It was why I pushed so hard for the certification and made sure we had functioning equipment. Everyone was depending on me, and the market was always a reminder of that.
“Everything looks amazing,” Sydney said as she approached. Today she wore a yellow sundress that made her shine even brighter than normal.
“It really does,” I said. A few days ago, I’d mentioned the festival and invited her but told her she might need to be alone for a while, since I needed to work. Sydney insisted she could help, and here she was, doing an amazing job.
Everything felt like it had been flipped on its head since that night. When we were done, instead of going back to the guest room, she curled up with me. And the next morning she was still there as those first sunrays peaked through the curtains and bounced off her pretty skin.
I allowed myself to stay in bed way longer than I had any morning I think ever, just enjoying being around her. When I did manage to get away I made her breakfast and brought it to bed, which she was very appreciative of. It was nice to laze around together. Once breakfast was over we spent some time just… exploring. Kissing everywhere, touching her most sensitive parts, learning her body. The last few days felt like heaven, one I wasn’t going to be able to leave.
But today everyone had done a great job, even Sydney. She’d been helping us set up all morning, even stacking up all the body care intricately along the table with Bailey. “Thank you for today. I know it’s technically your day off.”
I grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze. She returned it in kind. “Of course. There’s nothing else I’d rather do.”
My heart felt tight. After all this was over, I had to tell her how I felt, and I had an idea of just how to do it.
But that was for later. Now, we had a festival to work. I could see the beginnings of a crowd trickling in; lots of unfamiliar faces, which was good. It meant tourists were finding their way here.
It got busy quickly. Every stall had lines, people wanting to try a little bit of everything. The blur that was Blossom Fest started the way it always did: with a series of customers asking questions, buying stuff, and all of us running around to restock.
It was early afternoon by the time it felt like things were beginning to slow. This always happened, with people breaking for a little while to have lunch.
I slumped down on a stack of empty crates, needing to rest for just a minute.
“Here,” a voice I hadn’t heard in a while said from above me.
I looked up, and Bridget stood there, a water bottle held out in her hand.
“Thanks,” I said, taking it and downing most of it in a single swig. “I didn’t know you were coming.”
She scoffed, tossing a lock of hair behind her. Though she still had the telltale curls, she’d dyed it black with a neon shock of purple in the front. She had a dark streak of eyeliner across her eyes with orange eye shadow around it. Bridget had always loved a bold look. It was part of what made her so cool, along with her knowledge of exactly what she wanted to do.
She was the first Hoffman in generations to decide to leave Hallow’s Cove. No one was forced to stay, but as the farm expanded, everyone had found something they enjoyed in it. Not Bridget, though. This internet-less town had weighed her down. So as soon as she was old enough, she decided to go to school in Stonebridge for software and robotics. Now she did medical equipment research for the hospital and kept our website updated.
“You would have known if you had stopped by Mom’s once in the past week.” She quirked her brow, trying to figure out what was up.
“I’ve… been busy,” I replied. It was odd I hadn’t been to my parents’ in a week.
“Busy with what?”
“Hey,” Sydney said, coming up beside the two of us. “Bailey was wondering if you’d moved any of her sample honey jars. She can’t find them.”
I had to blink for a moment. Something about Sydney in this sundress made me lose all concentration.
And I couldn’t wait to get home and bend her over something and push it up to get inside her.
Gods, I was terrible. “Uh, I think they’re in the cab of the truck. I didn’t want them to break. I can grab them.”
I went to stand, but Sydney placed her hand on my shoulder. “Don’t worry, I can check.”
I watched her saunter off toward the truck.
“Ah, now I see what you’ve beendoing,” Bridget teased, snapping me from my thoughts.
“Stop,” I warned her, my face aflame.
“She’s cute,” she continued, completely ignoring me. “Totally my type, but we’ve always had similar tastes. Where’d she come from?”
“You stay away,” I said with a playful push to her shoulder. My sister, besides being cooler than me, was a huge flirt. “She’s our organic auditor.”
