The place smells like butter and cinnamon and happiness. Vintage lights cast warm shadows across the brick walls. A couple at a nearby table keeps glancing over, whispering, probably wondering if we’re who they think we are.
Spoiler: We are.
Brody sits across from me, freshly showered, wearing jeans and a sports coat (of course), hair still slightly damp. He smells like soap and aftershave. Fresh, clean. Like a new start.
“You have glitter on your face,” he says, reaching across the table.
“I have glitter everywhere. I’m pretty sure there’s glitter in places glitter should never be.”
He grins. “Yeah, you’re not bringing that jersey in the car with you. I’m not getting glitter in the seats.”
“What? I’m keeping it forever. I’m gonna wear it to every game.” I’m grinning too. Can’t stop.
Marcie approaches our table. “Chloe!” She’s beaming. “Girl, I saw you on the Jumbotron tonight. That was incredible!”
My face heats. “You watched the game?”
“Everyone watched the game. We had it on the TV behind the bar. The whole place erupted when he climbed into the stands.” She looks at Brody, still grinning. “You’re definitely an upgrade from the sketchbook. No offense to the sketchbook.”
“None taken,” I manage.
“The usual?” Marcie asks.
“You know what? Surprise me.”
Marcie grins. “You got it.”
The college kids two tables over are definitely filming us again.
“We can leave?—”
“No.” I reach across the table, take his hand. “I don’t care.”
The cookies arrive a few minutes later—two Midnight Eclipse cookies. Cast-iron skillets with dark chocolate brownie cookies. Sea salt caramel is drizzled across the top, the bourbon vanilla ice cream slowly melting into creamy pools.
I take a bite. Close my eyes. Let the chocolate and caramel and butter work their magic.
“This is what happiness tastes like,” I say when I open my eyes.
Brody is staring at me instead of eating his cookie.
“What?” I ask.
“Just memorizing this. You. Here. Happy.”
My throat tightens. “I am happy.”
“Good.” He finally takes a bite of his own cookie. His eyes close. “Oh, this is dangerous. I’m going to gain twenty pounds if this becomes our place.”
I blush at that, but I like the idea of it. “Worth it?”
“Absolutely.”
We eat in comfortable silence for a moment. Then Brody sets down his fork.
“So. My contract extension came through.”
I look up. “Yeah? That’s great!”
