His thumb brushed across her hand, and she felt it through her entire body. She tried to smile, but it was hard when she felt like she was about to melt into a puddle in the back of this truck.

She’d been wrong when she’d chalked her attraction to him up to another bad dating decision. He didn’t belong in the same category as Declan. It seemed absurd to compare them now.

In fact, she thought that Lennon could have ended up being the best choice she ever made, if she’d actually had a chance to make it. But he was leaving, and she was staying, so she would never know.

A door slammed as Beto, Anna, and Ivy piled out of the cab, and he slowly dropped her hand. She climbed out, head down to hide the conflicting emotions probably splashed across her face.

Anna pointed west. “We’re about half a mile from where your friend said to cross. We walk from here.”

Maisie nodded, swinging the backpack over her shoulder, but Lennon reached for it.

“I’ve got it,” he said, smiling at her as he put it on his back.

“Thanks.” She could only hold his gaze for a moment. It felt like something had shifted between them, and she didn’t know where to look.

Beto looked from Maisie to Lennon and back again, and then rolled his eyes at her. She punched him in the arm.

“Hey, so your dad is really going to be the president out there?” Ivy asked Lennon. Luckily, he seemed to have missed that exchange between her and Beto.

Maisie fell into step beside Anna, and Beto walked on her other side. “Can I ask you the obvious question here?”

Anna peered at her curiously. “Sure.”

“Where are all the men?”

“Oh.” Anna laughed. “I don’t even notice anymore. They’re around. We were telling Lennon earlier about how some defected here after Val established her territory. But we’re still heavier on women. And Val doesn’t usually let men work for her. There are a few, but we’re mostly women and nonbinary folks.” She glanced at Beto. “Isn’t the Lopez family heavier on men?” He nodded.

“I mean, there are maybe thirty percent women, so there are some,” Maisie said.

“I do not envy you that situation.”

“What situation?”

“Taking over as a woman. That’s going to be a rough transition, yeah?”

Maisie swallowed. “Yeah. Probably.” She looked at Beto again.

“Maybe not,” he said quietly, and then shrugged. “No one has united around me or the other Lopezes, which means their other option is Declan. So you have that going for you, at least.”

“Ah, yes. The old, ‘At least I’m better than that guy’ argument.”

“You used to date that guy.” Beto’s lips twitched.

“Ew, really?” Anna said.

“One mistake!” Maisie said, exasperated. “One stupid mistake and no one will let me forget it.”

“In your defense, he is really cute,” Beto said.

“Thank you, Beto, I appreciate that.” She bumped her shoulder against his.