Page 20 of Here & Now

She scowled. “He’s fixing my bike, not taking me out. It doesn’t matter what I wear.”

“Wear that cute one-piece outfit you bought and leave your hair down.”

Bree didn’t want to admit it, but she’d already thought the same thing. “This is silly. Maybe he’ll change his mind and won’t even come.”

“It’s good to be prepared.”

Prepared for what, though?

“Do you have any food in the house, or at the very least, adult beverages?”

Bree had gone grocery shopping just once since she’d been on the island, and she’d only bought the essentials: milk, cereal, eggs, coffee, and chocolate. “Adult beverages?”

“You know, beer, wine, ingredients to make mixed drinks.”

“What am I, a bartender?”

Ivy laughed. “You always do that.”

“Do what?”

“Use sarcasm to hide your nervousness.”

“I’m not nervous.” I’m petrified.

“I know it’s been a while since—”

“Please don’t say his name.”

“Fine, but don’t let him ruin all men for you.”

Bree sighed. “I’ll try not to, but I still think you’re making way too big a deal about this.”

“We’ll see,” Ivy said. Sofie started crying in the background. “My time’s up.”

“Give her a big kiss from me.”

“Will do, and maybe you can return the favor with Zane.”

“What? I can’t hear you. We must have a bad connection.”

Laughing, Ivy said, “Goodbye, sis. Love you.”

“Love you too.”

After they hung up, Bree went into her bedroom, stripped off her sweaty clothes, and tossed them into a hamper. Then she opened the closet and, against her better judgment, pulled out the new romper.

She showered, dressed, styled her hair, and applied some makeup. Then she went to the grocery store and bought some adult beverages. By five thirty, all the chores were done, and her nerves kicked in again.

She suddenly felt foolish, sitting there in a new outfit, with her hair down and softly curling around her shoulders and a fresh coat of pink polish on her fingertips. She was considering changing into shorts and a T-shirt and throwing her hair in a ponytail when the doorbell rang.

She slowly rose from the couch and shuffled to the front door like she was heading to the gallows. Inhaling deeply, she swung open the door.

Zane stood there, looking all kinds of delicious, and he held up his tool bag. “Mr. Fix-It at your service.”

Too bad none of his tools could fix her broken heart.