Page 215 of Worth the Trip

The children screamed.

My laugh came before I could stop it.

Nyla’s shoulder touched mine. “You love seeing him like that.”

“I do.”

She waited.

I looked across the field at the man who had somehow become familiar enough to miss and surprising enough to keep discovering.

“I love him.” Nyla’s eyes widened. I pointed at her. “Don’t scream.”

She clamped both hands over her mouth and screamed directly into them.

“Nyla!”

“My sister is in love!”

“Lower your voice.”

“My contingency-planning, emergency-exit-having sister is in love with Big Lando!”

Two customers turned.

I closed my eyes. “I can’t stand you.”

“You don’t have enough emotional inventory left for that. Your heart is occupied.”

“Nyla.”

She caught me before I could move away and wrapped both arms around my shoulders. The joke disappeared inside the hug.

“I’m happy for you, Noli.”

“I know.”

“For real.”

“I know that too.” When she stepped back, sunlight caught the moisture beneath her eyes. “Don’t cry over my ice cream.”

“I’m not crying.”

“You’re shiny.”

“I’m experiencing moisture.”

“That’s crying.”

“Mind your business.” I laughed and wiped beneath one of her eyes. Her face changed almost immediately. “You told him?”

“No.”

“You telling him today?”

“Yes.”

“Jesus.”