Gunter found this funny for some reason. “Told you, babe.”
Clay grumbled, just as Deputy Price came over. He was in full uniform, so working, obviously. “Oh good, glad you’re here,” Clay said to him. “We need some crowd control, starting with these two.” He gestured to Braithe and Hamish.
Deputy Price shook his head. “Don’t wanna know.”
Everyone laughed, Winter included. I wasn’t entirely sure Ifit inwith them, but it was nice to be included, and for some reason, they had included me in their circle of friends.
“Busy day?” Ren asked Winter. “A few customers told me they went to your store today. Said it was crowded.”
“Oh, yes,” Winter replied. “It’s been three and a half weeks of busy days. Not complaining though. I love it.”
“And he had you working today,” Ren said to me.
“I offered,” I said.
“I couldn’t have done it without him,” Winter added, smiling up at me.
Everyone smiled at me.
I tried to smile again, but it was all a bit much. Too many people, too much attention. I felt as if all eyes were on me, as if they expected me to say something, and I didn’t like that.
That not-good jittery feeling began to creep in, and I wondered if I should make an excuse to leave. But then Winter tugged on my sleeve.
A little reminder that it was okay.
He was with me.
Some kids ran past saying hello to Mr. Branson, and Braithe called out for them to not run. Rob made a joke about school-teaching mode, and the conversation moved away from me.
And I could breathe.
Winter never let go of my sleeve.
We were close enough that no one would have noticed, but that contact, that comfort was what I needed. He was a tether before the storm could roll in.
How he knew, I’ll never know.
But I was so grateful.
“You okay?” he asked me quietly.
I gently pulled my arm free from his hold.
“Oh, sorry,” he murmured.
But then I took his hand in mine.
His eyes met mine and his smile made everything okay.
We were wearing gloves, so there was no skin contact, and I think that helped. There was no clammy skin feeling,even if the gloves meant our fingers were bulky. Even if it was in public.
I needed to do this.
I wanted to.
For him, for me.
Everyone chatted some more, but after a while, Winter leaned in. “Want to go find your parents to say hi?”
