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“He said I stink!”

I huff out a breath, suddenly aware of how stiff my entire body has become. Even my fists are clenched tightly on the steering wheel. “I couldn’t believe it. Who tells another person they stink? And laughs about it to their face? No one outside of seventh grade. The man is an overgrown middle schooler.”

“Are you sure? He actually said that you stink?”

“What do you mean? He said it. And he wasn’t even sorry. Something happens to these men, Winona. They get famous and they think they can do or say anything. Declan isn’t like that, thankfully. But, yeah. Marcus wasn’t sorry in the least.” I loosen my grip on the steering wheel and blow out a breath. “I used to have the teensiest crush on him.”

“You did? On Marcus Delaney? How did I not know about this?”

“It wasn’t worth mentioning. I didn’t know him. It was before you and Declan started dating. Marcus just seemed so congenial and warm in front of the cameras. And he’s gorgeous. It’s a waste of beauty. Why are the jerks always so handsome? His eyes alone …”

“He does have beautiful eyes.”

“They’re like magnets. A stained glass window. Ice crystals in sunlight … Anyway.” I sigh. “Please never rub it my face now that you know. It was a celebrity crush, which, by definition means you don’t know the person. You dream up who you think they are. I never imagined I’d be snuggled up against him while he told me I stink.”

“You don’t stink. You smell like citrus and flowers.”

“It’s my lemonade addiction. I think it’s seeping out of my skin.”

Winona laughs. “Well, I think you smell sweet.”

“Some people just aren’t going to get along in life,” I tell her. “And he and I are those people.”

“I guess …” Again with the trailing off.

It’s so hard for my sister to live in a world where everyone doesn’t poop rainbows and butterflies. I’m a realist. She’s chronic sunshine.

“Well, it was eventful and now it’s over.” I change the subject because enough is enough—especially where Marcus Delaney is involved. “Are you going to Declan’s for dinner?”

Winona and I used to have dinner together four or five nights a week. Ever since she started dating Declan, she’s only home for one, sometimes not even that.

“Yes,” Winona says, her voice turning dreamy at the mere mention of her fiancé. “And he told me to tell you to come too.”

“Did his personal chef make enough for three?”

“Yes. He said there’s plenty.”

“That’s so sweet. Why can’t all the Thunder players be as good as Declan?”

“They’re all awesome,” Winona says.

I don’t argue. She’s allowed to give Marcus more credit than he deserves. I couldn’t change that about her if I wanted to—and I don’t want to. I love how my sister always sees the best in people. But I’ve seen behind Marcus’s good-guy act too many times. She hasn’t experienced the man the way I have.

I know what I know.

The rest of the drive home, I drown out thoughts of Marcus Delaney by listening to an audiobook and by driving past Seventeen Cherry Hill Lane. I park across from the old house and stare at the expansive property, the intricate woodwork and that wraparound porch. I’d put two rockers with a little table between them. After work, I’d sit on the porch sipping a lemonade, letting the day slip away. Maybe my husband would sit with me, or one of my girlfriends if I never find a man I want to settle down with. It’s a lot of house for one person. I really would need a family if I were going to move in.

I laugh to myself. Here I am planning a family so I can fill a very specific house. Most people find a house to fit their family. I’d love both. But I’d rather be single forever than settle for the wrong person. My parents have the most amazing marriage. It comes across as nothing special from the outside, but they are still in love after all these years. I want that. Maybe I want it even more than I want this old Queen Anne.

I drive home and shower, washing the last residue of Marcus Delaney off my skin. I might stink, according to him, but he smells like warmth and spice. Like a cologne that costs one of my paychecks. And his smell was still all over me and my clothes when I walked in the door.

Once my exorcism by water is finished, I dry my hair, dress and join Winona to head to Declan’s for dinner. Usually, I drive separately so they can have time alone when dinner is over. There comes a point on nights the three of us are together where they get all lovey-dovey and that’s my cue to exit stage left. But tonight I don’t want to be alone. I don’t give my sudden aversion to solitude much thought. I just grab my keys and tell Winona I’m driving.

We pass through the two neighborhood gates and Declan’s private gate and park on his driveway. His door swings open when we arrive. He’s always so eager to see my sister. It’s sweet. She found a man who loves her the way our dad loves our mom. She rushes up to him and he pulls her into his arms, placing a quick kiss on her lips.

Then he raises his head and says, “Hey, Cass. Glad you could come.”

“Thanks,” I say. “Every tricycle needs its third wheel.”