She keeps guessing our agenda, searching on her phone. “There’s a new exhibit at the science center in Hartford. Is that where we’re headed?”
“Nope.” I swipe her phone. “Don’t you trust me?”
She giggles, snagging my wrist to bring me back to her leg. “Well, you did tell me once that you don’t know how to date.”
I shoot her a wry look. “And I’ve learned since, haven’t I?”
“You’re a fast learner.”
“It’s easy when it comes to you. We were already friends, so I know what you like. Just added feelings to the mix.”
“Feelings, huh?”
She rests an elbow on the door and covers her broad smile. I squeeze her leg and she does the same to my wrist.
“Feelings,” I emphasize.
She turns on the radio and sings along to almost every song that comes on. The pink sheer ribbon she tied in her hair flutters. I twine it around my finger.
We drive for an hour before I pull off the highway south of Hartford in central Connecticut. Eve perks up, scanning the signs with guesses about our destination. My smile grows wider as she gets more competitive about it for no apparent reason.
When I turn down the road to the fairgrounds with signs for the festival I found, she gasps, quivering with mounting excitement. We pass beneath a banner announcing the dates for the summer festival, advertising live music and over a hundredvendors. It’s drawn a big crowd judging by the amount of cars already parked when I find a spot.
Her eyes sparkle with delight on our way in. “This is such a good surprise.”
“Yeah?”
She turns to me with an energetic nod. Her joy wraps around my heart, making it thump insistently.
“Lead the way, sweetheart. Where do you want to start?”
She browses the pamphlet she grabbed at the entrance. “There are so many shops here. I don’t know what to pick first.”
“Start at one end and make our way through to the other?”
“Sounds good.”
She slips her hand in mine and we head for the first vendor booth. Each one we visit catches her interest. I love watching her passion for the art and craftsmanship.
“Oh, I love these! How cute!” Eve shows me the squat clay animal figurines, picking out one with a blue bandana. “Here, it looks like it could be a Heston U mascot. Until you’re ready to get the dog you want, you can have this one for your office.”
Smirking, I draw her close, bringing my lips to her ear. “Maybe I don’t need one. I already have a good girl, don’t I?”
She turns an enticing shade of pink, elbowing me.Her head ducks to hide her smile. I rub her back affectionately while she buys it.
“I love your earrings,” the girl says as she packs it up.
Eve touches them. “Thank you.”
“Where did you get them?”
“I make them. This is me.” She shows the girl her online shop on her phone.
“Oh! I’ve seen these. I found you through one of your cute order packing videos. I totally have some saved on my wishlist.”
Eve blinks, smiling in wonder. “You do? Small world. I just started this year, but I’m hoping to do something like this soon. My first pop up is in December.”
“Good luck.”
