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“You want me to put a seatbelt on the doll?” I ask in half a laugh.

“He’s not a doll. He’s a minion, and his name is Stuart. And yes, please. You, of all people, should know. Safety first.”

She’s teasing me, I know. And this is another first in a day that seems to be made up of them. I’ve never put a seatbelt on a plush toy before.

The five-minute driveis done in comfortable silence. I don’t even miss having the radio on. I glance at Skye, trying to read her reaction when we pull into the makeshift parking lot for the food truck.

She nearly squeals when she sees the taco truck.

“Oh. My. God. You brought me to a taco truck?”

“Yeah, I hope that’s okay. It’s not fancy, but they have the best tacos in Vermont.”

I worry if this low-key day and lunch will turn her off.

“It’s perfect.”

The way she looks at me makes my chest constrict and my heart skip a beat. There’s pure and undiluted joy on her face. She radiates happiness. I don’t know what to do with it, and for a moment, I’m struck mute.

“I love food trucks. Every year, my family goes to this huge food truck festival in Burlington. I eat so much, I get sick every single time, but they have the best food. I can’t help myself.”

I find my voice again.

“Well, let’s make sure you don’t eat so much that you get sick today. I want to race you again and try to beat you.”

She laughs.

“You think you can beat me?”

“I hope so. If you stick around long enough, I might be able to.”

“You got me Go Karts and tacos. You may never get rid of me now,” she jokes.

The idea of keeping her makes my heart speed up. Something is seriously wrong with me.

We find a shady picnic table to sit and eat at, and the look of bliss on her face with every bite makes my jeans tighter in the groin area.

Where have you been my whole life, Skye?

Chapter Eleven

I can’t believehow much I’m enjoying my birthday date and how at ease I am around Logan. This has been the perfect date. I would never expect him to take me to an amusement park and then to a taco truck for lunch. It’s almost 2:00 p.m. and I’m already regretting the fact this day will end.

We’ve been talking in between rides and games, but nothing deep. The way Logan is looking at me tells me this is about to change. I can tell there’s a lot on his mind by the way he watches me when he thinks I’m distracted, as if he’s trying to figure something out. What, exactly, I don't know.

“Tell me more about you. I met your sister, and you told me a little about your parents. Which friends do I have to impress?”

His voice is light, and he’s smiling, but there’s an edge to it anyway, as if he’s trying to figure out a puzzle.

“You know Bruno. We met during orientation and bonded over our mutual love ofThe Princess Bride. We’ve been good friends since. Some people think we’re more than that, my sister included. River is jaded, and she can’t believe a guy and a girl can be friends without one of them developing feelings for the other. In her defense, pretty much every guy she ever met wanted to date her.”

“I don’t,” he says.

“I really like her sister, though.”

I forget what I was about to say and take another bite of my taco. Two down, one to go.

“So, you and Bruno are just friends, no benefits involved?”