Page 35 of Back to Square One

Stevie gasped and slapped both hands over her heart but then laughed. “I deserved that. But you know I’m just checking, right?”

“I do. And I appreciate you.”

“Good.” Stevie bent and popped a kiss on top of her head. “Catch you in a bit.” Then she dove smoothly into the water like an Olympic swimmer and Rowan watched her freestyle back to shore to get ready for her wife’s arrival—her pregnant wife’s arrival.

The sun was at an angle that made her squint, so she lifted a hand to shade her eyes, and that’s when she saw Evie. Standing on the deck of her own room, looking out at the water. Looking at Rowan on the floating dock.

At least she thought Evie was looking at her. It was hard to tell from this distance. As she stared and continued to squint, Evie lifted her hand off the railing and gave the smallest of waves, as if it was meant for only Rowan to see.

Was it for her?

Again, hard to tell, but Rowan did the same thing, lifted her hand just a little, no higher than her chest, and gave her fingers a wiggle.

Evie gazed downward, then back up, then went inside, and one question bounced around in Rowan’s head.

How long had she been standing there?

Chapter Eight

Everybody was back at the house by the time Sara arrived, and cheers went up all around when she stepped out onto the back deck, holding Stevie’s hand. Bottles and cans and glasses were raised, and one by one, each of them got up to hug her. When it came to Rowan’s turn, Sara held her extra tight and extra long and whispered in her ear, “I’m so glad you’re here.”

Unexpected wetness appeared in Rowan’s eyes, and she gave Sara one more squeeze before stepping back.

“Sara,” Lizzie said, holding up her bottle. “Beer?”

Sara had her own water bottle, and she held it up in response. “Gonna stick to water for now.”

“Smart. I’m switching back to that momentarily so we can take the boat out in a bit.”

“I’d like to save a seat on that ride,” Rowan said, looking to Lizzie.

“Done.” Lizzie gave a nod.

“I would, too,” Evie said.

“And also done.” Lizzie pointed at Evie.

Evie didn’t look at Claire, but Rowan did, and Claire was clearly unhappy, if the way she pushed to her feet and went inside the house was any indication. Evie sipped from her can of seltzer and gazed out at the water.

What the hell was going on with them?

Instead of wondering if they were together, Rowan was now starting to wonder if they were breaking up. She kept her eyes on Evie, but Evie continued looking out at the lake.

“How’s your brain, Rowan?” Sara asked, tapping her own temple. She’d taken a seat on Stevie’s knee and was now looking at her intently.

“It’s still got some holes,” Rowan said with a soft laugh. “A little Swiss cheese–like. But things are coming back little by little.”

“And the headaches?”

“Not quite as frequent. I still get them, but usually if I haven’t had enough sleep.”

“Oh, good. That’s an improvement from the last time I saw you.” Sara’s smile was gentle, and it always put Rowan at immediate ease. She had a presence—it was the only way to explain how Sara made people feel the way she did. Welcomed. Safe. Valued. She was a unique kind of human.

“It is.” Rowan nodded and sipped her Diet Coke. “It gets hard to be patient, but every time something comes back, it’s a relief, and it gives me hope that there will be more.” The deck had gotten quiet, everybody listening to their conversation, and Rowan wiped her hand in front of her as if erasing a whiteboard. “But enough about me. How are you? How’s work? Your parents? Catch me up. I have amnesia, you know.”

Her quip had the intended effect, and ripples of laughter went around the deck, and soon they were all chatting happily. Without realizing she was about to do it, she leaned toward Evie and said quietly, “I don’t like when all the attention is on me and my accident. Feels weird.”

“I totally get that,” Evie said, and when Rowan met her dark eyes, she smiled at her—a smile that blazed a path through Rowan’s body from her chest straight down to her groin. Evie had always had that power, and now? Rowan didn’t know what to do with it.