“No way,” said Daniel. “I have my party shirt on.” Rebecca had been too agitated to notice his shirt; she looked more carefully now and saw that he was wearing a polo shirt in pale blue, rather than the navys and olives he typically wore.

“Fancy,” she said. And then, because he really did look proud, she squeezed his hand and said, “You look very nice.”

“I think it’s funny that you’re nervous,” said Daniel.

“I’m not nervous,” she lied. She was so nervous! This was the first time she was putting their relationship on display, and what a public forum in which to do so.

“Hey,” said Daniel, before they walked into the backyard. “Come here, gorgeous.” He pulled Rebecca toward him and kissed her lightly, so lightly that her lipstick stayed in place. “Thank you, Rebecca,” he said formally. “For letting me into your life.”

“Don’t thank me yet,” she said. She took his hand and led him through the gate. “First let’s see if you make it out alive.”

Naturally, the Mom Squad was clustered around the bar. As a unit, their heads swiveled when she and Daniel walked into the yard. Before they could get to the bar, Gina came toward them.

“I know you,” she said. “Hey, Daniel.”

“Gina.” Daniel bobbed his head cordially.

“Are you guys dating?” Her head swiveled from Rebecca to Daniel and back to Rebecca again. Rebecca watched the understanding sinking in. She imagined she could see the whole history of Daniel’s once-happy marriage, and Gina’s friendship with Veronica the Cheater, the things Rebecca would never know or understand, and never should know or understand, because each friendship and relationship deserves its own private moments and secret backstory.

“We are,” said Rebecca.

“Seriously dating?”

Rebecca glanced at Daniel again; he nodded. “It’s pretty serious actually,” Rebecca said.

“Is this where you’ve been all summer, Rebecca?” She couldn’t tell if Gina was challenging Rebecca or if she was merely interested.

“All summer and for part of the winter too,” said Rebecca. She found Daniel’s hand and gripped it. A long moment passed.

“You should have told me,” Gina said, half sad and half accusing.

“I wasn’t ready to tell anyone yet,” said Rebecca. “You know how this town is. You tell one person and it’s the same as telling twenty.”

“Oh, I know.”

“I know you know,” said Rebecca pointedly. Gina’s eyes flicked from Rebecca to Daniel and back again. Gina didn’t say sleeping bag and she didn’t say sorry and Rebecca didn’t say distance or Morgan or holiday house committee, but she thought that maybe in a few days, when they weren’t at a party, when Daniel wasn’t there, they’d sit down and talk it out.

“Well. I think that’s great,” said Gina finally. “You guys are two of my favorite people.”