Page 115 of Bonfire and Bliss Bookstore

Outside Penny’s apartment door, I hear the faint sound of music—Niall Horan and Julia Michaels singing “What a Time.”

I open the door and find Penny curled up on the couch with her Kindle, a smile on her face. Her thick auburn hair is wet from a shower and she’s tied it into a long braid that hangs over one shoulder. It’s perfectly Penny.

“This book is so good,” she says as her eyes flit up to meet mine. “Like, I really want to spend time with you and eat at some point this evening. But I also don’t think you should expect me to look at you until I’ve devoured every last word.”

“I’ll get your food together,” I manage. “And bring it over.”

“You are the best book boyfriend in the entire world,” she says effusively before dropping her attention back to her Kindle.

It’s so easy—all of this, being with her, coming home to her.

After finding my parents at the brewery together, I should feel like I want to run. Whenever I think about what happened to them—to us—I get so angry. It’s why I’ve never been able to get close to anyone before now. But, with Penny curled up on her couch, my book in her hand, and the most beautiful smile on her face, I can’t seem to care about anything else.

Fuck, I’m in love with her. And I’m pretty sure she might love me, too.

The realization hits me, and my palms start to sweat as my heart beats erratically against my rib cage. I don’t know if I believe that this feeling can last. But I need to figure that out, and quick. Because the last thing I want to do is hurt Penny.

This feeling, being in love with Penny, might be the best feeling in the entire world.

Hope Harbor Happy Chat

Rayna: Good Morning, Hope Harboronians! We have an exciting weekend ahead and I want to remind you that the proceeds for all Maple Festival Events will help fund the Senior Center Hot Tub.

Rayna: Kicking off the events tonight is the Haunted Hayride at Darling Daffodils Farm. We hope to see you there!

Rosie: I’m not sure how I feel about the harboronians title.

Tally: Hope Harborites?

Eli: Team Hope Harbor

Stew: More like Team traitor, Eli Davis!

Eli: For the seventy billionth time I’M SORRY I PLAYED FOR NEW YORK AND NOT THE BOSTON BOLTS

Fletcher: We should probably add the name issue to the agenda for the next town meeting

Babs: While we’re at it, can we discuss renaming the Ice Cream Barn? It doesn’t follow town rules.

Eli: NEITHER DOES YOUR SALON

Eli: Sorry, didn’t mean all caps. It was still like that from my previous text

Babs: I’m grandfathered in because my suggestion was Babs’s Boobies and Bobs

Rayna: It’s true. A Breath of FresHair was a compromise. But I’m sure we can come up with something better for you Eli.

Fletcher: Adding it to the agenda!

Eli: I didn’t agree to this.

Penny: Don’t fight it Eli, they always win.

Tally: See you all at the farm tonight Hope Harborites! (See it has a nice ring to it!)

Chapter 34

Penny