“Are you okay?” Spencer asked innocently.
Colin kicked at the railing. “I think I have some big decisions to make tonight. Sort of like . . . resolutions.”
“Well, it’s the time of year for it.”
“Yeah.” Colin nodded glumly.
Spencer poked his side. “Cheer up. It’s almost New Year’s. It’s gorgeous out. And we’re at a fake luau. You have to be happy during the holiday season!”
One corner of Colin’s mouth rose. “Is that a rule or something?”
“Yep. A rule I just made up.” Spencer watched a party boat drift by in the harbor. “And I’m thinking of making some New Year’s resolutions, too.”
“Spencer setting goals for herself? That doesn’t surprise me at all.” He grinned conspiratorially, and Spencer felt her shoulders start to sink down as she relaxed into herself. “Care to share what they are?”
“No way,” she said earnestly. “Then they wouldn’t come true.”
Colin paused, opening his mouth like he wanted to say something. The bay lapped against the dock and the air smelled of salt and orchids. A gust of wind blew over the water. For a moment they just stared at one another. Then he reached out and moved a stray lock of hair out of her face, tucking it gently behind her unadorned ear.
Do it, Spencer thought. Kiss me. Please.
Suddenly, Colin pulled back his hand and started walking toward the yacht club again. “Where are you going?” Spencer squeaked.
He stopped under a lamp, the golden light making a halo over his head. “There’s something I need to do, Spencer,” he said quietly. “Something I just figured out.”
And just like that, he turned and marched back to the club—no doubt, Spencer thought excitedly, to break up with Ramona. She ran her hands down the length of her face, trying to will her heart to calm down. At that very moment, fireworks exploded in the sky over the water. They flashed against her face, a performance just for her. She was grateful for the noise. Only something that loud could drown out the booming of her heart.
Chapter 9
She Never Saw It Coming
An hour after he left, Spencer realized Colin wasn’t coming back to the dock. He was probably consoling Ramona—he was totally the type of guy to do that. Melissa was nowhere to be found, so Spencer made her way back to Nana’s house, a secret smile playing on her lips. She couldn’t wait for tomorrow, to see how her new relationship would unfold.
The windows at Nana’s were dark, and the Mercedes rental was in the driveway. Spencer turned the knob and jumped when Melissa scuttered out of the dark living room and flipped on the entryway chandelier, casting flickers of moving light around the marble floor.
“Hi,” Spencer said. She set her clutch on the bottom stair and kicked off her shoes, massaging her heels.
Melissa flashed a bright smile. “Hey! So . . . how’d everything go?”
“Great!” Spencer blurted, settling onto an ornate antique bench. Melissa dropped down next to her. “Thanks so much for encouraging me to go talk to him!”
Melissa widened her eyes. “Did you guys hook up?”
Spencer shook her head. “But we will soon. He told me he’d made up his mind about something. He’s breaking up with her, Melissa, I just know it.”
She wrapped her arms tightly around her sister, tears unexpectedly filling her eyes. She squeezed her sister’s hands. “Promise me things stay this way.”
“Stay what way?” Melissa asked.
“Between us. Promise me we . . .” Spencer trailed off to choose her next words carefully. “We don’t fight anymore. We help each other. I really miss you.”
Suddenly, the doorbell chimed. Spencer felt a thrill of anticipation. Could it be . . . ?
She jumped up, licking her lips and smoothing her hair as she raced to the door. “Play it cool,” Melissa reminded her.
She flung open the door and broke into a smile. It was Colin, his chiseled jawline and straight, strong nose casting shadows under his neck from the porch light.
“Hey.” His mouth opened up into a slow, smooth smile. Dazzled, Spencer ushered him inside. “Ramona and I are over.”
Those words should have made Spencer swoon with joy. Only Colin had breezed right past Spencer and was now standing close to Melissa, a look of rapture on his face.
Spencer stood frozen in place. Why was he telling Melissa all this? She didn’t care. Spencer cared.
“Really?” Melissa whispered.
“I couldn’t stop thinking about you,” Colin said in a husky voice, taking Melissa’s hand.
Spencer reeled back like she’d been punched. The antique clock on the mantel in the living room chimed twice. What was going on? Was this a joke?
“Can we take a walk? It’s a beautiful night,” Colin suggested.
“Let me get my purse. Wait here,” Melissa breathed. She turned and darted up the stairs. Spencer glanced at Colin, who was staring dreamily after her. She let out a tiny squeak and then took off after her sister, two steps at a time, grateful for all the laps her coaches had made her run.
She burst into Melissa’s bedroom, where she was coolly applying some lip gloss, her purse flung over her shoulder.
“What are you doing?” Spencer cried. She didn’t even bother keeping her voice down.
Spencer watched a nasty smile spread across Melissa’s face in the mirror. “What does it look like, Spence?”
“But . . .” Spencer tried to speak, but no sounds came out. “But you gave me all that advice on how to get him.”