“Give us fifteen minutes,” Hallie said before hanging up the call and shoving her phone in her pocket.
She turned, but Brynn wasn’t there. Instead, she was already halfway across the large room, probably on the hunt for their coats given the direction in which she was moving. Hallie allowed herself a few indulgent seconds, watching as Brynn strode purposefully through the throngs of people.
It meant something to Hallie how Brynn justgothow important being at the inn at a time like this would be. Sure, maybe Hallie needed to get better at divesting herself from a life that was completely encompassed by The Stone’s Throw, but she would never stop caring about the people there. Hell, she’d probably never stop thinking of it as her home.
When Brynn returned, she held out Hallie’s coat for her, which felt like a very romantic act on Brynn’s part. Especially given that Hallie was so focused on getting back as soon as possible that she hadn’t realized anything else could pull herattention. Turning around, Hallie let Brynn shrug the bulky garment around her shoulders.
The careful, deliberate action did nothing to disabuse Hallie’s notion that this was a date.
Or, at the very least, that she desperately wanted it to be.
She sighed, hoping Brynn couldn’t hear her. She should have been more forthright before they’d come out today.
What was she? Eighteen? Brynn deserved better than something billed as a “hangout,” all so that Hallie didn’t have to experience the stress of an encounter having actual stakes.
There needed to be a balance in her life, one where she cared about the things that were important to her like the inn and the life she’d already built but where she didn’t let the fear of failure stop her from being open and honest. Especially with Brynn.
“Ready?” she asked as Brynn was zipping up her own coat. Once they got things settled back at the inn, Hallie was committed to doing the hard thing.
Except that then Brynn picked up a lone hat from the table—an adorable fox—and pulled it over her head.
And Hallie’s heart literally and truly skipped a beat. God, did she just want to give herself over to the fluttery, erratic feeling in her chest, the one that made her feel like she was on the verge of a heart attack.
But she couldn’t focus on that right now. She smiled at Brynn, felt the blood pumping through her veins, making everything feel new and exhilarating.
Soon. She held her hand out for Brynn to take. “Let’s go.”
“I promise you didn’t need to come back,” Sydney said again as Hallie and Brynn entered The Stone’s Throw. Sydneyimmediately clocked their clasped hands before shifting her gaze back up to meet Hallie’s, leveling her with a smirk.
Hallie ignored the look. She had more important things to focus on right now. “Have you heard anything from Greg and Candace?”
She felt Brynn’s hand squeeze her own before she pulled away slowly. “I’m going to check on Reese.”
Hallie nodded and tried bravely not to stare after Brynn like a lovesick puppy. She thought she’d done a pretty good job at it, except that when she turned her attention back to Sydney, her mouth had morphed into what Hallie could only describe as a shit-eating grin.
Hallie held up her hand. “No. Let’s focus on the important things right now.”
It had taken them close to twenty minutes to get home, double the amount of time that it had taken to walk there. The snow had started falling already, and though some businesses had already salted their walkways and sidewalks, it had been a treacherous endeavor.
Hallie had used her no-nonsense voice, so she was pleased when Sydney relented immediately. “They’re at the hospital. Greg was already taken back to a room. It could definitely have been better, but it absolutely could have been worse.”
Hallie let out a long exhale, relief coursing through her. “That’s good news. And what about Reese? I cannot believe you aren’t holding vigil at her side.” Truly, Hallie was most shocked that Sydney hadn’t also scooped Reese up and taken her to the hospital, too. Just to be safe.
Sydney looked past Hallie, over to the sofa. “She’s a determined woman when she wants to be. But, apparently, this happens. Per her own words, she just needs to rest. I already gave her some apple juice. And…”
She met Sydney’s stare. “And what?”
Suddenly, Sydney looked embarrassed. “She told me that I was hovering.”
Hallie looked down at Sydney’s hands, which she was kneading together like a cat making biscuits. At this rate, Hallie should give her some lotion so at least Sydney would be doing something productive with all of her fretting. “Let me guess. Wringing hands? Pacing? A wild, fearful look in your eyes?”
“I’m not that bad,” Sydney argued. But Hallie wasn’t accusing her of anything. She was just noting the exact behaviors that Sydney was currently displaying.
Hallie inclined her head, saying more with a look than her words ever could, which made Sydney stop quickly and square her shoulders. Lowering her voice, she said, “And what about you? Miss ‘Waltzing Into the Inn Hand in Hand With Brynn Fitzpatrick.’”
Hallie avoided eye contact. “It was icy outside.” Which wasn’t a lie.
Sydney let out a guffaw and leaned forward. “Brynn freaking Fitzpatrick—or ‘BFF,’ since I’m sure that’s all it is, right?”
