“It was a good kiss. I mean an A-plus, plus, plus kiss that went on and on and on until we were inside the lighthouse and I was pressed against a wall.”

“Holy shit.”

“Exactly. He came back later that night, and we went swimming. And stuff.”

“What stuff?”

“Stuff I haven’t done with anyone in twelve years.”

“Jenny…”

“I’ve had sex since Toby died. A couple of times. But I haven’t allowed some things that were just too…”

“Intimate?”

“Yes, exactly.”

“And you allowed that with Alex?”

“Allowed,” Jenny said with a laugh. “It was so out of control that it wasn’t really about allowing anything. It was happening before I caught up.”

Sydney fanned her face. “I need a drink—or a cigarette.”

“You don’t smoke,” Jenny said, laughing. The laughter helped to ease some of the tension she’d brought with her. Telling Sydney was helping, as she’d known it would.

“I wish I did. So what happened then?”

“He’s very good at certain things—so good I didn’t have a chance to dwell on the past or anything other than what was happening right in that moment.”

“That’s so great,” Sydney said with a sigh.

“It was great, and extremely overwhelming, too.”

“In a good way?”

“I think so. He’s very sexy.”

“Yes, he is, and so is his brother.”

“When we saw Alex at the Tiki, that’s when I heard about what’s been going on with his mom and met his brother and figured out his last name.”

“Wait, so you hadn’t even exchanged last names?”

“No,” Jenny said, her face burning with embarrassment. “I think we were both taking some comfort in the anonymity. He didn’t know my shit, and I didn’t know his. It was a relief, you know?”

“I can definitely understand that.”

“You know the look people give you, as if they’re watching you and waiting for you to crumble.”

“I know that look.”

“I hate that look. I liked being with someone who doesn’t know anything more about me than my first name and where I live. It was comforting in a way.”

“Sounds like it also took care of some inhibitions.”

“You could say that again. After the incident at the Tiki with Alex and his employee, I could tell he was really upset. I had to remind myself I was there with Linc, and I couldn’t go chasing after Alex in front of everyone I know. But I wanted to. I told Linc I wasn’t feeling well and asked him to take me home.”

“No wonder you said there was no connection with him when you were all kinds of connected to someone else.”