“Drive-in?” Bella eyed the blankets.
“Yeah. Should be fun. Kurt’s never been.” Leanna watched Kurt coming up the road with Pepper, and she was touched by how he’d come to care for her dog. “He’s a good guy, huh?”
“You’re kidding, right? He’s amazing.”
“Yeah. I know. I’m so lucky.”
Jenna sidled up to Leanna. “Why don’t you take the van and get down and dirty at the drive-in like a couple of teenagers?”
Leanna laughed. “I swear, we are like a couple of teenagers, but I really just want to cuddle up beside him tonight. I hate that he’s leaving tomorrow.” She closed the trunk of his car and then whispered, “Besides, we can get down and dirty in the cottage later.”
Jenna smirked. “Just remember to close your windows.”
Leanna blushed. She and Kurt had forgotten to close the windows on Monday evening, and Jenna had been armed with a litany of jokes the next morning.
“No worries there, eavesdropper.”
“Eavesdropper? Please, they heard you in P-town.” Bella put an arm around Leanna and the other around Jenna. “I’m going to miss you guys this winter. Maybe we should plan a get-together over the holidays.”
“We talk about that every year, but with our schedules…” Jenna reminded her. “Maybe we’ll get together for Kurt and Leanna’s wedding.”
“You guys have it all figured out, don’t you?” Leanna reached for Kurt’s hand as he approached. Yeah, I’d so marry you. Her breath caught in her throat. Oh my. I would. I really would.
“Hey, babe. Ready to grab dinner?” He ran his hand through his hair and glanced at Bella and Jenna. “You guys live in your bathing suits.”
“Why not?” Bella twirled in her dress. “We have to leave this weekend, so we’re making the most of it.”
“You’ll take good care of my girl, won’t you?”
He said it teasingly, but Leanna knew he liked that they were there with her. He’d told her last night that he was glad she had people who cared about her as much as he did.
“You know it,” Bella answered.
“If you were dressed and if Leanna didn’t mind, I’d invite you to come with us.” He glanced at Leanna.
“You would?” She could cuddle with him and spend time with the girls—a perfect night.
“I’m sure I’m not the only one who is going to miss you when we leave, so sure, why not?” He shrugged.
Amy came out of her cottage and crouched down beside Pepper to love him up. “Hi, guys.”
“Do you guys want to come?” Leanna asked.
“Heck, yeah,” Bella answered. “Amy, drive-in with Kurt and Leanna?”
“On their last date night? We can’t do that.” Amy squinted and shook her head like they’d lost their minds. She was always the voice of reason.
“I’m going to be with Leanna every night after she comes to New York. I’d feel guilty if I didn’t share one of her last nights with you guys.” He folded Leanna in his arms. “Unless there’s something I don’t know about the drive-in.” He nuzzled against her neck.
“See? I told you.” Jenna adjusted her dress over her cleavage.
“Told you what?” Kurt asked.
Leanna felt her cheeks warm. “Nothing. Jenna’s being dirty.”
“I told her to take the van and make out in the back during the movie.” Jenna grinned.
“Now, that does sound fun.” He kissed Leanna again, and a shiver ran down her back. “Really, she has very little time with you guys. You decide. I’m easy. I’m going to run inside and grab a drink of water before we go.”
“Hear that? He’s easy.” Jenna watched him walk inside.
Leanna slapped her arm. “Hey, he’s taken.” She knew from spending time with him that he was anything but easy. Whether they were out in public or spending time in private, if he wasn’t writing, Leanna was the focus of his attention. She glanced at Pepper panting at the door, watching Kurt. Me and Pepper. Leanna had thought that her life would include only her, Pepper, and her Seaside friends for years to come, and she was so glad to have been wrong.
HAVING NEVER BEEN to the Wellfleet Drive-In, Kurt wasn’t sure what to expect, but it wasn’t kids running around on the playground equipment and families backing their trucks and vans into parking places and piling in under blankets and pillows like one big slumber party, or setting up beach chairs behind their cars with blankets spread out on the asphalt and coolers full of food.
The drive-in played a family-friendly movie at eight o’clock and a movie for adults at ten fifteen. When Leanna had first mentioned that she wanted to watch both movies, he’d questioned the decision. He wasn’t exactly a kid movie type of guy. In fact, he couldn’t remember ever being into kids’ movies, even as a boy, but she said it was part of the drive-in experience, and he’d agreed, because she was, after all, Leanna. He’d brought his computer, and if the children’s movie was too painful to watch, he could start outlining his next book while she watched the first movie. He’d sent his manuscript to Jackie earlier in the day, and he’d touched base with Blue and was happy that the work was taking shape. Now he was looking forward to relaxing and watching the second movie, Prisoners with Hugh Jackman.