Page 16 of The Summer We Made Promises (The Destin Diaries #3)

T essa sat at the dining room table, a cold Pellegrino Essenza in one hand, her laptop open to the Kaplan event.

Yes, she had an office in the back now, but it was so bright and cheery out here, with the water view and endless sky.

She needed to bask in the beauty of it all while she made her little business happily hum.

Plus, the Summer House was unusually quiet this late afternoon. The only sound was the rustle of the palm fronds outside and the distant waves providing a steady rhythm to her thoughts. Vivien was out running design errands, Mom had gone for a walk, and Maggie was upstairs napping.

A dog? Really, Jennifer?

Naomi’s mother’s latest idea was a stretch, but it could drive the theme. Apparently, she wanted to get a rescue that Naomi loved as her big “surprise” gift…so an animal-themed party was perfect. But how to pull that off?

She looked up again, squinting at the driveway. Lacey would know. She’d have some good ideas. Where was that girl? She hadn’t called or texted all day.

Not that Lacey owed her a minute-by-minute accounting, since she was the world’s most underpaid assistant. Tessa had fully approved of her taking some time to herself, but still. It wasn’t like her to disappear for hours without checking in.

A while later, Tessa was on an animal-theme roll—was “Stay Wild” too much for a Bat Mitzvah?—when she finally heard the front door open.

“Lacey? That you?”

“Yep! It’s me!” She sounded breathless and high-pitched as she breezed around the entryway wall, bright-eyed—very bright—with her dark blond locks wild as she dropped her bag on the table.

“Did you drive with the windows open?” Tessa asked. “Or have a drinky lunch?”

She inched back. “No. I didn’t drink. And I didn’t…” She tried to smooth her hair, her gaze darting around the room, the floor, the kitchen…but not at Tessa. “We walked around Rosemary Beach and went down by the water. That place is so stinking cute. Have you been?”

Well, well, well. Someone looks guilty.

“To Rosemary Beach? Yes. It’s very…intentional. And precious.” Tessa lowered the laptop screen, eyeing her young protégé and good friend who seemed…nervous. “Did you have fun?”

“So much,” she said, heading into the kitchen to grab a glass and fill it with water. “Where is everyone?”

“Out and about.” Tessa watched her lift the glass to her lips and could have sworn her hand was shaking. What was up? “So, tell me about your friend, Lace.”

Lacey choked a little, but managed to get her sip down. “Oh, he was…”

“He?” Tessa raised a brow. “I thought you said it was a girl from college.”

“No…a guy.” She took another drink and stood awkwardly in the kitchen, like she wasn’t sure if she should sit or keep walking.

Tessa leaned back on two legs of the dining room chair, trying not to snicker. “Do you really think you can keep it from me?”

Lacey paled. “Keep…what?”

“Was it…Romeo?”

Her eyes widened to shocked blue saucers.

“Whatever his name was,” Tessa said. “The guy you’re talking to on the dating app.”

“Roman.” Lacey croaked the name and took another drink, making Tessa chuckle.

“Did you have a date with him?” she asked.

Lacey kept drinking. Gulping, actually.

Tessa let the front legs of the chair hit the floor.

“You did! And you’re keeping it from me, you little brat!” She snapped the laptop fully closed, officially ending work in exchange for good old-fashioned fun. “I want every single detail, not a thing left out. Everything.”

Lacey lowered the glass and tried to swallow. Finally, she shook her head. “Not much to?—”

“Lacey Knight!” Tessa shot up. “What was he like? Is he nice? Do you like him? Are you going to see him again?”

Lacey groaned and came toward the island. “Fine. Yes, I had a…date. I guess I like him. And, uh, yeah, I will see him again. I think.”

Tessa crossed her arms, proud of herself. “I totally knew it. You should never play poker, Lace. You’re the worst liar.”

Lacey winced. “Really?”

“That’s a good thing.” Tessa dropped onto a barstool, spinning it around and propping her elbows on the counter, chin on knuckles. “Tell me about him.”

“Tessa! Why does it matter so much?”

“Because I’m bored, haven’t had a date in a thousand years, and you look like this was fantastic with a capital fan.” She waved her hand around the island and gestured to the next stool. “Come, sit, spill the tea until I’m drowning in it.”

On a huff, she came and sat down. “Well, it was…”

Before Lacey could finish, Vivien walked in through the side door, grocery bags in her arms.

“Who taught my mother how to text?” she asked. “I got sixteen messages at Publix. Apparently the Bolognese was such a success, they’re trying their hand at stroganoff tonight.”

“Do you need help with the bags, Mom?” Lacey asked, already up and obviously looking for an escape.

“Not so fast.” Tessa snagged her T-shirt sleeve. “Now you have to spill to both of us.”

“Spill what?” Vivien asked, unloading the bags. “And, no, I don’t need help. This is everything.”

“Lacey’s been on a secret lunch date that lasted…” She glanced at her watch. “Many hours.”

Vivien’s eyes widened. “You met someone? How?”

“On an app,” Tessa answered for her. “His name is Romeo.”

“No!” Vivien gasped.

“It’s Roman ,” Lacey said with an exasperated laugh. “Not Romeo.”

“I like Romeo,” Tessa joked, sliding off the stool to help Vivien with the groceries. “And, apparently, so does your daughter, because she’s been stammering and blushing since she walked in the door.”

“I didn’t even know you were on the dating apps, Lace,” Vivien said.

“I did.” Tessa gave a smug smile. “See? She’s more my daughter than yours.”

Vivien shot a playful dirty look. “Fine. But I get to wear the mother-of-the-bride dress.”

