“No.”
“No?” Ava and Mick ask in unison.
“Not tonight. I think she might be busy.”
Chapter23
Addy
“Addy, can you grab the cinnamon rolls out of the oven?” Alden asks, phone receiver covered with his hand, unable to escape the long-winded local requesting an order for her bridge club.
“I’ve got it,” I yell back. My stomach growls as I slide the toasty delights from the industrial oven.These smell divine.“Have you got-”
“Whoah.” Alden chuckles as he almost collides with me as he carries the ready-made icing to slather on the warm rolls.
“Didn’t expect you to escape that call so fast.” I laugh, my stomach rumbling loud enough for him to hear.
“You still haven’t eaten anything?”
“I don’t think I’ve fully recovered from the weekend. I was too tired to get anything before the bakery opened.”
“We’re all caught up here. Walk down to Larch Street and grab something. It’s pretty out today.”
“Thanks. You want anything?”
“Nah. Cece got up super early and made me breakfast.” Alden grins like a man who knows he’s hit the jackpot.I’d get up early to fix breakfast for Trevor, I muse. I wasn’t sure what time his company left last night, so I hadn’t called. But I miss him. A lot.
A smile invades my face, and I catch Alden grinning in my direction.
“Happy looks good on you.” He winks.
* * *
As I stroll down Larch Street, I take a deep breath of clean mountain air. Itisa gorgeous day. Larch is the main thoroughfare in downtown Sycamore. There’s a small café to grab a sandwich or a hot plate just down the road and a barbeque restaurant at the corner, just opposite fire station 12. It’s then I notice the boys, all wearing their signature outfits of dark navy cargo pants and blue short-sleeve shirts with the bright yellow station 12 insignia on the back.
“Hey, Addy. How are you?” Jason asks.
“I’m great. Enjoying a stroll. You guys leave any food in the café?”
“With as little as you eat, I’m sure they can make you something.” Jason chuckles.
Suddenly, it dawns on me that Trevor isn’t with them. “Where’s Trev? He off today?” I notice a perplexed look cross Matthew and Dave’s faces just as Jason’s smile falters.
“Yeah. He had to go back home for a bit. Don’t know much. Something to do with his mom and his finals coming up.”
“His mom. God. I hope she’s okay.” I stop momentarily, considering this. His momandhis finals? “So, is this a few days away?”
“No,” Jason says cautiously. “He took a leave of absence. I’m not sure when he’ll be back.”
What the heck? He couldn’t even text and let me know?
“Be careful with that one, Addy. I’m not sure he’s at the same place you are,” Matthew says.
“What do you mean?”
“I know it’s been a while, but I don’t think he’s recovered from his last girlfriend. I’m just not sure… Well, you might be better off without him.”
My stomach does a flip. What has he said to them to give them this impression? This sounds like more than a family health crisis.Was I just a roll in the Sycamore Mountain hay to this guy?I take a breath, trying to steel my emotions in front of the guys. I’m feeling a bit like I just exited a tilt-a-whirl. “I’ll catch you guys later,” I say as I turn in the direction of Honey Bunz.
