But before I had a chance to sink into it, one of Jamie’s hands moved around to the small of my back, while the other wrapped around my hand on the spatula, and the next thing I knew, we were dancing around our tiny booth, right there at the fairgrounds, to fucking Rick Astley.
Only with Jamie.
“You’re an idiot,” I said, but what I meant was,I love you.
“I know, baby,” Jamie said softly, and the look he gave me said he understood the words I didn’t say.
“Morning, boys!” Angela Ross said, walking up to the front of our booth wearing a summery smile along with her trademark black braid. She had a large empty flowerpot in her hand. “Such a perfect day for the celebration!”
Jamie stopped twirling me, but he didn’t let me go, and that was fine by me.
“A perfect day for O’Leary’s most important festival of all,” I agreed.
“Exactly.” Angela laughed. “Although, remind me that later this week we need to chat about the Fourth of July. Think you two will have your place up and running by then?”
Jamie and I exchanged a look, and he shrugged.
“We’re working on it,” I said. “I’ve got a lawyer friend of my dad’s on the case. Skip’s semi-retired now, and he’s kind of a bulldog. He’s been on Unity Financial like a bad rash. So… we’ll see.”
Jamie and I had been working on our finances—when we weren’t outfitting our kitchen with an embarrassing amount of stainless steel and custom cabinetry—and while Jamie had a good amount of savings even after the kitchen reno, it wasn’t nearly enough to get us up and running. Yet.
But that was okay. I was finding it remarkably easy to be patient these days.
“Well, I thought I might be able to help out with that.” She set the flowerpot down on the front counter and turned it to show us the painted front.
“‘Official O’Leary Bar Fund’,” I read. I looked back up at Angela, whose eyes were sparkling. “What’s this?”
“Some folks around town have mentioned throwing a fundraiser for you two. But we figured this would be easier.”
“Nah,” I said, shaking my head. “Thanks anyway, but there are plenty of more worthy causes where people could donate their money.”
“I think you’re underestimating just how much O’Learians miss your place, Parks,” Angela said, stepping away from the counter. “And how important you are to our community. Both of you.” She winked at Jamie.
“That’s sweet,” Jamie said. “Really. But Parker’s right. I wouldn’t feel comfortable…”
“What? Letting people help you the way you help them?” She shook her head. “It’s like you boys don’t even know how life in O’Leary works, even after all this time. Every once in a while there’s a silver lining to having everybody know your business.” She tapped the container. “Enjoy yours.”
Jamie and I shared a look. Arguing was pointless. Besides, if we earned a few dollars in tips, I’d just donate them somewhere.
“Thank you,” I said. “Sincerely. For thinking of us.”
“We love you,” she said simply. “Now, give me one of those burgers before my stomach eats itself.”
I laughed and broke away from Jamie to get Angela her food while Jamie got busy making up chicken wings.
Angela paid for her burger, then took a white paper from her pocket and tucked it into the flowerpot. “Consider this a small business grant from the town council,” she said. “To thank you for going to all this trouble for the festival.”
I frowned at Jamie and made a move to look at the paper, which seemed to be a check, but before I could pull it out, Hen Lattimer and Diane Perkins walked up.
Hen took a spot at the counter next to Angela, but Diane walked right into our booth and threw her arms around Jamie like she hadn’t seen him in years, when I knew for a fact they’d just worked the closing shift at the diner together the night before.
“Jameson, I’mso proud!” she exclaimed, patting Jamie’s chest like a fond parent. “You and Parker working your own booth!”
It was adorable… especially when Jamie blushed and rolled his shoulder like he wasn’t sure what to do with her approval.
“I’ll take one of them burgers, Parker,” Henry said, watching Angela devour hers. “And some wings.”
Jamie and I exchanged a glance that had me fighting a smile.
