Wanting to be alone now, I searched for a secluded spot. The lawn was a patchwork quilt of people and blankets, and all the blue Adirondack chairs were taken. Clusters of children sat on top of picnic tables while the older crowd held court on the low-slung deck. I was on the verge of giving up my hope for solitude when Christian Fox caught my eye, standing with Meredith’s grandfather and her grandmother, presumably. “Looking for the best seat in the house?” Christian asked at the same time I heard a stage-whisper: “Andrew, doesn’t she sort of look like…”
Grace Kelly, I’d heard it before. “You caught me,” I told Christian. “Any suggestions?”
He nodded once. “The side of the house.”
The side of the house? What kind of view is that?
But I felt I had no choice but to heed his words when he smiled and emphatically pointed to the right. “Thank you!” Iwalked past the ultimate lineup of grills—gas, charcoal, and a Big Green Egg—before stepping off the deck and rounding the corner of the house. Only to see…
Bursting white hydrangea bushes.
Of course he was joking, I thought, some embarrassment creeping up my neck.What magical view of the sky was waiting around the bend?
It wasn’t until I squinted for dramatic effect that I noticed the hidden rope ladder running down the cedar-shingles. The rope certainly wasn’t pure white anymore, but the ladder still looked sturdy enough to climb.
I told myself to go for it.
The house was only one story, so its roof didn’t spur my fear of heights. I carefully sat down and stretched out my legs, the breeze swirling around me.I owe Christian Fox a thank-you note, I thought to myself, as I gazed starry-eyed at the smooth inky water and night sky.Thisisthe best—
“Want some company?”
I leaned forward to see Connor standing below me on the deck.
“How did you find me?” I asked.
“I heard you climb up there,” he answered. “The ladder is right next to the bathroom window.”
“Oh.” I wished I hadn’t squeaked whenever the ladder swayed. “Cool.”
“Very,” Connor agreed, then he attempted to calm his disheveled hair, running a slow hand through it. “Do you want some company?”
“Two-minute warning!” came over a megaphone. “Two minutes until the show!”
“Sure,” I told Connor, surprising myself. Hadn’t I wanted to be alone? “You have a minute and fifty-six seconds.”
He grinned, but before I could smile back, I all but squawked. Rather than ascending the ladder, Connor simply leapt upward, his fingers curling around the edge of the roof.
I expected for him to cleanly rip off the gutters, but instead I watched with wide eyes as he elegantly hoisted himself up onto the roof.
“Okay, no.” I shook my head, refusing to be impressed. “You did not just do that. Youdid notjust do a perfect pull-up.”
“The stitch in my side says otherwise,” Connor said, and he took a deep breath once he relaxed next to me. The air around us warmed. “How’s your night been?”
“Both calories and cardio,” I said. “Nick’s name was on my dance card.”
“Was it everything you ever dreamed it’d be?”
I sighed. “Everything andthensome.”
Connor snorted. “Youdoknow he has a fiancée?”
“With his great-grandmother’s stunning emerald-cut diamond.” I nodded. “I also heard through the grapevine that he’s seven years older than me and my sort-of cousin.”
Silence, and then: “I’m totally rooting for you two.”
Laughter bubbled up inside me, and I found I couldn’t stop it from overflowing. Connor’s lips twitched in amusement, but a shot sounded before he could comment.
Yes!I thought as red sparks lit up the sky.Here we go!
