“Ugh,” Sadie huffed, squeezing Georgia’s hands before shoving them away. “You are the actual worst! Give me something… Anything…a.n.y.t.h.i.n.g!He’s gorgeous and obviously crazy about you since the fool is here nearly every day with a different ridiculous excuse.”
“Oh, he is not!”
Sadie adopted a manly voice and stood taller in her best Lake impersonation. “Oh… I just need to drop off this Christmas card for the family. The post office couldn’t possibly get it to them in time…” She passed her hand through her hair, full of dramatics. “Was wondering if I could cater a youth lunch with a thousand cookies… Is Georgia in? Maybe I could ask her a question about the event that I definitely could have called about, but really I just want to kiss her silly!” She finished with an exaggerated wink and wiggled her eyebrows again, ending with a bow.
Georgia bit back a laugh that became a tickle in her throat. “You’re certifiable.”
“And you’re crazy if you haven’t at least thought about kissin’ Lakeland Lovett. Admit it. Please, just put me outta my misery,” Sadie said loudly, her southern twang whining the louder she grew.
“Okay. Okay. Lower your voice!” Georgia hushed her. “Yes! Of course I’ve thought about it. He’s…”
She didn’t need to go into detail on how often the thought crossed her mind or how she couldn’t smell cinnamon anymore without thinking about Lakeland Lovett’s mouth.
“But you haven’t yet?”
“No. We haven’t. We’re just friends, Sadie.”
“Friends who buy each other gifts, hang out nearly every day, and kind of wanna make out on occasion?”
“Yeah. That about covers it,” Georgia conceded.
“Promise me you’ll tell me if anything changes? Because… we’re friends, like you said.” Sadie looked almost embarrassed with the request. As if she weren’t used to friends or family divulging information about their lives.
“Basically, family.” Georgia smiled. “I promise. If Lake’s lips ever touch mine, you’ll be on my call list.” And she meant it.
With her show of solidarity, Georgia pushed herself away from the counter, saluted Sadie, slapped her tired hand to the swinging door leading to the shop, and smacked it into an unsuspecting face on the other side.
A deep groan she recognized, and the laughter of her siblings from outside the kitchen, had Georgia’s stomach flipping inside out. She pulled the door in the opposite direction and found Lake standing at the door, pinching a bleeding nose.
“How long have you been standing there, Lakeland?”
He blew out a breath and managed to smirk despite the pain and blood gushing from his nose. “Oh, long enough, Peanut.”
She growled and shoved past him, letting her elbow punch into his taut abs. When he leaned over, grabbing his stomach with the other hand, her sisters both yelled a ferocious sisterhood battle cry, “Ya-Ya!” while Dakota brought a rag over to Lakeland.
Dakota patted his shoulder and then gave it a good squeeze, pinching his fingers deep into the muscle. Just enough. “Not a good look, bro. You’re diggin’ a hole here.”
But Lakeland only smiled, accepting the rag and Dakota’s rebuke. “Nah. Now we’refinallygetting somewhere.” He smacked Dakota on the back as he walked away and caught Georgia’s eye as she watched the interaction from across the room.
Georgia shook her head, completely exasperated, but knew the smirk she tried and failed to hide mirrored Lake’s.
Before long, Good Start was filled with customers decorating homemade sugar cookies and all of the Remillard family, basking in their family’s business and in the home they’d found in Sugartree.
“This sure is a sight to behold,” the Colonel proclaimed after calling Joan and the kids to his side, making them all slow down for a minute and take it all in.
Joan squeezed her husband’s side and pulled the kids over in front of them, tugging on shirts and arms until all four stood huddled together within their parent’s wrapped arms. “We are so proud of y’all. I can hardly believe what you’ve accomplished. What gifts God has given us.”
Dakota turned his head and smacked a loud kiss on his mother’s cheek. Ginny curled into her dad, wrapping her arms around his middle. And Georgia and Caroline held hands in the center, content and proud to be a part of something so sweet.
Georgia looked over the warm room, bustling with parents helping their kids decorate. Blaire, Ryan, and their two dates sat at a table together laughing and flicking sprinkles at each other. And every one of the Lovett boys, including little Spider-Man, sat intently decorating and eating more cookies than she could count. She hadn’t had a chance to speak with Lake about what exactly he’d overheard but knew that conversation would come for her sooner rather than later.
All in all, Georgia thought she’d nearly burst with pride over this place. Her head certainly felt like it could explode. As the night progressed, she’d grown more tired and in more pain. The tickle that had been born of laughter earlier had now graduated to what Georgia imagined swallowing glass would feel like. Her head pounded to the rhythm of the unending stream of Christmas songs that had played over the speakers all night. She tried to shake off the impending storm of sickness she knew was approaching.
“I’d better start wrapping up this shin-dig,” she said, removing herself from the family group hug.
Her mother touched her face gently, “You ok, Georgia Snow? You’re awfully flushed.”
She leaned into her mom’s hand, wishing she could keep it there on her cheek, perfectly cool against her hot skin.
