I lay a kiss on his cheek. “I’ll bring some to the house in a bit.”
I saved a special batch for the family.
I throw off his heavy arm and finish stacking all the empty trays.
“Some shorts under that dress would be a good idea,” Jax calls out as he passes by. “It’s blowing around a bit.”
Madoc scoops out the rest of his parfait. “It’s why I don’t wear mine on windy days, Quinn.”
I laugh.
Jared comes up with Tate and their kids, everyone in my family about to head out. “Can we help before we go?” he asks me.
But Jax cuts him off. “I thought you were heading to Fallstown to start up there so I can go to Madoc’s party with my wife.”
Jared shoots him a look, and I dip my hands in the water basin, rinsing them off and drying them. “I’m fine,” I reply, gesturing to Codi. “We’re good here. I’ll be along soon. But thank you.”
“I’ll help,” Lucas says suddenly.
I look at him, his neck and chest shiny as he wipes off his face with his shirt.
We could finally be alone.
But just when I’m about to shrug my shoulders oh-so-nonchalantly and say “sure,” Farrow finally shows up.
“We got it,” he blusters.
He tosses Lucas a look as Noah follows, both of them stepping up to the booth.
Lucas’s brow furrows as disappointment hits me. Madoc pats him on the back. “I need you at the house anyway.”
I take my trays and walk away, hearing Madoc warnFarrow behind me. “Don’t touch my sister, or I’ll…annex Weston.”
“You can try.”
My family leaves, and Codi starts carrying things to his truck with Noah.
Lucas yanks on his shirt as he leaves with Madoc and the rest, and as soon as he looks back at me, I look away. He’ll be good and mad by the time I get to Madoc’s. Void of reason or control.
Noah stops at my side. “You know why I did that?”
Why he stopped Lucas from helping me clean up, he means?
“Yes.” I’m squealing in my head. “Thank you.”
We load up the truck with everything left and tear down the tables and tent. Taking everything back to the shop, Codi, Farrow, and Noah help me unload. I hand off some treats to Farrow to take to Madoc’s, anxious to get over there, but I force myself to linger at Frosted just a little longer.
Codi stays with me, both of us washing every dish, counting out the register and separating the deposit, prepping for tomorrow. Rivertown next door is already setting up a station on the sidewalk for drinks later tonight, and the police have put up blocks at both ends of the street. Speakers are being set up now.
“Mace is outside somewhere,” Codi tells me. “I’ll stay here with her.”
“Are you sure?” I ask.
She gives one of her nods and fastens the laundry bag for pickup in the morning.
We leave the shop, lock up, and I slide onto my bike, watching her melt into the crowd on High Street. Tossing my phone into the basket with my backpack, I pedal for Madoc’s, inhaling the heavy air cooled with the slightest breeze. The wind blows through my hair and dress, and a light layer of sweat dampens my arms, back, and neck as Icruise into my neighborhood.
I close my eyes. Just for a moment.
