I scream, “This is the best idea I’ve ever heard in my entire life!”
Zoe starts laughing as Lexi grins with hope, “You really like it? You wouldn’t mind going into business with me?”
“Why would I mind?!”
Looking insecure for maybe the first time ever, Lexi shrugs, “You said I have big feelings, remember?”
“Caden said that.”
“Yes, and you said that I just don’t know where to put them sometimes. I know what you meant. The ups and downs I have are kind of extreme.”
“I need a napkin.” I motion for them to follow me to where the lady sells these doughnuts. Wiping cinnamon sugar off of my fingers I insist to Lexi, “The second you said we could go into business together, all I thought was a big yes. A huge yes.”
Lexi whispers on a huge grin, “It would be so fun. I know it’s a lot of work to start something from scratch, but they always say that if you love what you do, it’s not work!”
“But you dropped out of dance,” Zoe reminds her.
“I got out of dance because I didn’t see a career in it. And I didn’t like how competitive it was. Just like Sam.” Locking eyes with me, she says, “That’s why she didn’t go to Broadway. But I saw that coming way beforehand. And I just didn’t love it enough, for myself. But I had so much fun dancing when I was a kid! And all this time we’ve been spending with our cousins’s kids, it just makes me so happy. I love kids. It would be us running the show. Our show. Our studio. Oh my God, a studio, just like how Dad has his! We’re still going into music, just in a different way.”
I laugh at how excited she is. “And a different kind of studio.”
“They still share the same world.” Jogging a thumb to our cousin, she says, “If Zoe can successfully have her own florist business, then we can do this.”
Our cousin doesn’t take offense at this, but instead exclaims, “This is the best idea ever!”
My phone rings and I dig it out of my bag to see Logan’s name shining. Without hesitation I answer, “You’re a day early.”
Zoe and Lexi turn around, saying how it’s an excellent time to celebrate with a bear claw.
Logan’s voice is strange. “I’m calling early because I can’t talk tomorrow. But I had to keep my promise to you.”
“Are you guys traveling again? You just got to Paris two months ago, right?”
“We’re still here. Tomorrow I have plans to take a day trip to Dinan, France.”
“Where is that?”
“On the coast by Saint-Malo.”
I have no idea what that means, so I smile and start to say, “Oh, that sounds like fun,” but only get out, “Oh that sounds—” when he interrupts me.
“With my girlfriend.”
“—Terrible.”
“It sounds terrible?”
That was a Freudian slip. Or just an honest reaction that I would never have let slip. Who knows which is the correct description, because my brain has turned to slush. “Sorry, Lexi pointed to something and I was answering what she was pointing to and it wasn’t at all what I was talking about I think that’s a great thing that you have a girlfriend I’m really happy for you.” Clamping my mouth shut, I close my eyes.
His voice deepens. “This is awkward for me, too, Sam. I’ve been wondering how to tell you. I don’t know why it was this hard, but yeah, I’ve been seeing someone.”
“That’s great.” He must have waited until it was serious. Which means it’s serious. My gut hollows as I ask, “When did you meet her?”
“Right after we came to Paris. She joined the production.”
“Is she a singer?”
“She’s playing Izzy.”
My heartbeat fades. “I’m so happy for you. Thank you for calling a day early. Have a great time.”
“Sam?” he asks.
“Lexi’s crying over here, Logan,” I lie as my sister tilts her head and chomps on the claw. “It’s Brad again. She’s really upset. I have to go. I really am happy for you. Of course I am. That’s so neat that you finally have a girlfriend.”
Zoe and Lexi stop chewing.
“Oh good,” he exhales. “For a second there I thought…but that’s crazy. I don’t know. Anyway, tell Lexi I said that guy’s an asshole and I would’ve thought that she’d have gotten rid of him by now.”
I don’t bother to tell him the truth about Brad. “Talk soon.”
“Next Monday.”
Zoe and Lexi are watching me.
I hang up, stare off for a moment, blink up to ask, “When do we start this business?”
Lexi’s eyes narrow on the decision of whether or not to let me slide. “No day better than yesterday.”
I nod and mutter to myself more than to them, “Good. Let’s do this.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
LOGAN
Six months later
Samantha asks, “What is Prague like?” a smile lighting her voice.
“It’s a lot colder than I would’ve thought. We were just in Athens, briefly as you know, and then we flew here. None of us were prepared for this. Ines tried to warn me, but I wouldn’t listen to her. How is Galloway?”
“She came by our studio. From the look on her face, she wasn’t impressed.”
I laugh at the image this invokes. Their dance school has been a popular addition to the community—Moms love it, Sam has told me. But she described their space in a strip mall as not glamorous, and they’re fine with that. Galloway, however, would be appalled to discover Samantha chose that over what I’m doing. “Did she have that face she makes, like she sucked a lemon for two
