But she was remembering the way Aiden had appeared out of nowhere her junior year of high school. She’d been trying to get a pack of jelly beans from the school vending machine, but it was stuck. He strode right up to her in that black leather jacket, tipped the machine, and freed her snack. Once he retrieved the package, he held it out, his eyes pinning her with a smoldering look she felt to the tips of her toes. Even then there was a connection. He flirted with her for weeks before he finally asked her out.

Across the deck Aiden and Dana turned in a slow circle. The woman was pressed against his chest, her head resting on his shoulder.

Sophie’s heart squeezed. He was only dancing with Dana out of obligation. Word was, he was dating someone back home. With Sophie’s sister dating—and now married to—Aiden’s best friend, she sometimes got wind of information she hadn’t asked for and didn’t want. Apparently Aiden was quite the heartbreaker these days.

Dana looked up at Aiden, saying something, and he smiled down at her.

Erik shifted them around, causing Sophie to lose sight of Aiden and Dana. “You can’t seem to stop staring at your ex.”

“What? No, I’m not—I’m keeping my eyes on everyone. Grandpa Edward and my dad and Seth . . . I’m making sure nothing gets out of hand.”

His eyes twinkled. “If you say so. You are a very diligent sister. Grant told me how you took care of your mom when she was ill. That’s admirable.”

“It was a labor of love. My mom was an amazing woman.”

“I’m sure she was. I’m sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you, Erik.”

“Jenna said you got into Duke?”

Turning down that scholarship had been one of the most difficult things she’d ever done. She lifted her shoulder. “I don’t need a college degree to get where I want to go.”

“Ah, that’s right. The bookshop. How’d that come about?”

“I’ve always been an avid reader, and I worked at a library in Raleigh. I love how books can transport you to another place. You get caught up in the characters’ lives, and they become your friends. I guess I want to share my love of reading with others.”

When she’d been caring for her mom, reading had been a necessary part of her mental health—and a pastime she shared with her mother. She spent many afternoons those last months reading all their favorites aloud to her mom. They spent hours planning out every detail of her bookshop all the way up until Mom’s last days. But Sophie didn’t want to think about that today, not on Jenna’s happy day.

“I thought bookstores weren’t doing too good these days, what with e-books and everything.”