She taps her finger against my chest. “Seriously.”
The corners of my mouth twitch. “I’m being serious. Go ahead. What were you going to say?”
She ducks her head, playing with the end of one of her braids. “I know this will sound wild, but I’m buying this camper. It’s used—like, really used. I don’t even know how to repair the rusted siding. I guess I’ll have to figure that out.”
Hesitation stalls her from continuing. She pinches her hair, seeming self-conscious after being animated a moment ago.
“What’s wrong?”
Her gaze flickers when she lifts it. “I’m waiting for you to tell me I shouldn’t do it.”
I pull a face. “Why would I do that? I think it sounds cool.”
Her eyes widen, full of wonder. When she looks at me like that, my heart drums hard.
“You do?”
“Yeah. I’ll help you fix it up.” I put an arm around her in a reassuring side hug. “What do you plan to do with it?”
Her giddiness returns as she launches into an explanation about pop-ups and vendor markets, then going into her plans to build a book cart inside the camper with a small library of romance books to borrow. She cuts off sheepishly after she’s been talking nonstop for a few minutes.
“Sorry, I’m always getting carried away. I don’t know when to stop once I get on a roll.”
A chuckle slips out and I feel like some of her enthusiastic energy has overflowed to me. I tell myself I’m imagining the hitch in her breath when I shift closer.
“You can do it.” I touch the earrings she has on—realistic chicken nuggets shaped like dinosaurs. The kids got the biggest kick out of them. “You can do anything.”
The pink flush in her cheeks darkens and her pretty amber eyes grow large. “You think so?”
“Yes. In all the years I’ve known you as we grew up, I’ve seen what you’re capable of when you put your mind to something.”
“Thank you,” she murmurs. “That means a lot to me.”
“I’m in your corner,” I promise. “I wouldn’t be your friend if I wasn’t.”
I ignore the warmth spreading through me when she beams.
Not long after, we’re waiting on the last kid’s parents. Eve curses under her breath. He’s oblivious, absorbed in playing a game on my phone to keep him occupied without any of the other kids here to entertain him.
“Everything okay?”
“It’s nothing.” She frowns, typing out a message on her phone.
“Doesn’t sound like it. Tell me. If I can help, you know I will.”
Her shoulders slump at the response that pings on her phone. “It’s—I’m picking up the camper after this. Benny was supposed to go with me, but he had to bail. I just asked Dad if I could borrow his truck, but he can’t because he went out to view a potential player he might want to scout.”
“No problem. I don’t have anything going on. I’ll go with you to get it.”
“Really?” Her relief is palpable.
“Of course.”
“God, you’re a lifesaver.”
It feels good to be the one to put the cute smile back on her face. I bump my arm against her shoulder.
Once the last kid is collected, I walk her to my car and follow her directions to the middle of town. On the ride, she fiddles with my radio and blasts the heat on us, asking me twice if I need my vents adjusted while she holds her fingers over hers with bliss written all over her face.Cute, I think before tearing my gaze away. I need to stop thinking about how much I like having her in my car.
