Cal had mentioned his son was obsessed with a videogame calledMinecraft. I’d had no idea what it was, but after doing a little reading on it—I got the gist. While Mom and I were out shopping for supplies for Cal’s new house, I spotted someMinecraftdécor.
I may have gone a little nuts purchasing bedding, wall decals, and a TNT lamp. I wrangled my purchases out of the car, straightening with my arms loaded up with bags. I straightened, turned, and nearly jumped out of my damn skin.
“Let me help you with that,” Dare said, his voice covering me with warmth. He reached for a few of the bags and I let him help me. He peeked inside, a smile coming to his lips as his eyes lifted to mine again. “Everything okay with you?”
“Everything’s fine.” I glanced around, making sure nobody was watching us before I let my guard down a little and smiled at him. “I’m sorry I’m acting so weird today. I don’t want Mom to suspect anything. I told her I was seeing someone, so she’s on the hunt to find out who. I don’t want her knowing just yet.”
Dare flinched, as if my words had hurt him, then quickly schooled his expression. “I get it.” He turned on his heel, heading back inside.
I followed him, aware that I’d somehow hurt him. I felt bad, that wasn’t my intention. But telling my mom meant telling Calumandmy father, and with everything going on…I just didn’t think it was an appropriate time.
Plus, there was the waitress from the diner in Mahone Bay. I couldn’t get the image of her and her fair-haired child out of my head. With how standoffish she’d been toward me and Dare, I couldn’t help but feel she had a bone to pick with us and that the child had something to do with it.
His fair hair had reminded me so much of Dare’s. Since seeing the waitress and the child, I’d had non-stop nightmares about finding out Dare was the father. I didn’t know if the irrational anger I felt was even merited, but it’d burrowed beneath my skin.
But I couldn’t start hurling accusations over a silly little dream, and I wouldn’t. I just needed to stop letting that dream influence how I felt. We carried the bags in, setting them down in the kitchen area. Without another word or glance, Dare returned to the living room to help Evan finish up the second coat.
I jogged back up the stairs to rejoin my mom and brother. Calum had laid out a drop sheet and was pouring the paint into a tray. Mom was putting tape around the trim. I grabbed another roll of it, going over to the windows.
CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE
Dare
At a quarter to five,I parked the rental SUV a few doors down from Harper’s bookstore, right behind Cal’s Jeep. Calum had asked us if we minded arriving early to help with set-up, and we’d both jumped at the opportunity.
We’d sort of kept our distance from Harper’s store, not wanting to intrude on their reunion or her personal life, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious about the life she’d built while we were gone.
“I’m nervous, are you nervous?” Evan asked, sending me a lopsided grin.
“I’m not nervous.” I lifted a shoulder, lying through my teeth. I was nervous as all hell.Allof the Jacobs clan would all be in attendance, and although the prospect of seeing Connor more than made up for the fact I’d have to endure Michael’s looks of disapproval, I still knew he was coming. The man couldn’t stand us, and he made that clear with every interaction.
I was worried seeing his contempt toward me would only solidify Connor’s belief that we needed to keep our relationship quiet still.
Stepping out of the car, I went to the trunk to grab the gifts. We’d had a lot of fun shopping for Asher. I’d settled on a skateboard after seeing a youth-sized one. It had been ages since I picked up my skateboard, but maybe I would again to teach Cal’s son.
Evan picked out another massive LEGO set. Rumor had it LEGO was the quickest way into this kid’s good books, but I hope he’d like skateboarding too.
We walked intoBooks & Brews, finding the bookstore a chaotic whirl of activity. Harper and another woman with long blond hair were busy spreading green tablecloths out over the tables in the café.
Calum was at the back of the store, hanging up black curtains over a doorway. Blocky letters were typed on a gray vinyl sign above it, reading Nether Portal. He nodded and smiled at us when the bell chimed above us as we walked in.
Harper spotted us, a welcoming smile appearing on her lips as she made her way over to greet us. “Hey, guys! Thanks for coming,” she said. “It’s so good to see you both!”
“We’ve missed you, Harp,” Evan said as he pulled her in for a huge one-armed bear hug. When he released her, I stepped forward to hug her too.
“We did. It’s good to see you too,” I said, glancing around again for the birthday boy.
“If you’re looking for Asher, he’s with my parents while we set up. I wanted him to be surprised. He’ll be here in about forty-five minutes.”
“Makes sense.” I smiled. “Where do you want us to put these?” I lifted the poorly wrapped skateboard and she grinned.
“Over on that table is perfect,” Harper answered, pointing in the direction of a table with a black tablecloth and a stack of gifts on it already. Once we put our gifts with the others, I looked around, letting out an impressed whistle.
The bookstore was beautiful—high ceilings, lots of light, and the space was bright and airy. Several display tables had been pushed back between the stacks of bookshelves to make more room for the party.
“What can we do?” I asked Harper, figuring she was the one with the plan.
Harper thought for a moment, glancing around. “Evan, could you help Ellery bring out all the snacks?”
