Page 41 of The Dangers of Daydreaming

“Be serious, Finn. I—”

Heads popped out of the staircase. People who’d probably heard at least half that conversation as they came up the stairs. Could I use that in my favor? A little peer pressure to get Lucy to go out with me?

Because, not to be a typical guy, but her “hard to get” act was not helping her cause here. I suddenly had my competitive nature joining in with my interest in her, and it was a lethal combination.

But Lucy was turning red and avoiding the looks of the couple entering the observation room, so I decided not to play red rover and send them on over to my team. Instead, I crossed the little room, joining her on her side and letting the new couple have mine.

“Just one date, Luce. I just want to take you out. I promise to be a gentleman and not to make it awkward. Just one date.” I stared down at her, willing her to say yes.

She swallowed, and her gaze drifted to my left ear, not able to maintain contact with my eyes. “I’m sorry, Finn. I do think you’re great—I just don’t think that’s a good idea.”

I stepped away. Now I was the one turning red. I stuffed my hands back in my pockets. “No big deal. I get it—it’s hard to get over the whole shark attack part of our history. I’ve got more ground to make up.” I winked because I wasn’t sure what else to do right then. I felt like the floor beneath me had suddenly—not quitedisappeared,exactly, but gotten really unsteady.

Chapter 11

Extricated

Lucy

Crap.Icouldn’tlookat him, and it wasn’t because of how bright it was up here at the top of the lighthouse. I was such a jerk—I should have just said yes to the date, but old habits died hard. I hadn’t said yes to a first date in a year. Hadn’t said yes to a second in even longer.

And really, it was true that it wasn’t a good idea.

But that didn’t mean I wasn’t interested. A date with Finn? He already opened my doors and let me control the AC, so things wouldn’t be that different, would they?

Except I would know we were on a date. I would know we were there because he liked me and wanted to spend more time with me. He might hold my hand. Split dessert with me. Tell me I looked good. Kis—

My eyes caught on Finn, hovering by the door, still watching me, and my cheeks burned. Okay, the overactive imagination needed to take a breather.

My phone started buzzing, and I was never so grateful for an interruption. I didn’t even glance at it before I sent an apologetic look to Finn while pointing at the phone and answering.

“Hello?” I asked.

“Lucy!”

Had I just answered a call from my mother? Seriously? Of all the people it could be… Anyone from work. Any of my cousins. A friend. A freaking telemarketer… it had to be Lisa Sinclair, the woman who’d birthed me, raised me, and I’d been rudely ignoring?

“Oh, hey, Mom, what’s up?” I did a fantastic job of hiding my dismay. Go me!

“I’m so glad I got ahold of you. I was starting to think your phone must not be working in Canada… I was about to send you an email.” She laughed, and I gave myself a stern talking to. This was my mom. I loved her. I disagreed with the decisions she was making right now, but I needed to be nice.

“I’m so sorry, service has been spotty.” Which was true. Usually, I had to leave the B&B to get calls and messages.

“I completely get it. It’s good to know, actually, since Brian is finalizing the honeymoon plans, and maybe those international phone plans aren’t worth it then. We wanted to stay in touch with our kids, but you guys might just have to get emails when we’re on Wi-Fi. Honestly, you’d probably prefer that over constant updates, although Alexandra has said she wants all the pictures. She is so jealous that we’re headed to France. She says she wants to live vicariously through us. I told her she and John should go next summer. Brian and I will keep the kids, and they can go on a vacation. I don’t think they’ve had one since they were married five years ago, so it's definitely time, and what else are grandmas for?”

There was so much to unpack there. The fact that my mom hadn’t used me to plan her honeymoon—though really, I wouldn’t have been thrilled so I was trying to keep that in mind. The fact that my mom’s future stepdaughter was everything I wasn’t—namely excited for the marriage. The fact that said future stepdaughter talked to Mom more than me.

The fact that Mom already considered Alexandra her kid and Alexandra's children her grandkids.

Why did that hurt? Why did that feel like I was being replaced?

I pressed my eyes closed. A hand touched my arm, and I jumped.

Sorry, Finn mouthed.Do you need an escape?

I nodded, not even caring that I probably looked crazed and frantic.

“Hey Lucy!” Finn called, way too loudly for someone right next to me. The couple across the room looked over at him. “Time to get going! We’re going to miss the train!”

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