Page 118 of Bonfire and Bliss Bookstore

I blow out a breath when I catch my mother blushing at something my father whispers in her ear.

Penny squeezes my knee. I can’t help but glare down at her fingers. Is this what will happen to us if we continue like we are? Will we still have all this chemistry but choose to walk away because people change?

I roll my neck and inadvertently brush her hand off me when I stand up and launch into the beginning of a story about a deviant pumpkin—this one was always Peter’s favorite.

A half hour later I’ve completely botched the story, been told by two twelve-year-olds that I suck, and can feel the pitying eyes of everyone who matters in my life.

Penny seems concerned, my parents appear confused, and Gail is forcing a smile in my direction.

“You did great, Monty,” she says as everyone disembarks. “Thank you so much for doing this.”

My parents are the last to get off, besides Penny. They stop right in front of us and my mother opens her arms. “Oh, Penny, it’s been so long.”

Penny stands and gives my mother a hug first before turning to my father.

“I’m so glad you could both make it. Having so many people here tonight means a lot to my family.”

Fuck. Tonight isn’t about me, or my parents. It’s about Peter and the Darlings. And I’m fucking it all up.

I stand. “Yeah, thanks for coming.”

“Total fluke again,” my father says.

And my mother interjects, “Yup. Gail told me about this earlier when I ran into her out in the fields—”

“And I always like to come to these events—” my father adds.

“We both laughed when we walked up at the same time,” she finishes.

My father glances at my mother, a grin on his face, then looks back our way. “Would you want to grab dinner, maybe?”

Fortunately, Penny answers for us. “Oh, we have a few more rides to get through tonight.”

My father glances at my mom and he shrugs. “I guess I’ll go home, then.”

My mom eyes me and then turns back to my dad. “Or we could grab something together? We both have to eat.”

My dad nods quickly. “Yes. Right. Sure.”

What in the hell is happening?

My mother reaches out to hug me. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Of course,” I say, squeezing her back.

“Take care, Penny,” she says when we pull apart, reaching to hug Penny again.

When they separate, Penny adds, “Hopefully I’ll get to spend some time with you before you leave town, Mrs. Montgomery.”

My mother’s eyes widen. “Oh, you can call me Rebecca.”

Because she isn’t Mrs. Montgomery. I glare at my father.

Penny’s cheeks flush beet red, and for the first time since I arrived back in Hope Harbor, I hate seeing her like this. She’s embarrassed and she has absolutely no reason to be. My parents should be the ones who feel uncomfortable—walking around together as if nothing has changed over the past ten years.

“Right, of course,” Penny replies. “Well, it was good to see you both.”

My parents say goodbye once more before disappearing down the steps of the trailer, walking toward the fucking cottages where my mother is staying.