Page 25 of The Perfect Distraction

“Me too.”

“Anyway, when are you going out with Dadalicious again?”

Beth burst out laughing, and then she told Becca about Colton’s invitation for another date.

“So, why don’t you sound happier?” Becca asked.

“Because I suck at this. I never thought I’d be dating again at my age. I was supposed to be a married woman by now.”

“Okay. One, you’re not that old! Two, ‘he who shall not be named’ did you a favor as far as I’m concerned. You deserve better.”

“You never liked him, did you?”

“Not really. I always thought you were settling.”

Beth smiled at her sister’s honesty.

“My advice is to go out with your sexy neighbor and have some fun! You’re only there for the summer, so just enjoy it.”

It was exactly what she’d thought Becca would say, but it didn’t eliminate her fears. What if she and Colton did get closer over the summer? Eventually, she’d have to leave, and she might never see him and Joey again. It didn’t seem fair to them or to her.

“I gotta go, sis. Call me after your next date with Colton. God, I love that name.”

Beth was smiling when she hung up, which was all she’d really needed. She hadn’t expected Becca to have all the answers, but she knew she could count on her support no matter what.

She spent the next hour making lunch and cleaning up, and then she picked up her book and went out to the sunroom. The rain had tapered off, but it was still cloudy, so the term “sunroom” didn’t really apply, but the space was cozy just the same. She’d read a couple of chapters when her phone rang and vibrated merrily across the glass tabletop.

“Hello?”

“Am I calling too soon?”

She laughed. “No. It’s okay.”

“Are you sure, because I can hang up and call you back tomorrow?”

“Colton!” She liked the sound of his name even better when she said it aloud.

“I suck at this.”

She laughed again since she’d said the same thing to Becca.

“That makes two of us.”

Colton gave an exaggerated sigh. “That makes me feel slightly better. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I was wondering if you’d like to take a drive with me tonight.”

“A drive?”

“Yeah. Have you ever been to Bay Harbor?”

“No, but that’s just across the bay, right?”

“Um-hmm. We’d have to drive through Petoskey to get there, but it’s not that far. There’s a great seafood restaurant overlooking the bay, and then we can walk around the marina.”

Glancing outside, she saw that it had started sprinkling again, but the alternative was sitting inside alone. “Sounds good. Are you going to pick me up again?” she teased.