I gasped. What?
A slow smile spread across her face. “And wish on the first star every night. And all the dandelions Brooklyn and I can find. And every coin I toss in a fountain. And the other day when there was a rainbow.” She began ticking the wishes off on her fingers. “Every ladybug that lands anywhere near me. Whenever you or Uncle Si gasses it through a yellow light. Whenever the time is one-eleven or two twenty-two or three thirty-three. You get the picture.”
My mouth parted.
She shrugged. “Then there’s all the four-leaf clovers in the yard. They’re more common than you think. We really need to put down some weed and feed.” She looked up at the ceiling of the truck, thinking for a second. “Whenever Brooklyn or I find an eyelash on the other’s cheek.” She let out an exaggerated exhale, her shoulders lifting and falling. Then she remembered one more. “Oh, and fireflies. Every one that we can catch.”
“Wow,” was all I could say, half impressed, half horrified by the energy and aspirations of a thirteen-year-oldwith her heart set on something. She was going to be one disappointed girl at the end of the summer.
Anna sat up straight, beaming. “With all that good juju, it’s got to happen.” She elbowed me in the ribs. “I mean, Uncle Silas is pretty cute, don’t you think? He’s got that great hair and his smile. Oh, and his really deep voice.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “Admit it. You think he’s sexy.”
I gasped. “You are way too young to be using that word.”
She rolled her eyes. “Fine. Hot. You think he’s hot, don’t you?”
“No. Pfft. He’s just…Silas. He’s too tall.” And it was so freaking attractive. “And kinda skinny.” At least he used to be. “And he wears that dumb hat.” Which I’d come to adore.
She pursed her lips. “The lady doth protest too much, methinks.”
My jaw dropped. “Did you just quote Shakespeare at me?”
“It’s kinda sus, not gonna lie.”
My mouth fell open even more. Shakespeare to Gen Z in less than ten seconds. This kid.
“Picture it, Aunt Lemon.” She held her hands up as if they were framing something. “If you married Uncle Silas, he could use that dreamy voice to whisper sweet nothings every night until you fell asleep. Just think about that.”
Oh. My. Word. Where was Silas? It couldn’t take this long to find a hat.
“I’m not too worried about him,” she continued. “You’re gorgeous. Likegor-geous.All my friends at school dream of looking like you when they grow up. And you’re a freaking Girlboss. Literally. Yeah, Uncle Silas doesn’t stand a chance.” She shrugged one shoulder. “Besides, he already looks at you that certain kinda way whenever you’re in the room.”
“Excuse me.” My laugh came out shaky. “He doesn’t look at me any kind of way.”
She shrugged, full shouldered this time. “Brooklyn sees ittoo, so I know it’s not just me. Because Brooklyn always tells the truth about everything. Like she’ll tell me if I’m stressing too much about my outfit or if one of my eyebrows is wonky. You know what I mean? And she says you and Uncle Si got this chemistry going on. It's just a matter of time till you're couple goals.”
But my brain was stuck way back athe looks at you that certain kinda way.I wasn’t going to hang my hopes on the intuition of two thirteen-year-olds, but it made me wonder.WasSilas attracted to me? I tried to think back through the years. Was the way he looked at me now different from when we were younger? I almost shook my head, chiding myself for even entertaining the thought. No, that look was the same one he’d given me when I was twelve. Anna’s hopes were addling her head.
She grabbed my hand and squeezed. “Brooklyn thinks you should go for it—lay one on him and see what he does.” Her eyes were full of longing, like I obtained some kind of tantalizing seductress kissing skills that would make her every wish come true.
“I think that is a terrible idea.”
She slumped and poked her bottom lip out. “I told Brooklyn you’d never do it. You’re way too proper.” She said it as if being proper was the dullest quality in existence.
I scoffed. “I am not too proper. I am the exact right amount of proper, thankyouverymuch.” My phone chimed. “Hold on. We’re not done here.” I mindlessly pulled it out of my purse with every intention of seeing who it was, ignoring them, and then giving Anna a lecture on how you should save your kisses until you were sure about a guy.
But it was Mr. Llewellyn, my lawyer.
Arlo Llewellyn: Don’t ask me how, but you got a miracle today. Billy signed the papers.
I stared at the message, rereading it over and over again, waiting for Arlo to rescind his words. Was he kidding? Was this a really late April Fool’s joke? Had someone stolen his phone and pranked me?
Me: Are you serious?
Arlo: Yes, totally serious. I’m not sure what happened. Last time I talked to his lawyer, he was going to fight to the death. Then this morning I got word that the papers were signed. Go celebrate. You’re a free woman.
I sat there, stunned, unable to speak.
Anna took the phone from me, scanning the words. When she laid it back in my lap, she gave me a matter-of-fact expression. “After Uncle Si scared him witless? I’m surprised it took this long.”
