12
TEDDY
Laughterand friendly banter filled the air as we all worked together to set up the decorations for the spring celebration on Main Street, creating an atmosphere of camaraderie that had long been absent from my life. Spring felt more symbolic than in the past; the world was coming back to life and so was I.
It had been nearly a month since Shiloh and I became physical and I couldn’t remember ever having as much sex as we did. Part of it could be having a lover who was young and insatiable but the rest of it was all on me. I couldn’t get enough of him. The wounds I once worried would never heal themselves were closing, and I found myself more grateful than anything that Patrick had the strength to free both of us from our self-imposed prison. The closer Shiloh and I became, the more I realized Patrick and I had stayed together because it had been the easy road.
I glanced over at Shiloh, expertly arranging pastries in his booth, showcasing the baked goods that had become the talk of the town. The colors of the sweets seemed to burst with the promise of new beginnings, much like the buds on the trees lining the street.
My dick throbbed at the memory of him very enthusiastically showing his appreciation for the new display case I’d built for him. Instead of using one that wasn’t intended to be portable, I’d spent the mornings after he left for work researching designs that could be transported and set up without eventually breaking.
“Teddy, could you give me a hand with this banner?” Shiloh asked, his voice light and full of energy. Seriously, he was going to kill me. He shouldnothave that much energy after a late night followed by coming in early to bake both for the normal business and the fair.
“Sure thing,” I replied, walking over to him and reaching for one end of the banner. It read “Welcome to the Harmony Grove Spring Celebration” in bright, cheerful letters with the pink and blue Shiloh’s Sweets logo at the end.
Shiloh shimmied up the ladder, his perky ass stopping inches from my face. “Hold your end while I secure this one.”
As he lifted the banner and began securing it to the poles, a gust of wind caught it, causing it to flutter wildly. For a moment, it took on a life of its own, twisting and dancing in the breeze. We both reached out to grab it, our hands colliding, and we couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of the situation.
Worse, Shiloh’s ladder teetered from how he reached out for the blasted banner. I think I had a decade shaved off my life in that moment. “Shiloh, look out!” I dropped my end of the banner, not giving a flying fuck if it flew to the next county and lunged to steady the ladder. Our eyes met, and I felt a warmth spread through my chest.
“Got it!” Shiloh exclaimed triumphantly, finally managing to tame the rebellious banner. “The ladder wasn’t going to fall, you know.”
“I’d prefer we don’t test that theory,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite my lingering fear. He dragged the ladder to the other pole and started climbing, one hand on the ladder and the other on the banner. “Why don’t I steady this for you so you don’t fall and break your fool head open?”
“If you insist,” he conceded, flashing me a brilliant smile that made my heart skip a beat.
“Hey, Teddy,” Waylon called out from across the street, where he and Jasper were hanging strings of fairy lights between the lampposts. “Everything going smoothly over there?”
“Smooth as can be,” I replied, casting a glance at Shiloh, who winked at me conspiratorially.
“All right, guys.” Michael approached, clipboard in hand. He gestured towards the stage materials that had just been delivered. I would have asked him where he put down the megaphone that went with his clipboard and click pen but I was afraid he’d actually have one. He was the most active of the brothers, and the spring fair had been his baby for the last three years. “Let’s get this stage assembled for the live music performances tonight. Teddy, can you give us a hand?”
“Of course,” I replied, joining Waylon, Michael, and Billy at the pile of wood and metal. As we worked together, assembling the stage piece by piece, our camaraderie and sense of community were evident. It felt good to be part of something again, especially with friends I’d known since high school. I hadn’t done any of us any favors ghosting the way I had towards the end of my marriage.
“So, Teddy,” Billy began, casting a sly glance in my direction. “What’s the deal with you and Shiloh? Have you finally quit insisting you’re not cut out for a relationship?”
“Seriously?” I sighed, trying to focus on the task at hand. But their curiosity was relentless. “Is it possible for anyone in this town to just let people live their lives? I expect this from your mothers but you’re better than prying.”
“Come on,” Waylon added. “There’s no shame in admitting it. We can see how well you two get along. And a little birdie told me Shiloh hasn’t been opening as many days and that he’s got a dopey grin on his face when he does come in.”
“Look, I’m not one to kiss and tell,” I replied, attempting to shut down the conversation. Just as I was finishing my sentence, my phone rang, and Shiloh’s name flashed across the screen. “Hold that thought, guys. Shiloh needs me.”
“Go on, Romeo,” Billy teased as I stepped away to answer the call.
“Hey,” Shiloh’s voice came through the line, sounding a bit flustered. “I could use your help over at the booth. We’ve got a little situation here.”
“Of course,” I said, my heart swelling with affection for him, despite my protests to the guys. It wasn’t that I was ashamed of being with Shiloh; quite the opposite, in fact. I was terrified I’d say something too soon and this flame between us would die out. “I’ll be right there.”
As I made my way back to Shiloh, leaving the laughter of my friends behind me, I couldn’t help but think about how much my life had changed in such a short amount of time. A few months ago, I would have never considered opening myself up to the possibility of love. Now, I was rushing to my boyfriend’s side when he needed me and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
As I approached Shiloh’s booth, I noticed a small crowd had gathered, their expressions a mix of concern and amusement. Shiloh was standing in the center, his arms crossed over his chest and a look of frustration on his face. His face was red and puffy like he’d been yelling or crying. My heart clenched at the sight, and I felt an overwhelming urge to protect him.
“What’s going on?” I asked as I reached his side, our fingers brushing briefly in a discreet display of support.
Shiloh sighed, his eyes darting towards a mischievous-looking dog that had somehow managed to break into the booth and was now wreaking havoc on the pastries. “This little guy decided to help himself to the treats. I’ve been trying to catch him, but he keeps getting behind the rolling rack.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight of the dog happily munching on a cupcake, oblivious to the chaos it had caused. “All right, let’s see if we can catch this troublemaker.”
