His whole face changes—a bright, immediate grin stretching from cheek to cheek—then he reaches across and steals a piece of my pancake off my plate.
"Hey!” I protest.
"Oh,” he says innocently, popping a bite of the pancake into his mouth. “Did you see your future with more pancakes in it?”
“Yes,” I say, laughing.
“Then I’ll make you more,” he promises. “Today and every day, for as long as you want.”
“You’re impossible.”
“What else does the future hold for you, sweetheart?” Ace asks.
I ponder the question for a minute. “I’d like to go back to school. I was working on a degree in wildlife conservation. Mercury Ridge would be the perfect place for that sort of career.”
Ace smiles. “It certainly would.”
“But first,” I say, pointing my fork at him. “We have a relay race to win.”
Chapter Nine
Ace
Itlookslikethewhole town showed up for the relay race.
Music blasts from speakers near the marina while teams unload kayaks along the shoreline. Kids run around with snow cones. Somebody's grilling burgers near the registration tent and Mercury Slice is busier than ever.
It’s summer in Mercury Ridge at full volume.
Normally I'd love this.
Today I can barely focus on anything except Chrissy.
She stands near the water adjusting her life vest while talking to Rayna, sunlight catching the edge of her braid. The second she notices me watching, one eyebrow lifts.
"You planning to stare all day?" she calls.
"Probably."
Joel groans beside me. "You two are disgusting."
"Jealous?”
"I literally live with my girlfriend,” he protests.
“Lucky you,” I say honestly, still staring at Chrissy.
Joel mutters something about drowning me before heading toward the dock. I walk over to Chrissy instead.
"Excited?" I ask quietly.
"No. I’m calm."
"Liar.”
Her mouth twitches. "Maybe a little excited, and a touch nervous."
I step closer and lower my voice. "You're gonna kill it out there. You’re the best kayaker in Mercury Ridge."
