"Target, probably. It's about all that's open."
"She would want to go. But you don't need to do all that. There are three of them."
I thought Josie would drop it and not offer again, but she shrugged and tilted her head at me. "Sometimes it's fun to go on a nighttime Target run with your aunt and your friends."
"Yeah, for sure. You can ask her if you're up for it."
"What about the girls' mom? Is she going to care?"
I shook my head. "No, she's easy. Izzy's a little pushy, though. She'll ask you to buy her something."
She shrugged and said she didn't mind before taking off to ask the girls.
There were still people at my house, but they were clearing out.
I gave everyone hugs, and they told me to come see them in California. It took about five minutes for everyone, including my sister and the girls, to get to the door.
I went outside to see them all off. It was nice having them compliment Lu so much, and I was smiling about that as I turned to my last remaining guest. Ash. Our gazes held. I started to look away, to glance at the others as they drove off, but I found it impossible to break my stare from his blue eyes. I smiled a little at the way our eyes got locked. He smiled back at me, and I felt weak in the knees.
"Are you leaving?" I asked.
"Yeah, I can. I wasn't sure what you had going, but yeah, I have my keys, so I don't need to go back inside."
"Oh, okay. Well… thanks for coming to the magic show."
"Oh, I wanted to. Luna invited me personally, and I told her I was coming."
"When did she do this?" I asked, squinting at him.
"At the restaurant, when you took that other little girl to use the restroom. We had a whole conversation."
I smiled, remembering the ten-minute restroom break I had taken with Anna Grace.
"And she was the amazing Bella Luna," he added.
"Did you tell her to use that name?" I asked.
He shook his head. "Did you?"
I shook my head. "No."
"It was cute, though. The whole thing—the show, the costume."
"I know. I'm proud of her." I paused and stared thoughtfully after I said that, and he moved as if he might leave. He reached for his pocket to search for his keys.
"I'm glad I got to see you," he said.
I glanced at him, and he was wearing an easy grin. I promised myself I would not flirt with Ash—especially while mysister was here. But she had gone to run errands, and now we were alone.
"W-would you want to stay for another minute?"
"Yes, I would," he said, looking at me.
"Audreyyy! Hey, sweetheart, is it a good time? I tried to wait until your company left, but, oh, hello… do you still have company?"
Marjorie, my next-door neighbor, had come on a path through the bushes and walked up behind me.
"Yes, this is my friend, Ash. Ash, this is my neighbor, Marjorie."
