“I want a special movie sundae,” Kennedy exclaimed. “A happy-ending sundae!”

Quincy slid such a heated look at Roni, her pulse quickened.

“Looks like Uncle Quincy wants one, too,” Penny said with a chuckle.

Quincy’s eyes never wavered from Roni’s as he said, “Only from my girl.”

“Uncle Quincy, Miss Woni doesn’t make sundaes,” Kennedy said. “Only Penny does.”

“I think I’ll leave Uncle Quincy’s happy ending to Roni,” Penny said.

The kids chattered as Penny made their sundaes, and Quincy put his hand on Roni’s back, whispering about happy endings and making out in the back of a movie theater when the kids weren’t with them. She loved their secret sexiness.

Quincy sat between the kids as they ate, simultaneously wiping Lincoln’s mouth and responding to Kennedy’s litany of remarks and stories, adding more reasons for Roni to swoon over him. He even let Lincoln feed him ice cream, and he gleefully missed a few times, feeding Quincy’s scruff instead of his mouth.

Roni gave him the remaining napkins and got up to get more.

Penny was finishing up with a customer. When the customer left, Penny said, “Let me get you a wet paper towel. Quincy will let Lincoln get ice cream all over him before he’s done.”

Roni glanced at him again as Penny went to the sink and said, “He’s a natural with them.”

“Yeah, he’ll make a great dad someday. Just one of the many reasons so many single ladies in the Harbor show up for his readings at the bookstore.”

“I know,” Roni said, feeling a pang of jealousy. Quincy glanced over and blew her a kiss, pushing that jealousy away. “I had fun getting to know you and Scott better at the bonfire. I really like him. You two seem happy together.”

“Thanks. We are, but it’s still new. It’s weird transitioning from friends to something more.” Penny handed her the wet paper towels and a dry washcloth.

It was funny, because Roni hadn’t felt like it was weird for her and Quincy, but they hadn’t known each other nearly as well as Penny and Scott did. Roni had learned that friendships ran deep among their friends. Penny had called Quincy a number of times since they’d been together, and she lit him up in a different way than Roni did—a friendly way, like Angela did for Roni. She was glad they had each other.

“It turns out I like Scott way more than I thought I did,” Penny said.

“It’s funny how that creeps up on us, isn’t it?” She glanced at Quincy and said, “I’m head over heels for you know who. Even hearing his voice makes me happy.”

“I’m glad because he is crazy about you, too. He was really distraught after he told you about his past. I’m glad you took a chance on him, because he’s worth it.”

“I know he is. But I don’t like thinking of it as me taking a chance on him. Don’t we all take chances with every relationship? I know the risks of dating someone in recovery are different, but he’s not a chance. He’s who I want to be with, and I’ll support him however I can.”