“Thank you,” she whispered, more genuinely than she had ever said anything in her life. They danced that way for two songs, holding each other tightly, feeling the rhythm of each other’s breath.

Finally, he took her hand and guided her out the door, down the steps, and up the block to her house. While she was glad to be leaving, Lara felt a weight tugging on her. She’d have to tell Ben Archer that she wasn’t ready for this. They walked in silence, his hand placed in the small of her back. When they got to her gate, she could still hear the echoes of big-band sounds coming from the gala on the street below.

“‘Moonlight Serenade.’”

“You know Glenn Miller?” There was more than a hint of admiration in the question.

“I am a true Renaissance man, Lara Barnes. You aren’t the only one who knows music.” He slid his hand in hers and led her through the gate, up the stairs to the porch swing.

“You most certainly are,” she said, taking a seat. As they swung, the band’s clarinet sound from another time competed with the sound of the breeze shuffling the leaves, the moths hitting the light, and a wind chime clinking off-key somewhere in the distance.

“I love the sounds of summer,” she said.

“Lawn mowers,” he added.

“Ice in glasses.”

In the moonlight, she could see his eyes light up. She studied his face, loving the angle and the way the moon cast shadows on him.

“Can I tell you something?” She placed her fingers under the swing’s seat to steady herself.

He gave her a disapproving look. After months of telling him everything, however minuscule, about Todd and her feelings, she knew the answer already.

“I thought I saw him tonight,” she said, looking down at her dress, which was sweeping the floor with each swing. “In the crowd.”

He was silent, then sighed. “Him?”

“Him,” she confirmed.

“You saw him, like, I should call Doyle and investigate it?”

“No,” said Lara sadly. “It wasn’t real. I was mistaken.”

“But you’d wanted to see him.” His voice fell and he leaned back on the swing, groaning. “I knew this was too soon.”

“I’m conflicted,” said Lara. “I shouldn’t have told you.”

“Well, I wish you hadn’t been thinking of him tonight, but no, I’m glad you were honest with me.”

“I thought I was over him… and ready for this. I really did.” They weren’t saying his name—Todd—as though he wielded a power over both of them that his name would intensify.

“Oh, Lara,” he said, pulling her to him. She leaned her head on his shoulder. “I don’t think it’s like a bout of the flu.”

She put her hands over her face. “I’m so sorry. I wanted this night to be different.”