He smiled at me and winked. “There was no way I was going to let you pay.”
Macy snickered. “Good man.”
I waved at her. “Thank you. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you again.”
Max took the tray of food and carried it to a vacant park bench just a few feet away. We sat down and I watched his eyes widen with wonder at the food.
“Wow, this looks delicious. What did we get?”
“Well,” I began, pointing at the plate, “these are absolute heaven. They’re lobster mac and cheese balls. And these,” I said, pointing at the sandwiches, “are beef tenderloin banh mi sandwiches. The flavors will literally explode in your mouth.”
Max tilted his head back and laughed. “You’re such a foodie. I love it.”
I picked up one of the mac and cheese balls and bit into it, savoring every single second. “I can’t help it. How can you not be excited when you taste something so good.”
“Here we go, then,” Max called out, picking up his sandwich. He took a huge bite and got garlic aioli sauce all over his face. “You’re right; this is amazing.”
When he looked at me, I held up a napkin and giggled. “Told you.”
He wiped the sauce off and smiled. “I think I trust you now.”
“Good.” I bumped him with my shoulder before grabbing my sandwich. “Just wait until we taste the cocoa and cookies. We’re going to be stuffed when we leave here tonight.”
I looked out at the crowd and my gaze instantly found Jake. My heart fluttered, especially when he smiled at me. It wasn’tthe sly smirk that he gave when he strolled into my kitchen in only a towel; this smile had a hint of sadness to it.
“Lydia? You okay?” Max asked.
Quickly, I turned my focus back to him and nodded. “Of course. So, fill me in on what my grandmother told you about me.” I said as I took a bite of my sandwich.
“Happy to.” He laughed.
He went on and on about his conversations with my grandmother and he wasn’t kidding when he said he knew a lot about me. The whole time we talked, I inadvertently searched the park for Jake.Why?I don’t know.There was something in his eyes when he looked at me that made my chest hurt. I wanted to stop thinking about him . . . but couldn’t.
13
LYDIA
By the time the festival was over, Max and I had tasted more than fifteen different versions of hot cocoa and about thirty different cookies. To say I was going to have trouble sleeping from the sugar high was an understatement. But on the way home, Max and I found out we liked the same music. It was exciting to find out things we had in common.
“I’m glad I got to meet Hailey and Oliver,” Max said as he entered my driveway.
His truck had much more room without being sandwiched between him and Jake. Although, if I was honest with myself, sitting between them wasn’t that bad. The last thing I needed to do was think about Jake and how good it felt to be close to him.
“Me too,” I agreed. “
He parked beside Jake’s car, and we got out. “So, which cookie and hot cocoa were your favorites tonight?”
We stopped at the bottom of my porch stairs, and I faced him. “For the hot chocolate, I’d say the S’mores one was my favorite.” I lifted my brows at him. “You?”
He narrowed his gaze in concentration. “I’m thinking the peanut butter hot chocolate was mine. I grew up on PB&Js.”
“So did I,” I cut in excitedly. There was one question I had to know the answer to. “What jelly would you use on them? Strawberry or grape?”
His lips pulled back into a smile. “Neither. I was an oddball.”
“Just peanut butter, then?” I asked.
He shook his head. “Oh no. I use blackberry jam on mine.”
