Page 123 of One Small Spark
I very much would. Wren’s not big on PDA or revealing her feelings, so I know getting her to claim our relationship publicly will take time. Doesn’t mean I’m not secretly hoping.
She slows when the path merges onto lodge property. The guest cabins are spread out and surrounded by trees for maximum privacy, but the main lodge and outbuildings are impossible to miss. I take the lead, coasting down to the old barn.
Charlie had its white paint refreshed, but otherwise, it looks the same from the outside. I dismount and lean my bike carefully against the building. If I damage the paint, Charlie will send me a bill.
“Did you play Barbies out here with Charlie when you were little?” Wren asks.
“Her Barbies never wanted to play with Darth Vader, so no.”
“But that would make the perfect morally gray love interest situation.”
I pull open the side door, and Wren and I both stare inside. I am only marginally aware of the changes—the refinishedhardwood floor, the new paneling that makes the interior look rustic yet sleek, the miles of bright string lights overhead. A different change is center stage.
In the middle of the room, Charlie’s kissing Leo.
I don’t usually pay attention to other people kissing, but they arereallyinto it. So much that they don’t even notice us in the doorway. A meteor could probably rip through the barn’s ceiling, and they still wouldn’t come up for air.
Wren takes my hand off the door, letting it silently swing shut again.
“I’m glad you brought me out here,” she says. “This was really illuminating.”
I groan out a laugh. I can’t tell if I want to punch my best friend or bleach my eyeballs. Both work.
“The parts I saw of the venue look really nice,” she goes on. “And it’s obviously a romantic spot.”
“Too soon.”
Wren’s still holding my hand and shakes it. “Okay there, Callahan?”
“Yeah. I guess this is happening.” I’m fine with it. I am. I just didn’t expect to find out quite like that.
“Looks like it. You know what will cheer you up?”
I finally focus on her. “Finding our own romantic spot?”
“You wish.” She drops my hand and hops on her bike, popping up the kickstand. “Trying to catch me!”
She pedals back up the path, blasting the loudest bike horn in the world as she goes.
That will do plenty to cheer me up. I’ll catch her—right after I send my sister a text.
Shepherd: CLCRH (Charlie & Leo Caught Red-Handed)
THIRTY-FIVE
WREN
I am a good girlfriend,I tell myself like I’m my own self-help audiobook. This is not overstepping. This is just the right amount of stepping.
Acting on my impulses isn’t always the best move. Every time they backfire on me, I swear I’ve learned my lesson. And yet, here I am, back at Moonlight Lodge with just a few days left to go before the gala/big bike trails presentation. If the women in book group have taught me anything, it’s that sometimes meddling makes life better for everyone.
I should probably let them know that at some point. Far in the future.
Usually when I walk through Moonlight Lodge’s swanky lobby, I’m carrying pies. Today, it’s just me and my adrenaline, urging me to rush in swinging my sword of righteous indignation.
Some of that urge to go in guns blazing fizzles when Charlie’s mom spots me from behind the front desk. Because that’s alsoShepherd’smom. I’ve never been nervous around Emily Callahan before, but I might have a lil sweat going on this time. Her mom radar could clue her in about Shepherd and me.
She beams, though, in perfect customer service mode. “Wren. It’s good to see you.”
