The Devon.
It was real.Right there. Not just a dream, but actually possible. Honestly, showing her work in a museum’s exhibition was never even something she’d fantasized about. In college, she’d studied a lot of different styles and mediums for illustration, enjoyed the museums and galleries she’d visited for classes, but she could never quite picture herself in one—her work, her creations on the wall.
Then again, she’d always planned to come back to Clover Lake after college. She loved her town, and Ramona had moved back after her first year. April didn’t regret any of that, her time with Ramona and Olive, her time with Wonderlust. But she was curious about what else was out there. A normal dream, she supposed, but now…now she had to do more than dream about what she wanted.
She had to actually figure it out.
“April?”
Her head shot up, eyes landing on Daphne Love.
She groaned inwardly.
“Look, I’m sorry, but I’m really not in the mood,” she said. She knew her tone was harsher than Daphne deserved, but her brain could not take one more thing right now. She wanted to simply stand here, look out at the water, and dream.
Still, Daphne flinched slightly, her nostrils flaring a little. She wore a backless gray dress with a halter neck, the material thin and silky and hugging her thighs. Her hair was in a knot at the back of her neck, the sides brushed slick and straight against her head, an elegant part down the middle.
She wasn’t beautiful at all. Nope. Not one damn bit.
April looked away, eyes back on the water.
“I saw you walk down here,” Daphne said evenly. “You looked like you had a lot on your mind.”
April said nothing. Just stared out at the water.
“AndIam a decent human being,” Daphne went on, “so I check on people when they seem overwhelmed.”
Oh, that was fucking rich.
“Youare a decent human being?” April asked. She turned to face Daphne, one elbow leaning on the railing.
Daphne’s jaw went tight, arms rigid at her sides. And fine, yes, April had to admit it—thelessdecent human being side of her was getting a very small kick out of seeing this woman get angry. It was much better than all the tears, that was for damn sure.
“Listen,” April said, tilting her head. “I realize you’re probably used to batting those baby greens at whoever the fuck and getting anything your little country heart desires, but that’s not going to fly with me.”
Daphne’s face went red then, and her eyes widened, the whites nearly fluorescent in the dim evening light. Her hands were closed fists, her mouth nothing but a tight bud. She looked so akin to a cartoon character with steam coming out of her ears, April wanted to laugh, but she was pretty sure that would be a touch over the line.
April knew she was being a dick.
But for the life of her, she couldn’t figure out how tonotbe one when it came to Daphne, and honestly didn’t care to put forth the effort.
“That’s it,” Daphne said, bouncing on her feet a little, a tiny volcano about to blow.
“What’s it?” April asked, feigning boredom.
“You,” Daphne said, waving her hand between them. “This toxic,I’m a big bad Goth bitchvibe you’ve got going on.”
April smiled like…well, like a big bad Goth bitch. “I’m going to get that on my tombstone.”
Daphne grunted in frustration, and April did laugh then, which only made Daphne’s lovely face deepen into a darker shade of crimson.
“I’m going to head in,” April said, pushing her arm off the railing and starting to turn back toward the lodge. “Feel free to stay out of the cabin until I’m asleep.”
“Oh no you don’t,” Daphne said, then hooked her arm through April’s, stopping her from moving.
April flicked her gaze down to where their elbows linked, then back up to Daphne’s face. “What are you doing?”
“We’re going to settle this,” Daphne said.
