Dream On(56)

I wave him away. “He’s fine. He’s with his high school friends,” I say.

“Ahhh, you met ‘the crew’?”

“If you mean the ‘one-up club,’ then yes.” I immediately wince. “That wasn’t fair. They were actually pretty nice.” For the most part.

“Don’t judge Devin too harshly,” he says. “I know he doesn’t act like it, but Dad’s criticism gets to him. And sometimes he overcompensates by trying to prove how great and successful he is, you know? But it doesn’t come from a bad place, believe me.”

“Why don’t you come back to the party with me? I know he wants to talk to you.”

Perry’s expression darkens. “I’m sure he does.”

“You can’t solve your problems if you don’t talk them out.” I tap Perry’s chest to punctuate my point.

“There’s no problem, not really. I mean, I’m not thrilled he’s been telling my dad about the state of Blooms & Baubles, but I’m not surprised. It’s all part of a longer-term disagreement we have.”

“About what?”

“Devin thinks I should liquidate and close down the business.”

I furrow my brows. “Why is he helping you with the books then?”

“On the off-chance I might decide to sell it someday instead. Nobody wants to buy a business that’s struggling. Strong finances mean a better sale.”

“But you don’t want to quit the business, do you?”

“No, but I might not have much of a choice. Mom struggled for years before I even took over. It turns out she owed a bundle in back property taxes. I’ve been working on paying it off, but the fact is, we’re in debt.”

“What about your dad? Couldn’t you take him up on his offer to help?”

Perry lets out a derisive laugh. “He doesn’t want to help. He offered to buy Blooms & Baubles—the business, the property, everything—to take it off my hands so I can do something ‘worthwhile’ with my life,” he says, complete with the air quotes.

“Screw him. What you do is worthwhile. I’m sorry he doesn’t see that.”

Perry lifts and lowers one shoulder. “Truth be told, it’s not really about me. A lot of his feelings about the shop are wrapped up in his feelings about my mom. B&B was her life. When we were little, he begged her to sell the shop so they could move out to the suburbs and start his development company, and Mom refused. She said she wouldn’t give up what made her happy. Even though they’ve been divorced for nearly twenty years, I think he still resents that she chose the shop over him. And now he resents me for keeping it going… and that I love it as much as she did.”

“Resentment is a poison.”

“Too true.” Crouching briefly, Perry picks up a flat, smooth rock. Weighing it in his hand, he whips it toward the lake. It skips across the water twice before sinking beneath the surface.

“Have you talked to him? Explained why running the business is so important to you?”

“I’ve tried, but that would require him listening for once.”

“I’m sorry,” I say again.

“It’s not your fault. It’s just one of those things.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

His eyebrows quirk. “Not unless you know the number for the best family therapist in Ohio. Or a quick way to make twenty thousand bucks.”

“Is that how much you owe in taxes?”

“More or less.”

“Hmmm.” I squint at the horizon. “You could sell a kidney. I hear the going rate on the black market these days is pret-ty good.”

“Yes! Why didn’t I think of that? Who needs two kidneys anyway? I could totally sell one.”

“There you go. Your golden ticket.”

Perry’s rich laughter is infectious, and I join in.

“You’re a gem, you know that? Devin’s lucky you dreamed of him.” The sun catches his profile, illuminating his tanned skin and the auburn streaks in his birch-brown hair. Warmth spreads through me like an ink drop in water.

My phone dings from inside my bag. Blinking, I pull it out and read the text that pops up. It’s from Brie.

Cass, where are you? Devin said you went to the bathroom. Did you fall in? DO YOU NEED ME TO RESCUE YOU???



Sorry, I ran into Perry and we started talking. Back in a jiff!



Ohhhh that explains it then Well hurry up and get back here. The fireworks are starting soon!



Is Devin with you now?



He was, but he took off a few minutes ago to look for you.



I return my phone to my bag and squint at the darkening sky. Brilliant orange crowns the horizon where the sun is sinking into the waves, and deep blue is spreading out from the sunset’s golden edges like a cloak. “Devin’s looking for me. Are you sticking around for the fireworks?”

“Wouldn’t miss it. That’s the one good thing about this party. The city of Cleveland sets off the fireworks right there—” He points over my shoulder to a low building about a hundred yards down the shore with the words Port of Cleveland painted in giant green letters across the roof, a fire truck peeking out behind it. “There isn’t a better vantage point in the entire city.”