Tiny Island Summer Read Free

eyes didn’t cross after ten minutes of listening to her talk about it.
    “I’m sorry, it’s boring, I know,” Darcy hastily replied.
    “No, no, it’s not at all. It’s interesting. I’d never thought about that field before, to be honest.”
    “I hear that a lot,” Darcy said with a polite smile.
    “I’m sure,” he nodded.
    “Char’s much more interesting.”
    “You are?” John asked, quirking an eyebrow.
    “I think she’s exaggerating. Law school has ruined me.”
    “How?”
    “I can’t read anything without analyzing all the ramifications. It can be a bit annoying, actually.”
    “It sounds helpful. But if it’s too much for you, I could set you up with a summer reading list. We could discuss the books and maybe I could help you find pleasure in literature again.”
    Char smiled broadly. “I’d like that.”
    “Excuse me for a minute,” Darcy told the pair.
    Under the guise of needing the ladies room, she sneaked over to the bar to give Char and John a moment alone and pay the bill. She could tell that the two of them had connected. Something tangible existed between them after only a few hours.
    Darcy sighed as she signed the credit card receipt. Envying her friend served no purpose. She held no jealousy toward anything about Charlotte. Darcy had a hard enough time getting close to someone after a few dates, let alone a few hours. Charlotte embraced her vulnerabilities and seemed to jump at every chance, both romantic and otherwise, that came her way. Darcy couldn’t seem to trust her instincts enough to do that.
    Watching Charlotte and John together felt different to her. Sure, she’d seen Char hit it off with a guy. Her easy smile and ready laugh made her ready for a flirtation, no matter the moment. But something about the pair of them together, be it the slightly wistful look in Char’s eyes or the smile that tugged at the corners of John’s mouth, convinced Darcy that theirs would be more than a passing acquaintance. Darcy shook her head. Maybe she was projecting her feelings onto them? She felt ready to meet somebody, ready for a romance of her own. Had it already been three years since James?
    She rejoined the table as John and Char were both caught in a fit of laughter. Darcy mustered up a smile of her own. Tiredness settled over her suddenly. She needed rest.
    “Are you ready to go?” Darcy asked, not even sitting back down.
    “Sure,” John replied, getting out from the booth.
    A flash of disappointment shadowed Char’s face.
    “Let me just get the bill,” John said moving toward the bar.
    “No need, I took care of it,” Darcy told him.
    “Thank you.”
    “It’s the least we could do after you helped with the luggage.”
    “That was nothing. But maybe I can take you both out on the lake tomorrow?”
    Darcy looked at Char. Char smiled in pure delight.
    “We would love that,” Darcy agreed.
    “Of course. So I’ll see you tomorrow morning, how about eleven?”
    “Sounds great,” Darcy answered, replying for them both since Char had suddenly gone mute again. “See you tomorrow.”
    John nodded at Darcy but turned to Charlotte. “See you tomorrow.”
    She mouthed bye .
    Darcy restrained herself from rolling her eyes or grabbing Char and yanking her back to reality. But she did turn and leave with Char quickly catching up.
    “That was nice,” Darcy whispered as they reached the car.
    “Mmm hmm,” Char agreed dreamily.
    “Even for a serial dater like you, this must be a new record for falling head over heels.”
    “Ha-ha, very funny. I’m not head over heels.”
    “I’m only teasing,” Darcy rushed to assure. “I think he likes you too.”
    “We’ll see,” Char said with a shrug. “You know, not every relationship has to be serious. It’s perfectly okay to have something more casual.”
    Darcy swallowed her groan. She envied her friend’s attitude about dating but not the lectures.
    “I’m just saying,” Char continued in a higher octave, “fun,