“Thanks,Mom.”
She winces. “I didn’t mean it likethat.”
“Sure. Excuse me, please, I need to start a new batch if tonight’s not going to be a total waste.”
“You know Dylan owns his house and lets his mom stay there, right?”
I turn and stare at the man who’s now licking the chocolate straight out of the mold.
He freezes. “I’ll wash this.”
“You let your mom live with you.” I probably shouldn’t say it like I’m accusing him of murder, but I can’t handle this tonight.
I absolutely, positivelycannothandle him being that much more attractive.
Not after that kiss.
“She’s getting back on her feet after a rough breakup.” He shrugs like it’s no big deal. “And I owe her for putting up with my teenage years.”
“Pardon her gawking,” Phoebe says to him. “It’s just that both Tavi and I would probably let our mother live in a one-star hotel before we’d ever let her live in our homes.”
He nods slowly. “I can see that. Especially since there’s not much room in that tree house where you’re squatting right now.”
Phoebe’s face explodes in a shower of smiles and rainbows and laughter. “Oh, stop. I’m notsquatting. I’m paying rent in sexual favors. And speaking of ... you never answered my question aboutwhat kiss?”
I take her by the arm and turn her toward the door. “Go. Away. My chocolate is very temperamental. Grab a truffle. Take one to Teague and lie to him about where you got it. Tell me what you want or don’t want at Shiloh’s birthday party or if I’m being set up and she’ll hate it like Dylan said she’d pretend to.”
“Teague knows, Tavi. He’s like Gigi.He knows all.” She frowns. “Actually ... he would’ve known you knew about Tickled Pink Floyd, wouldn’t he?”
“Don’t go there, Phoebe,” Dylan says. “Stay happy. Forgive the man. He’s had a rough summer.”
“You too,” I tell him. “Shoo. Go home and check on your mother. I have enough problems without you two gossiping about everything else in here. Go.Go.”
I don’t want to be alone.
I want Phoebe to talk me through how to make my business profitable and give me suggestions for other investors that I can reach out to in case my ideas don’t work. I want Dylan to tell me my chocolate is delicious.
But if there’s one thing I’ve learned in a lifetime of being a Lightly, it’s that I’m the only one I can count on.
It doesn’t matter how good a kiss is. Or how much Iwantto trust that my sister has changed.
I can’t.
So I’ll count on me.
“You want me to take these dirty rags to my place and wash them?” Dylan asks. “Mom won’t ask any questions. She’ll just be happy it looks like I’m dating.”
I swallow another cringe.
That’s our deal. I help him look attractive to other women, and in exchange, he helps me fulfill Gigi’s task for me so that I can get the hell out of here.
That kiss was a fluke.
It didn’t mean anything.
No matter how much that soul that Gigi claims is doomed wants to believe it means everything.
Chapter 19
