Page 280 of The Havenport Collection

Sam

“ T his was not what I was expecting!” I stood for a moment, taking in this sight before me.

A full patio with a giant firepit—like big enough to burn a car if necessary—was surrounded by strings of Edison bulbs. A large shed stood to one side with mismatched, colorful stools lined up along a bar on its porch.

“What is this place?” I asked, walking toward the Adirondack chairs clustered around the roaring fire.

Rose threw her tiny arms around me. “I’m so happy to see you!” She did a little shimmy.

Behind her, silent and intimidating, was her wife, Yael. She also hugged me, nearly crushing my ribs in the process. “We’ve missed you,” she said, before retreating back to her chair.

“And this”—Rose gestured around—“is the mom sanctuary! We built it a few years ago, but then my sister moved home,”—she pointed to Violet Thompson, who was sitting on a chair, her legs thrown over the side—“and then Callum moved in.” She nodded to Callum Quinn, who was already on his feet embracing me.

“And so we expanded our operations.”

“The shed has a powder room, a wet bar, and a temperature-controlled wine fridge,” Violet boasted.

“And Callum insisted we make the firepit bigger. Now we burn felled trees sometimes.” Yael reached over and gave him a high five.

Violet gestured for me to sit down, taking the bottle of wine from my hands and heading to the bar.

“And this is just for you guys?”

“Yup. This is the private part of the farm. It’s equidistant between our two houses, so perfect for late-night drinks after our kids go to bed.”

“Genius.”

“One of the benefits of farm living. We have lots of stuff to burn,” Callum explained. He was incontrovertibly handsome. Objectively a perfect male specimen. But for me, I liked my men a bit thicker, with wild hair, scruff, and calloused hands.

Basically Gio—I liked my men to look like my platonic childhood best friend. Clearly I needed a lot of therapy…or to get laid. Probably both. At this point, nothing was certain.

I had heard about Violet and Callum who were onetime high school sweethearts reunited. I wasn’t surprised. I had known Callum well in school—he was brilliant and athletic and everyone adored him. Oh and runway-model handsome, not that he acted like it.

He was one of those people you really wanted to hate, but he was so damn kind and generous it was impossible. Violet was now perched on his lap, and I could tell they were within a thick, impenetrable love bubble at the moment. I was happy for them.

I turned to Rose. “Fill me in. Work, kids, everything.”

Rose began to speak before her wife interrupted.

Yael held up a hand. “Nope. You first. I have been hearing things.” She rubbed her hands together like a super villain. She was a trainer and martial arts expert who ran a fitness studio downtown. She was also a lover of small-town gossip. I had no doubt she had heard it all.

“Nothing to tell. You know I have breast cancer. I came back to stay at my grandparents’ house and get treatment in Boston.”

“You’re seeing Grace Larsen?”

I nodded. “Of course. She’s amazing.”

“She is literally the best at what she does. You are in excellent hands.”

I nodded. That was a certainty. My medical care was top-notch, and I was grateful for it. It didn’t help the whole I have cancer pity party happening in my mind, but it didn’t hurt either.

I gave them the update, explaining the new diagnosis and the treatment plan. Like the excellent friends they were, they offered every kind of help and support imaginable.

“I’m really fine. Just trying to deal with things.”

“And work?”

I shrugged. “Not sure. I’m on medical leave right now, but I fear there might not be a place for me when I go back.”

“Isn’t that illegal?”

“Sort of. They can’t fire me, obviously, but if the person who took over for me is really successful in my old role, that leaves me as a loose end. I don’t know if I want to be demoted or moved around at this point in my career.”

“But you can fight for it.”

I shrugged. “I’ve done so much fighting over the years. I’m kind of over it. For a long time, I found corporate drama to be exciting and worth the effort, but now, I’m just not sure it’s for me anymore.”

“Surely there are other opportunities.”

“Actually, my boss is setting me up with some opportunities in the DC office. It will be a change, but I think it will be a good move for me.”

“You never know, you may not want to leave Havenport.”

I laughed so hard I almost spilled my wine.

“Trust me. I spent the first half of my life trying to escape this town. No offense,” I added, looking around the firepit at people who had chosen to live here. “There is no way I’m sticking around.”

“Famous last words,” Rose replied, raising her glass.

Eventually, Callum and Violet headed out—probably to go have fantastic sex—and Rose, Yael, and I finished the bottle, enjoying the warmth of the fire and the clear, cool night air.

My mind wandered to Gio. Kissing him had been a silly, drunken impulse, but it was fun and hot.

Logically, I knew it was a bad idea, though that didn’t stop me from constantly thinking about it.

