“Not this time.” Eliza gratefully accepted the mug adorned with a single yellow daffodil, while Cassie kept the one covered in bright red poppies. That was another quirk of Cassie’s—each person had a special mug. But she never told the recipient the meaning behind why theirs was chosen.
“What’s wrong?” Cassie leaned against the kitchen island, both forearms resting on the smooth butcher block.
“I… need some advice.”
“I’m all ears.” Cassie’s phone buzzed, but she immediately silenced the call.
“It’s fine. You can answer.” Eliza reached for it, suddenly uncomfortable with the prospect of discussing her love life.
Or lack thereof.
But Cassie beat her to it, snatching the cell and turning it off altogether. “Nope! You can’t get out of the conversation now.”
As if on cue, Eliza’s upbeat ringtone reverberated from inside her purse. Eliza lunged for it, but Cassie was quicker.
Retrieving the phone, Cassie read the caller ID out loud. “It’s Penny. We’ll call her back after we discuss your problem.” Raising an eyebrow as if daring Eliza to protest, Cassie stuffed it inside the cupboard between a stack of canned corn and chicken broth. “Now,” she said, settling herself on the barstool. “Spill it.”
Eliza sighed, running her fingertip along the rim of the mug. “Okay. I don’t know how to say this, so I’m just going to lay it out there.” She drew in a deep breath before blurting, “Colt asked me out. On arealdate. And I don’t know what to say. If I say no, things will stay the same. Which may or may not be a bad thing. If I say yes, everything could change. Which, again, may or may not be a bad thing. I’m so confused!” The words left her lips in a rush. When she finally stopped for air, she flopped onto the counter, covering her face with both hands and mumbled between her interlaced fingers, “Help me.”
Cassie laughed softly. “Is that all? I should think the answer is obvious. Say yes, of course.”
“It’s not that simple.” Eliza pushed herself onto her elbows, meeting Cassie’s gaze. “He invited me to the Secret Picnic. It’s a huge event. Everyone in town will see us together.”
“So?”
“So…” Eliza dragged out the vowel sound for emphasis. “Everyone will talk. And…” She hesitated before murmuring, “I’m tired of being the most scandalous story in Poppy Creek.”
Her features softening with sympathy, Cassie draped her arm around Eliza’s shoulders, offering a comforting squeeze. “How about this? Why don’t we all go together? You, Ben, Colt, and me and Luke. No one will think twice about that. But you and Colt can still have the time together to get reacquainted. What do you think?”
The corner of Eliza’s lips quirked up slightly. “That’s not a terrible idea. As long as it’s not officially a date. Just friends. Hanging out.”
“It’s a deal!” Cassie grinned, then scrunched her face in thought. “What exactly is a secret picnic, anyway?”
Eliza’s smile broadened. “It’s one of my favorite traditions. Mac Houston started it several years ago to raise awareness for the local food bank. In addition to bringing canned food and other donations, everyone packs a picnic lunch and meets in the town square. The baskets go into a huge pile, and then everyone picks a different one than the one they brought. It’s a secret because you’re not supposed to know who packed the basket you chose.”
Cassie shook her head as she chuckled. “This town never ceases to amaze me. But it sounds complicated.”
“Not really.” Eliza shrugged. “There are certain guidelines to make it easier. Like, you have to pack enough food to feed at least four people. And you get to peek inside the baskets, in case you have certain food allergies or aversions. But everyone tries to outdo each other, so you wind up with the most incredible meal!”
“Oh, no!” Cassie laughed. “I hope you’re packing the basket for our group, because I can barely make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.”
“I’ve got you covered,” Eliza assured her. “Every spring, I plan my menu well in advance. This year, I’m making—” The sound of car tires skidding to a halt in the gravel drive interrupted Eliza’s train of thought.
“What in the world?” Cassie’s green eyes widened in surprise. “Who could that be?”
The front door creaked on its hinges before slamming shut.
“Cassie? Eliza?” Penny shouted as her kitten heels clacked across the parquet floor.
“In here,” Cassie called out, concern etched across her forehead.
“Finally! I’ve been looking all over town for you two,” Penny panted. “Neither of you answered your phones.”
Cassie and Eliza exchanged a guilty glance.
“Sorry,” Cassie said sheepishly. “We were in the middle of a pretty serious conversation.”
“Oh, then you already know?” Penny looked relieved.
