiss anyone until I was sure of the relationship. Our school and this island are so small, it would have gotten awkward fast if I dated around.” May as well jump in with both feet. “Plus, none of them were you.” Sure, he’d tried to date other girls, but gave up after high school. It wasn’t fair to keep comparing them to Mia.

He looked at her painting. Somehow, even while using the goopy grocery store paint, she’d managed to create something amazing.

Overhead, the sky darkened to a velvety navy and the stars began to twinkle.

“Code. I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything at all.” He looked deep into her eyes for a heartbeat then shifted to look at her painting again. “How did you get your painting to look like that? Mine looks like a four-year-old did it.”

Mia leaned over to inspect his work. “I have bad news for you. I think Finn can do it better than that. Let’s call it impressionism.”

“Want to sit out here for a minute? I can run in and grab the blanket.” At her nod, he headed inside and picked up the blanket. When he got back outside, she’d cleaned up the paints, but she must have taken a minute to add a little to his painting, because instead of a blob of yellow, green, and purple paint, it looked incredible. “You made that mess look like a masterpiece. Mia Franklin, you are a marvel. You keep making things better in my life.”

She smiled up at him. “You had the right idea. I just tweaked it a little.” She shivered.

“Let’s sit.” He laid a portion of the blanket on the ground, and after they sat, he wrapped the top part around their shoulders. “Is that better?”

“Yes. Thanks.” She nudged him with her shoulder. “I think it’s your turn for a question.”

In the low grass around the edge of the yard, lightning bugs winked at them.

“What’s something from your childhood you wish you could have back?”

She went silent. Then, “My relationship with my dad. I used to be his shadow. He was the first person to let me use a paintbrush.” She laughed. “Granted, it was to help him paint the porch, but still. Then Nora came, and things changed. I love Nora, of course, but being the middle child is nothing like being the baby. Then of course, everything with Troy and Finn…” She raised one shoulder then let it drop. “That sounds really self-centered. Wanting all of my dad’s attention.”

“No. I know it’s not about that. I get it. Losing things you love is hard. I know that too well.” May as well admit the rest. “I always lose what I love.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Because it’s true.” He braced an arm behind her. “Do you remember my puppy, Cheezit?”

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