He gives me the beady side-eye and somehow manages to look smug as Papa carries him to the coop.
I hurry inside to change and rush back to the cafe. By the time the shop opens, I’m ready for a nap. Papa and Uncle Hal come in around seven, already singing. Then Erin and Goldie show up a few minutes later, and they both look at me and laugh knowingly.
“What gave me away?” I ask.
“The way you’re glowing like a fluorescent light,” Erin says.
I wrinkle my nose. “Fluorescent lights are obnoxious.”
“She meant like delicate twinkle lights,” Goldie says, elbowing Erin.
Erin pretends to be annoyed, but she’s grinning. “Mm-hmm, exactly what I meant.”
“It was a good night then?” Goldie asks.
“It was anamazingnight,” I say under my breath.
Goldie does a little dance, and Erin crosses her arms, looking at me like a proud mama.
“Don’t forget you owe us the details,” Erin says, pointing at me.
“Well, not too many details because…he’s my brother,” Goldie says. “I mean, I want to know…because it’s you, but…ugh…it’s complicated.” She laughs awkwardly and then gives me an apologetic smile.
“Don’t worry. I’ll spare you.” I shake my head when Erin protests. “Both of you,” I add. “If it never happens again, it’ll still be a night I’ll never forget.”
Both of them give me sideways looks and then speak at the same time.
“What do you mean?” Erin says.
“Of course it’ll happen again,” Goldie says.
I lift my shoulder. “I don’t know. I think it probably will, but I’m just taking it day by day…”
Goldie is frowning when she says, “Well, you need to be thinking a little more long-term thanthat.”
“As long as we’re keeping it a secret, I don’t think so,” I say. “I like him, but…will he ever let me in all the way?”
I can’t think about it too much. It stings to be a secret. It feels safer to just put it in aWe’ll see what happenscategory.
The cafe picks up, and I say my goodbyes to the girls, promising we can catch up more later. Once the breakfast rush ends, I pour myself another cup of coffee. I’m running on fumes, but thoughts of Camden keep me moving, simply because I think of him approximately every five seconds.
I’m in the middle of adding a cake to the pastry display case when Bentley walks in.
“Hey there, gorgeous,” he says with that easy grin.
He slides onto a stool at the counter.
I get a little anxious with the way he looks at me. I thought I’d been clear about the wholeWe’re just friendsthing, but now I’m not so sure.
I smile back, keeping it friendly but nottoofriendly.
“Hey, Bentley. What can I get for you? Coffee?”
“You know me well,” he says, his smile widening.
Papa Hector and Uncle Hal come from the back with trays full of fresh scones.
“Again?” Uncle Hal mutters. “Doesn’t this guy have a job?”
