Page 73 of The Dangers of Daydreaming

I glanced up to see Gemma standing at the door, Lily looking over her shoulder with a wide, welcoming smile on her face.

I hesitated; they were a great group to be with, and I was really hungry, but I also wanted to be here when Finn came back. A pit in my stomach had been growing all afternoon as I thought about what might have been keeping him at the hospital. Every scenario from his dad showing up early to his grandpa unexpectedly passing away had played out before me, and I wanted to get the information as soon as possible. I would just order something in if I didn’t hear from him.

Oh man, I hoped I heard from him.

“No, thanks, I…” I didn’t have more work to do that night—I couldn’t do it if I tried, my brain was so fried—but I didn’t have another ready excuse.

Gemma’s face softened. “Waiting to hear from Finn?”

I dipped my chin. “Yeah,” I admitted. “I’m worried something’s up.”

“I get being worried, especially after last night. He didn’t tell you anything?” Lily asked, her face full of curiosity and no malice. But having to answer that question was admitting that even after our great date… he was keeping me in the dark.

“No. Well, he said he’s with his grandparents.”

Lily nodded. “I’m sure he’ll fill you in soon.” She looked over to her mom. “They went on the cutest date last night. How romantic, right? A vacation fling.”

I winced without being able to stop myself.

“I don’t think it’s just a fling, dear,” Gemma admonished, putting a hand out as if she could physically restrain Lily’s enthusiasm.

Lily’s face fell. “Sorry, I realize that probably didn’t come out great.” She walked into the room, leaning on the back of one of the armchairs. Slowly, her smile returned. “It’s just so romantic to meet a man in a new country.”

I couldn’t help but laugh a little. “We actually knew each other already. And before you get some star-crossed lovers picture in your head,” I added, knowing that’s exactly where my brain would have taken me if I’d been in her position, “I hated him. He was such a little bully in junior high.”

“Aw, he must have had a crush on you,” Lily gushed.

I pressed my lips together against a self-satisfied smile. “He says he did, actually, but believe me when I say he had a crap way of showing it.”

Lily laughed, but Gemma’s eyes were more serious as she watched me. What was she thinking and seeing in this situation? I was a little afraid to ask.

Her grandson came running in, bowling right into her legs and almost sending her pancaked onto the floor. Gemma’s husband appeared behind the little tyke, breathing heavily. “The car’s here,” he panted. “And I think getting Luke restrained for a bit would be good.”

Gemma’s eyes were still on me, but she nodded and smiled. “We’re coming.” Then to me she said, “Let us know if Finn needs anything. Or you.”

“Yes,” Lily echoed. “Here’s my number so you can text if we need to grab you guys anything.” She rattled off the digits, and I scrawled them onto a scrap piece of paper beside me.

“Thank you both,” I said.

The adults filed out after Lily scooped a shrieking and laughing Luke into her arms. A ghost of a smile lingered on my lips long after the sound of a car driving away disappeared.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to bring my own family here one day? To have my own grandkids running around like little savages? My lips lifted at the thought of a little boy like Luke, but with my red hair wreaking havoc on a cute B&B.

My fingers paused in the action of gathering up my things. When was the last time I’d considered that kind of future? The kind that included a family… and a husband?

Ever since Michael had left, I’d sort of given up on things like that. Not that he had broken my heart so badly, so much as…

I’d felt relieved when he’d ended it.

What did that say about me? That I would have married the man, yet felt relief that we broke up? Probably that I was clinically insane. Yet here I was, with sudden visions of little grandkids and family and a husband and… A future filled with love.

I blew out a slow breath. Words Finn had said a week before filtered back through to me. Something about how I didn’t believe in love—I’d analyzed what he was saying then, but quickly dismissed it. I mean, who didn’t believe in love? Most especially me, who lived and breathed happily ever afters.

Maybe he’d been right, though? But wasn’t anymore?

My head spun with it all.

Soul-searching was exhausting. I needed a nap, but first, I really needed to know what was going on with Finn.

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