I had a lot of time on my hands these days to daydream about his firm lips, scruffy beard, and strong hands.

As well as what he said before he left. He wanted me just as much as I wanted him.

“You have a weird, dreamy look on your face.”

“Are you thinking about Gio?” Yael asked excitedly.

Rose elbowed her. “We talked about this. Be subtle.”

Yael shrugged; subtlety had never been her strong point. “I’m just saying. They’ve been dancing around each other for years. I thought they were going to hook up after the reunion a couple of years ago.”

Rose patted her wife’s hand. “You’ve only seen the recent stuff. I saw them in high school. I swear they were going to get together on prom night. Gio rescued her from her asshole ex who ignored her, and they camped out in her tree house together.”

“Guys.” I needed to put a stop to this. “First of all, I’m sorry about that, Rose. He was your date.”

“My platonic date, and I didn’t mind that he took care of you. I had a blast that night with our group of friends. And I still chuckle at how I yelled at Steven for upsetting you.”

I rolled my eyes; Rose was a fighter and a loyal friend. She was tiny and beautiful, like a porcelain doll, but her physique hid a mighty spirit. She had been known to fight for people, including me, back then.

She kept talking, and I felt my face get progressively redder. “And he’s single and hot, and you are single and hot, so why not have some fun?”

“I can’t. I have cancer. In three short weeks I start chemo and then our friend Grace is going to literally remove my breast. I don’t know how to even process this. I don’t know if I will even feel like a woman.”

“First of all, that sucks and we are here for you. Rage about it all you want. This farm is a safe space, and we love you.”

“Thank you.” Just hearing her say that out loud made me feel warm inside.

It was nice to have people who not only understood you but also gave you the freedom to be who you needed to be.

After years of worrying about behaving perfectly and carefully, it was nice to know that they loved me no matter what.

“And second of all, that in no way will matter to Gio, and it shouldn’t matter to you. Unless you’re not attracted to him, and that’s fine too.”

The wine was hitting me, and I was feeling warm and comfortable with my old friends.

“I actually kissed him on Thursday.”

Rose shrieked. “Shut up. Details.”

They sat on the edges of their chairs, practically vibrating with excitement.

“That means tell us now,” Yael said drolly.

I took a deep breath. “Circle of trust,” I said, looking at both of them over the firelight.

They nodded, but I had to be sure. “I mean it. I don’t want this making the gossip rounds.”

I took a deep breath and started, “We went to the Whale on Thursday night. Drank and danced and he got jealous when I chatted with Steven. He walked me home, like a perfect gentleman, but when we got to the boardwalk, I jumped him and stuck my tongue down his throat.”

“And? Was he into it?”

I paused, letting the memory wash over me. Oh yeah, I’d say all of him was into it.

I nodded. “Seemed that way.”

“And then you went home and boned?”

“NO! Jeez, Rose, he walked me home and then left for Italy the next day. I’ll see him when he gets back.”

“But did you talk about it?”

“Yes, sort of. But I was tipsy and we shouldn’t have.”

“What did you say?”

I bit my lip, feeling both embarrassed and emboldened. “I told him I wanted to have a fling.”

“Yes!” Yael jumped up and gave me a fist bump while Rose dramatically rolled her eyes.

“And he told me I’m beautiful. And if we have a fling we will go all-in, no friends with benefits, a full-on thing.

And I’m nervous and excited and unsure. But something has changed.

In the last week, it’s like I’ve fully unlocked seductive Gio.

He’s always been flirty, but feeling his laser focus on me, it’s,”—I fan myself—“a lot to take.”

“So you’ll bone when he gets back?”

I shrug. “Not sure. The moment may have passed, and he might change his mind. But I need a distraction right now, and I need to feel like myself…like a woman. But I also know there is too much chemistry between us for something super casual. And that’s all I’m capable of at the moment.”

Rose started coughing dramatically. “Bullshit.”

“Stop it.”

“No, you stop it. Don’t create roadblocks.

My dumb sister used to do that, and then she got over it.

And now she’s got Callum and they are probably off screwing in a barn right now.

” She rolled her eyes. “Give yourself permission to do what you know you want to do. Be the woman who has the sexy fling with Gio, and open yourself up to the possibilities. Who knows what might happen?”

While I appreciated the pep talk, I knew exactly what would happen. We would have a fling. We would spend a ton of time together, laugh, have lots of fun, and probably lots of fantastic sex. Then it would end, and I would spend the rest of my life pining for the perfect guy who could never be mine.

But despite that almost certain future, I wanted him anyway. And if cancer had taught me one thing, it was to live in the moment and go after what you wanted. And I wanted Gio Rossi.