The beating of Nathan’s hearthadlulled me to sleep—well, that and other things. When the sun streaming through the curtains finally roused me, I bolted back to Molly’s room to pretend I’d been beside her all night.
No such luck. I found her downstairs eating cereal in front of cartoons.
I hummed noncommittally.
“And they stare at each other a lot, like Bugs Bunny and Lola Bunny.”
Well, shit.How could I argue with that? I was the one who introduced her to the old-school cartoons I’d watched as a kid. And there were a million photos of me through the years with that lovesick expression. Even my baby sister, who’d been here for less than twenty-four hours, could see my love for Nathan reflected in my face.
“It sounds like you know a lot about this, Molls.” I stared at her pointedly. “Doyouhave a boyfriend?”
She stuck her tongue out, white icing still coating it. “Ew. No. Boys are gross.”
I’d thought so too until I moved next door to Nathan Sharpe when I was three years older than she was now. “They very well can be,” I agreed, smiling broadly at my sister.
I loved having her here, being silly with her over breakfast. We used to do this every morning before I walked her to the bus for school.
“Now, who is this?” Bertram’s booming voice echoed through the mostly empty room.
Our early morning rush had tapered hours ago. I suspected many people were traveling for the holiday two days fromnow. We would close the Courtside Café this afternoon and not reopen until the day after Christmas.
I gestured across the counter. “This is my sister, Molly. Molly, meet Bertram. He’s one of our best customers.”
He let out a low whistle. “Good sales tactic, Miss Brenna.” He took a seat beside Molly, who regarded him with apprehension. “I amthe bestcustomer, Miss Golly-Oh-Molly.”
“My name is Molly,” she huffed before returning her attention to her half-devoured cinnamon roll.
“Now I see where you get your attitude from,” Bertram said to me.
I glared at him, and though it was playful—like our dynamic—it proved his point.
“Is your other half here?”
“In his office. I’ll get him for you.”
“No funny business back there,” Bertram called as I disappeared behind the curtain.
I heard my sister ask “What’s funny business?” and prayed to God Bertram handled the question with the care and discretion it required.
I knocked once on the office door before letting myself in. Nathan seized my hand, pulled me into his lap, and wrapped his arms around my waist. I squealed before relaxing into him.
“You’ve been summoned.” I swatted at his arm.
He lifted me as he stood, holding on until my feet hit the ground. “You’re no fun.”
“I will be later,” I crooned, heading back out front.
Nathan followed me, tickling my side as I swatted at him again. I gave him a stern look to stop before we emerged from the back.
“Your tickets have arrived,” Bertram announced, holding them out to Nathan.
Molly perked up. “Tickets?” She shifted to her knees in her chair to peer over the counter.
Nathan fanned the tickets, waving them back and forth, but it was Bertram who answered.
“Three tickets to the Palmer City Wolves game tonight. The first home game I’ll miss in years… after beinghustled.”
Molly screamed, high-pitched and soul-shaking. Every head snapped in our direction. I tried to hush her.