“Have at it,” Tessa said. “I’ll do the toast, ’cause I’m funnier.”

“I can?—”

“Stop!” Lacey exclaimed, holding up a hand and looking truly troubled.

Instantly, their smiles disappeared and Vivien put an arm around her. “Honey, we’re just having a little?—”

“No, no. Just…don’t.” She exhaled, visibly upset. “It’s not funny.”

Vivien squeezed her. “I’m sorry, Lace. We won’t tease you about him.”

Tessa just smiled. She might tease her, but only because this reaction? The girl had it bad.

“Okay, I’ll tell you about him, but don’t…we’re not getting married, okay?”

“You never know,” Tessa murmured.

“ I know,” Lacey shot back. “But as for Roman-not-Romeo, he’s…he’s…” She dug for a word, some color leaving her face again as she stared at Vivien. “He’s great,” she finally breathed.

So, so bad.

Vivien tried not to react, but her expression said she was thinking the same thing. She stepped away from Lacey and tried to busy herself with groceries. “So, what does he do?”

Lacey sighed, then relented with a small smile. “He plays football. For the Jaguars.”

Vivien nearly dropped a loaf of sourdough. “Wait, seriously ? Like, professionally ?”

“Oh, I forgot you told me that,” Tessa said, remembering when Lacey dropped her phone and admitted she had another life—a real one.

“You knew?” Vivien asked.

Tessa gave a smug shrug. “Of course I knew.”

Vivien ignored the flex and concentrated on Lacey. “So you’re dating an NFL player.”

“I guess.” Lacey tried to sound like it was no big deal. “He’s second-string right now, wide receiver. But he played at UF and was kind of a, um, big thing there.”

Tessa let out a low whistle because who wouldn’t ? “Set the bar high, I say.”

“I thought those guys went out with, like, movie stars and famous singers,” Vivien said.

“Right?” Lacey threw her hands up, as if equally stunned to have caught this guy’s eye.

“Well, he has good taste,” Tessa said. “Who wants a movie star when you can have Lacey Knight?”

Vivien reached over the counter to give Tessa a high-five and a grin. “You bet, co-mama.”

Lacey groaned.

“Just accept it, Lace,” Tessa said. “You have two mothers now and we’re you’re biggest cheerleaders. Also, how can you date a guy who lives in Jacksonville? Is that where the Jags are?”

She nodded. “It’s the off-season and he’s thinking…well, he is coming to Destin. Soon. Like this week. He’s going to rent a place, I think.”

“Why?” Vivien asked. “Just to…see you?”

“You don’t have to sound shocked,” Tessa said. “She’s a catch.”

“He likes the water and likes to…fish,” Lacey said. “So that’s what he’s catching. Trout. Not…me.”

Vivien snorted and shared a look with Tessa.

“That’s what he said,” Lacey told them. “He grew up on the water over on the east coast, lived in a house with a dock, and now he wants to spend a month in Destin. Fishing.”

“I like a guy who can fish,” Tessa mused, crossing her arms. “Like my dad. It’s so down-to-earth and humble. Is he?”

“Surprisingly, yes,” Lacey said. “And, oh, I forgot you said your dad liked to fish. That’s…yeah. Cool.”

Tessa eyed her, not sure why that sounded weird, but it did.

“A humble NFL player,” Vivien mused as she opened the fridge to fill it with some more food. “That’s got to be unusual.”

“He is…unusual,” Lacey said, unable to fight a smile. “Really nice.”

“To look at,” Tessa teased.

Lacey just shrugged. “He’s…yeah. A ten. And a half.” She let out a sigh as if the whole conversation was just too much for her. “You’ll see,” she added.

“Oh?” Vivien turned. “We get to meet him?”

“I think so.” She pressed her hands together and then wiped them on her jeans. “Why not? And, um, Tess. How’s the Bat Mitzvah planning? What was Jennifer’s ‘outrageous request’? Did you pick a theme? Find the DJ? I bet I have a ton to do.”

“What you have to do,” Tessa said, sliding off the barstool, “is go for a boat ride with me.”

“Now?” Lacey asked.

“End of a busy day and you, my darling girl, need to unwind. And I need air, sunshine, and salt spray. I’ll fill you in on the Kaplan event—brace yourself, because there’s a trip to a dog refuge in your near future. But let’s hit the harbor and sip some G&Ts. You in, Viv?”

“I would, but I promised my mother I’d be here while she and Jo Ellen tackle stroganoff. Is she still napping?”

“Yeah, but she’ll be down any minute,” Tessa said. “So, Lace, boat?”

Lacey hesitated for half a second, then shook her head. “I can’t, Tessa. I have…so much to do.”

Tessa lifted a brow, not believing her, but she let it go. If she wanted to hide in a new love bubble and skip a sunset cruise, it was up to her.

“I’ll be upstairs,” she said, slipping away before Vivien or Tessa could stop her.

When she was gone, they just looked at each other.

“She’s finished,” Tessa whispered.

“I haven’t seen her this way since Spencer O’Keefe asked her to prom.”

Tessa clapped her hands and gave a little squeal. “Our girl’s in love!”

Vivien beamed. “I just want her to be happy and with a great guy.”

“Right? And don’t wear pink to her wedding. I want to wear pink,” Tessa said. “It’s my signature color.”

Vivien rolled her eyes and then they hugged like two happy moms with high hopes and big dreams for their favorite girl. Tessa added a squeeze, wishing she could tell Vivien how much this meant to her.

She’d given up her baby years ago, but her dear friend was generously letting her share this special, special daughter. What a treasure they both were.