Tabitha was trying not to laugh. “A true inspiration.”

Alice primly placed her hands in her lap. “I, for one, am ready for fame. I texted my grandson to let him know. He’ll be so excited. You know, you should put him on the internet too.”

“Rowan doesn’t need any more attention than he already gets,” I said mildly.

Alice pursed her lips. “You could be internet famous, Dean.”

“Or even a calendar model,” Tabitha said under her breath as she peered through the viewfinder. She tossed a sly grin my way.

I quirked an eyebrow. “What would Emily Post say?”

“Oh, I love the way you two flirt with each other,” Alice said.

“We’re not flirting,” I said.

Eddie stubbed out his cigarette and blew smoke from the corner of his mouth. “Aw, leave the kids alone, Alice. They’re just having a little fun.”

Tabitha bent down to the viewfinder of her camera again. “We’re not kids. But I have definitely been flirting with Dean all day. How can you not? I mean, look at the guy.”

I couldn’t even pretend to frown. One taste of something sweet. One press of my thumb against Tabitha’s soft lips. I was starting to get it now. A similar thing happened when my coach decided I was ready for my first boxing match. I’d knocked out my opponent in the second round. Heard the roaring sound of my name being cheered from the audience.

Once I allowed my most untamed desires to see the light of day, it was a hell of a process to tame them again.

Mom and Midge appeared next to me as Tabitha crouched down in front of the bench, speaking quietly to the two future movie stars. They were holding a garbage bag between them, wearing matching baseball caps and sunglasses.

“Do you think she’ll interview me and your mom?” Midge asked.

“I’m sure she’d love to,” I said. I studied them both for signs of heat exhaustion. “You’re both okay, right? Not too hot?”

“Oh, horseshit,” Midge said with an eye roll. “We’re not a hundred years old, for Christ’s sake.”

I ducked between their shoulders, looked straight down and frowned. “And you’re okay with snakes, right?”

Midge shrieked and jumped back. And realized almost immediately I was lying. “Dean Joshua Knox-Morelli.”

Mom was laughing quietly behind her hand. “It’s been a good long while since we got you good, honey.”