Janie approaches while rolling her eyes.
“There are people here,” I say like it’s a question.
“Yes, Ben invited the whole town I guess.”
“Just your favorites, love,” he calls out from behind her.
Scattered on deck chairs and porch swings, I spot Miles, Steven, Tyrone, Aunt Bobbie, Aunt Kim, Ben and—
Bark!
“Hey Stuart,” I smile genuinely at my huge goofball. It’s amazing how much more I like him now that he’s not totally insane from sun up to sun down.
“How did you finally tame this beast?” Janie asks as she pats his head.
“I didn’t,” I admit. At that moment, as if refusing to accept the label, Stu tries to stand and hug me human-style.
“Stuart, down!” Aiden commands as he comes out to the deck, two drinks in hand.
“Oh,” Janie says.
Aiden stalks up to me in that cocky way of his, like this ishisdeck on the back ofhishouse. But he falters just slightly when he reaches me. I think it’s because he wants to kiss me hello again, though, this time I don’t think it’s my preference that’s stopping him.
“Here,” he hands me a drink. I raise an eyebrow. “Dunno, something cold and fruity.”
“Thanks,” I say.
Janie watches our exchange and opens her mouth to say something, probably an observation about how awkward we are for two people who just spend the night, and really the past couple months, together. But someone calls out that the show is starting.
A radio is tuned to an FM station playing upbeat Christmas music. Then the first few fireworks fly.
Boom Boom Boom
“Come,” Aiden says, pulling me to the last available deck chair. He sits and tucks me onto his lap before I have a chance to object. The sky over the lake is completely lit up with every color of the rainbow, explosion after explosion, for at least fifteen minutes. The display is set to music and reflects over the lake, doubling the show like glittering, summer magic.
“Did…did you do this?” I ask, knowing the incredible show we’re watching is way,waybeyond the modest budget Gary set. I turn and find Aiden staring at me. I can’t quite read his expression.
He smirks, “Heard there was a generousdonation.”
I smile back, “Thank you.”
He clears his throat and leans closer to say, “I get it now.”I frown to ask what he means. He goes on, “The expression. An unexpected burst of joy, of fun. A surprise splash of color, of…warmth. When you least expect it. Like you, Harper. You’relike Christmas in July.”
My mouth falls open, at what might be the sweetest thing anyone’s ever said to me. It stays open and he kisses my forehead and then turns me to watch the finale of the show.
A tear escapes as I watch the massive colorful blasts, one after the other. He must have spent a fortune on this. They can probably see these fireworks all the way in Cedar Point. Heck, all the way to Manhattan.
And I know he did it for all of us, for me.
But as I watch each flame fall toward the lake and peter out, I can’t help but feel it. Like his sweet words, this gift, the kiss on my head, like it might all just be Aiden’s way of saying goodbye.
CHAPTER 36
Aiden
The valley below, and the deck around me, explodes in a riot of cheers and applause as soon as the finale—perfectly timed toThe Star Spangled Banner,I am actually an American, despite my accent—comes to an end.
Harper turns, bleary eyed, looking like she’s going to kiss me, so I shift her and stand up.
