Somehow, she was going to have to shed her quiet, overlooked librarian persona and spend the weekend becoming Lark.
Who was bold and bright. Who lived out loud.
“In some ways, it’s better that you’re going with Grayson instead of Maverick. He and I don’t spend a lot of time with each other,” Lark added.
“Because you annoy him,” Wren interjected.
Lark ignored her. “All I’m saying is, he doesn’t know me as well as Mav or Nora or Remi. It would be harder for you to fool one of them. And you’d never fool Jace at all.”
Jace was the youngest of the Storm brothers, and best buddies with Lark’s boyfriend, Tommy Reynolds. As such, Jace had spent a lot more time around Lark, socially as well as at work.
A couple years ago, Lark worked as a cashier in the Reynolds family’s hardware store, which was where she’d caught Tommy’s eye and the two started dating. If Tommy had his way, Lark would still be working there. Unlike at her other jobs, Lark hadn’t been fired from the hardware store. Instead, she’d quit working there when a better position—more pay and more hours—opened at the grocery store.
Lark and Tommy had dated off and on for just over two years. While Wren liked Tommy just fine, she didn’t think he was the right guy for her sister. Tommy, four years older, was a serious type of guy. And four years wasn’t a big age gap at all, but for some reason, it felt huge when the couple was Tommy and Lark.
If he thought Lark would say yes, Tommy would probably propose to her sister tomorrow and schedule the wedding for next week. The man was soooo ready to settle down and start a family. However, Lark had been very upfront with Tommy, claiming she didn’t even want to think about getting engaged until she was at least twenty-five. Her sister was determined to sow all the wild oats while she was young, enjoying girls’ nights out, traveling, going to concerts and shows.
If it was just Tommy wanting to marry Lark, Wren would be fine with the guy. His desire for a commitment wasn’t her issue. What she didn’t like was the way Tommy always tried to make Lark…less. He was quiet, somber, and in desperate need of a freaking sense of humor. Sure, she’d heard the expression “opposites attract,” but she couldn’t make that work for Tommy and Lark.
It drove Wren crazy every time Tommy put a hand on Lark’s arm to calm her, or shushed her, or used that condescending-sounding “sweetheart, you’re too loud” whenever her sister was telling one of her outrageous stories.
Every now and then, Lark herself would lose her shit over Tommy trying to change her, and she’d break up with him. However, the man was tenacious—and apparently very much in love—because he always returned armed with flowers, apologies, and promises to stop. Those promises never held, of course. Tommy couldn’t change his own spots any more than Lark could change hers.
So yeah, mismatch.
“Wait,” Wren interjected. “Are you sure Tommy won’t tell Jace you’re at a Taylor Swift concert? I mean, it’s sure to get back to Nora, right?”
Lark shook her head. “No. Tommy won’t tell Jace anything, because he doesn’t know I’m going to the concert. He doesn’t know a damn thing about my life anymore. He and I broke up three weeks ago.”
Wren’s eyes widened. “And I’m just hearing about this now?!”
Lark gave her a rueful grin. “I didn’t tell you because, one, I knew what you’d say.”
Wren frowned. “What would I say?”
“You’d say I’m better off without him, that we’re too different, and all that shit.”
Wren sighed. Lark was right. During the first split, Wren had made the rookie mistake of telling Lark what she really thought about her relationship with Tommy. Which had shot her in the foot two days later…when Tommy came crawling and Lark took him back.
“I said I was sorry about that,” Wren muttered, even though she still thought she was right about the couple not being the right fit for each other.
“I know. That’s not the real reason why I didn’t tell you,” Lark confessed. “Honestly…I was worried I’d cave again.”
That concern was legit, since Lark had gone back with Tommy at least four other times in the past. “Maybe so, but three weeks…”
Lark nodded, clearly pleased she’d made it this far. The past breakups hadn’t lasted more than a few days each. “He apologized a couple days after our fight, but I told him I was serious this time. And I am. I even dumped him from my socials.”
Wren considered herself a pragmatic person, so while she knew there was still a chance Lark would go back to Tommy, even she was feeling optimistic after hearing that. “I just want you to be happy,” she said diplomatically, because she wasn’t an idiot and she wasn’t about to make the same mistake twice. She was keeping her thoughts to herself this time. Even though she did think her sister was making the right decision.
“I know.” Lark leaned over and hugged her. “That’s why you’re the world’s greatest sister.”
Wren snorted. “You’re laying it on a bit thick. I already agreed to work this damn festival for you.”
Lark laughed loudly, then winked. “And I’m totally giving you all the money for it.”
Wren shook her head, aware how hard her sister was saving up to move out, but Lark cut her off.
“I’m serious, Wrennie. I’m not keeping money I didn’t earn. My only goal here is keeping my job.”
