I rubbed my hand across my mouth and thought about having to tell my parents about Harry’s call. About Vegas and getting back into a sport that could have easily killed me. The pit of my stomach twisted into knots.

I knew exactly how they’d react. And it wouldn’t be positive.

There was another burst of noise, this time to the right of me. I knew who it was from the way the hair stood up on the back of my neck. My gaze drifted over to the red-haired ray of sunshine keeping me up at night. She was waving to all the gathered neighbors like Miss America, holding a plastic bag from the Broad Street Diner.

“Be right back,” she called out. “I’ve got breakfast courtesy of one Mr. Drew Tyler.”

Mom turned her head. “Lemon bars?” she asked sweetly.

“Of course. How could I forget?”

Tabitha breezed right past them and crooked her finger at me. “I’ve got an idea,” she said as she walked toward Linda’s stoop. I followed her, working to keep my posture relaxed and not eager. I was sleep-deprived and running low on restraint.

I was liable to say yes to any ideas she had.

She placed the plastic bag on the top step and began removing containers. I leaned against the brick, took another sip of coffee. She seemed tired.

I wondered if I was keeping her awake too.

“How was your meeting last night?” I asked.

She looked up, pushed the hair from her eyes. “With the hotel in Austin? It was good. Great. It’s going great, I mean. I’ve got to book my plane ticket actually since I leave in ten days.”

My fingers squeezed the mug I was holding. I set it down gently and slid that hand into my pocket. “That’s…soon.”

She opened the last container and perked up. “It’s very soon but will probably be better for you. I don’t think Aunt Linda is a saint or anything, but she’s probably much less trouble and a lot less scandalous.” She extended the container out to me. “For you, by the way. You obviously don’t have to eat it. But my dad casually mentioned it was your favorite, and I…well, I don’t know…”

I opened it. Looked back up at her. “Tabitha, did you bring me a pork roll?”

“I’ve heard it’s the neighborly thing to do.”

A smile slid up my face before I could stop it. It matched her own sparkling one.

“Knew I could get you to smile,” she said.

“They are my favorite.”

She bit her lip, cute as a fucking button. Only the fact that the lot next to us was swarming with people kept me from dropping the container and kissing her.