Lucy’s smile dims, understanding in the lines of her face. “Well then, maybe you should try to figure it out.” “Your mac and cheese recipe?” At the other end of the table, Nova leans over Vanessa to stick her fork in Harper’s bowl. All three of them descend into bright, cackling laughter. I yank my eyes away. “No, Charlie.” Lucy hands me another

“If you don’t pass me the potatoes, I’m going to lose my fucking mind.”

Stella holds her hands out above her desk, hovering but not touching anything. “I’m afraid to move.” “Why?” “I don’t think it’s ever been so organized.” “Not even when you bought the place?” She shakes her head. “Luka almost wept when he dropped me off this morning.”

He opens my palm and drops my phone in it. I notice he’s given me a new wallpaper photo. A close-up picture of his face, smile lines by his eyes, cup of coffee to his mouth. He must have taken it as soon as he got home from the wedding, those damn suspenders in the very edge of the shot.

“What were you thinking?” “Your name,” he says seriously. “Across my forehead.”

“Can we encourage him to invest in a rocket ship that will launch his adulterous ass into outer space?” “Ooh.” Selene leans back in my desk chair in my office on the other side of the computer and takes a long sip out of my coffee mug. “You’re feeling spicy today.”

“Do you want me to key his car?” Her mouth twitches with a suppressed grin. “No, I don’t want you to key his car.” She reaches for another strawberry. “But I reserve the right to change my mind.” “Fair.” I flip the bacon. Beckett will help me key his car.

Flirting has always been easy for me, but flirting with Nova is a goddamn delight. Her whole body comes alive under the attention, like a flower tilting toward the sun. I’m greedy for her reactions. For the way pink lights up her cheeks.

The last time I saw him was at the summer solstice festival, where he was bare-chested for the peach pie eating contest, letting the little old biddies in town put dollar bills in his waistband. Before that, it was Layla and Caleb’s housewarming. He brought strawberry shortcake Jell-O shots. I think he consumed the entire tray himself. “It’s funny