Page 26 of The Library on Plum Island
He’d just asked his best friend for help and basically admitted he knew he’d been a douche all these years. And she was mocking him.
“I heard that part just fine.” Harriet waved his anger off, ignoring it. “I meant the last part.”
Alex let his head fall back, sighed, and looked at Harriet. “I think I like someone more than I have since I was twenty, but in order to even get her attention, I have to …”
“Stop being a douche?” Dawn’s voice startled them, and they turned to see her perched in a chair slightly behind them and blocking the sliding door.
“Dawn?” Alex and Harriet said in unison.
“Hi!” Dawn grinned, giving them a slight wave before picking raw granola from the bowl as if it were popcorn. “Don’t let me disturb you. This is good.”
“How long have you been sitting there?” Alex asked her.
“Long enough.” Dawn shrugged unabashed by her eavesdropping. “And to know that the mighty Alex Blackwell may have finally filled up his glass with juice.”
“Don’t say that!” Harriet shook her head. “It sounds… well, just don’t say that.”
“Yeah, it sounded a lot better in my head,” Dawn agreed.
“So you’ve been sitting here for that long, and we didn’t even realize you were there?” Alex looked at her in disbelief.
“I can be very quiet when I want to be.” Dawn grinned again. “Besides, the two of you were so engrossed in your conversation that a marching band could’ve walked through the middle of you, and you wouldn’t have noticed.”
“You really have to get over the marching band thing,” Harriet rolled her eyes.
“Not going to happen,” Dawn told her. “The one time I asked you and Alex to support me and watch the school marching band I was in walk with the town parade, the two of you got into a heated debate and didn’t even see me.”
“We’ve said we were sorry a zillion times.” Harriet sighed resignedly.
“No.” Dawn shook her head. “Alex apologized. He even bought me a car.”
“It was a Barbie Beetle, and you were eighteen,” Harriet reminded her. “Why would an eighteen-year-old even want a Barbie Beetle?”
“It took me forever to find that car,” Alex told Harriet. “It was vintage.”
“Alex took the time and put a lot of thought into his apology,” Dawn pointed out. “All you said was, and I quote, ‘I promise I’ll catch the next parade you’re in,’ but that was my last parade.”
“Fine, Dawn, I’m sorry I missed your marching band parade because Alex was being know-it-all again!” Harriet folded her arms across her chest and narrowed her eyes. “How did this conversation get turned aroundagain?”
“Dawn, please just take the apology,” Alex begged. “That’s the best you’re going to get.”
“Do you want me to buy you a car?” Harriet asked.
“Could I have the one that’s parked in your brother’s garage that you can no longer drive?” Dawn pursed her lips and raised her eyebrows.
“Absolutely not!” Harriet said, shaking her head. “As soon as I have my license again, I’ll be back in the driver’s seat.” She looked at Alex accusingly. “Stop hedging and answer the question.”
“Which was?” Alex’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully
“Who is the Angel whose heart you want to win?” Harriet and Dawn’s eyes widened as they looked at each other and then back at Alex.
“Please don’t tell us it’s Monica Spiers!” Dawn said before Harriet could.
“Oh, heck no!” Alex shuddered. “There was a mistake if ever I’ve made one.”
“We could’ve told you that when you took her on that first date,” Dawn informed him.
“You knew?” Harriet looked at Dawn in disbelief.
