Pearl slipped the photograph back into the envelope and put it in her purse. “Why are you thinking that?”
“Because I remembered my mother staring at that photo with sadness, especially the torn piece.”
If Pearl was surprised, she didn’t react, she just listened, and that’s what he appreciated. “And how do you feel about that? I mean, if it’s true.”
“I want to know what happened and…” He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck where his fins were still standing on end. “I guess, if I have a brother, I don’t know what that would be like. Okay, let me rephrase that. Finn has always felt like my big brother, and I don’t know how I would feel about someone coming in and trying to take his place or take your family’s place. I don’t want to lose…”
Pearl reached out and took his hands. “You won’t lose us. No one can take that away. No one can change how Finn or my mom or…how I feel about you.”
Phineas’ heart was racing, she was close. He wasn’t sure if it was the scent from the water lilies blooming or her, but it was a heady, intoxicating smell that made him feel so many things. His blood was heating and all he wanted to do was kiss her.
Then kiss the girl.
Pearl stared up at him, biting her bottom lip, her long silvery lashes brushing against the top of her cheeks.
He ran his hand through her silken hair, fingering a strand between two fingers, luxuriating in the feel of it. Then he touched her chin and tipped her face up before slowly bending down to kiss her.
It was everything in that moment to kiss her.
The stuff of dreams. She tasted so sweet, her lips soft. He could stay here forever and he didn’t want it to end, but they had somewhere to be. He wanted to kiss her again, though. To keep kissing her over and over.
“I’m sorry,” he said, except he wasn’t.
The only thing he was sorry about was delaying them. He didn’t regret what just happened between them and his body yearned for more.
“Don’t be,” she whispered. “I care for you Phineas. I’ve wanted you to kiss me for so long. I’m only sorry we have somewhere to be.”
He grunted. “Agreed.”
Reluctantly, he let her go and they headed to her car. He opened the driver’s side door for her and she slipped in, and then he climbed into the passenger side. His legs were up to his chest, as if he were in a clown car.
This is ridiculous.
Pearl giggled. “You can put the seat back.”
“How?”
“The lever on the side.”
Phineas reached down and adjusted the seat so he was less cramped. He was used to riding around in Finn and Margaid’s truck or even Magnus’ old clunker of a truck which always seemed to break down.
He hadn’t been in Pearl’s little Bug before.
The front seat touched the back seat before he was comfortable and she was still smiling to herself.
“If I ever buy a car, I need to get a truck,” he muttered. “Not a teeny tiny car like this.”
“This works well in the city. Don’t hate on my ride.” She drove out of his laneway and headed back toward Harmony Glen.
It was a short ride from his swamp to town. They passed the botanical gardens on Harmony Road before they reached the downtown. Pearl parked on a side street and then they walked down to the bistro on the corner.
“This looks nice. It’s nice to have a new business in Harmony Glen,” Pearl remarked.
“It is. I like to see the town growing.” Which was true, because it meant more work for him, but also it made him a touch nervous. That was his parents’ doing, though, and they’dbeen gone for a long time. And as of yet, no one bad had come to Harmony Glen, that he knew of anyway.
As they approached the bistro, Phineas noticed Coat looked far from ready to open anytime soon. There was also no sign of anyone there.
“Uh, this is weird.” Immediately his fins stood on end.
