Phineas took a deep breath and headed over to her. Pearl was chatting with Mercedes, who worked as a housekeeper at Room with a Tomb dead-and-breakfast and was also now dating Magnus, one of the owners.
Mercedes smiled knowingly at him and then turned to Pearl. “I better go see if Magnus needs any help with the appetizers.”
“Okay,” Pearl said.
Mercedes grinned and squeezed his arm as she walked by, which gave him a bit of courage.
“Hi,” Phineas greeted.
Great opening line, dude.
“Hi,” Pearl responded, smiling and tucking her hair behind her ear. “It’s good to see you and finally get a chance to talk. I’ve been so busy helping my mom and Margaid get ready for the wedding between studying.”
Phineas understood. Pearl was at college, studying to be a nurse. He hadn’t seen her in a long time and he missed her.
“It’s good to see you too. It’s been what…a couple of months since your going-away party?”
“Yes. It hasn’t been that long, but it feels like forever, doesn’t it?”
“It does! Why is that?”
Pearl shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“How is college?”
“It’s good,” Pearl responded politely, but there was a hint of sadness in her voice. “I’m homesick though. I love Harmony Glen. I miss…everyone.”
I miss you too. Except he couldn’t tell her that.
“How long are you home for?” Phineas asked.
“Just a week. It’s a break right now. Like a study break. I’m looking forward to coming back for the summer. I’m hoping to do some work placement hours at the hospital or maybe at the clinic.”
His stomach knotted. The summer seemed so far away.
“Oh, that will be nice.” Phineas rubbed the back of his neck, annoyed with himself. Why was it so hard to talk to her? When they were young kids, they could talk about everything. They used to swim for hours together, go frogging and fishing.
Something shifted when they became teenagers and he saw her differently, but there was nothing he could offer her. Plus, she was Finn’s sister, and he had it in his mind that she was off-limits. His heart, however, disagreed because she’s all he’d ever wanted.
“Phineas,” Pearl said softly. “Are you over here to ask me to dance?”
“Yes.”
She smiled, her eyes lighting up. “Good, because I would love to dance with you.”
“We’re going to slow things down and the bride and groom would like everyone to join them out on the dance floor for one of the bride’s favorite romantic melodies,” Asher said in a sultry, growly tone.
The music started and Etta James’ “At Last” came on.
Finn and Margaid were the first to head onto the dance floor, and it wasn’t long before other couples followed. Phineas offered his arm and Pearl slipped hers through as he escorted her to the dance floor.
The problem was, he didn’t know how to dance. So he froze.
“Put your hand around my waist,” she whispered, as if knowing.
“Thanks.”
Pearl never judged him.
