Page 24 of The Dangers of Daydreaming

He hesitated, then nodded.

Gemma said something from Mar’s side, catching her attention. It was just me and Finn again.

“How have you not seen this musical?”

“It’s not always running.”

I quirked a brow. “But it is sometimes?”

Another moment of hesitation passed before he nodded again. Then, as if physically shaking off his evident embarrassment, his smile grew, and he sat a little straighter. The tables were turned faster than when Elizabeth had refused Darcy’s first proposal. I leaned away, but there was only so far I could go in the small seat before I’d run into Mar and herbaby.

“Lucy, do you want me to admit I only came to the showing because you’re here?”

“Well, no, that’s not what I was saying.”

“It’s the truth. Usually, I just drop tour members off at the scheduled tours. I don’t join them in everything. Or anything, really.” His voice was low, and goosebumps erupted on my arm. I willed his eyes to stay on mine so he wouldn’t notice that.

“But you do buy them chocolates, right?” I asked, trying to lighten the mood.

He shook his head a little. The lights were starting to dim, and the low lighting made the lines of his face even more attractive. “Only the cute ones.”

That checked out. With all his flirting and teasing, he probably had a different fling each week. Unfortunately, even that thought didn’t stop my rising attraction to the guy. The musical started, but now instead of the sensation of excitement tingling through me, it was an entirely different sensation that had everything to do with the fact that Finn still held control of my armrest and at least half of my attention. I couldn’t help but think back to sixth grade with this guy. At one point, I had compared him to Gilbert Blythe… Not the kind, intelligent Gilbert, but the one who had pulled Anne’s hair and called her Carrots. The version whom I would’ve liked to break a slate over his head. Back then, I had considered myself Anne and him, Gilbert. Until I had gone on to read the rest of the series and realized that they were destined to be romantic interests for one another.

This felt like a repeat of that moment. A realization about Finn. But this time, it was that he was dangerous in his control over my emotions. I couldn’t afford a distraction on this trip, but more than that, I wasn’t looking for romance. Not now, not… ever.

So even though Finn shot me smiling looks, whispered comments in my ear, and kept his leg near mine for most of the musical, I didn’t give in to any ofit. I’d decided something back in sixth grade, and reaffirmed it now: Finn couldn’t be my Gilbert.

Chapter 8

Storytime

Finn

Itookthestairsto the top floor of my grandparents' B&B two at a time. I had checked in with Steph’s mom, Greta, about the breakfast arrangements, taken care of a couple of maintenance things, and now I was ready for some fun.

I knocked twice on what I knew to be Lucy’s room, then waited until she pulled the door open.

Her red curls were pulled into a bun at the top of her head, and she had her blue light glasses on. She blinked twice at me, as if surprised to see me there.

“There’s not a tour today.” It wasn’t a question, but I shook my head anyway.

“Nope, not for everyone else at least.”

“Everyone else?”

“Yep, I thought you might like to see the Kensington train station. It’s north of Cavendish, so we won’t be stopping there as part of our overnight. But it’s—”

She was already backing into her room, grabbing things off the bed and making for the wardrobe on the far side. “The train station that Lucy Maud Montgomery would have gone through. The one that likely inspired the one in the movies.” She tossed the words over her shoulder as she grabbed a jacket from the wardrobe.

“It’stoo hot for that,” I said, leaning against the door frame while she gathered up her stuff.

“You always turn the AC up in the van.”

“You could’ve told me you were cold.”

She shrugged. “There are a lot of bodies in that van, who’s to say everyone else isn’t as hot as you are?” She froze in the act of pulling her purse over her shoulder. But then she continued, pretending she hadn’t had that little slip-up.

“So you think I’m hot?” I crossed my arms, biting back a smile.

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