“And it was,” she replies.
Hudson reappears to take our dinner order, and we both get burgers with fries.
“If people were coming in to pester you about me, it doesn’t sound like everything was fine.”
I twist to face her because I get the feeling that showing weakness of any kind isn’t Brooke’s thing. Perhaps I'll be able to catch a tell to see what she’s really thinking.
Her shoulders drop as she sighs and looks at me.
“The bakery was busier today than it has been in months.”
“I didn't think business was lacking for the bakery.”
“It’s not,” she snaps defensively. “But clearly, the thought of you and I was enough to get more people in, and despite the looks, I’d do it over and over if it meant business was this good every day.”
“I get that, but people need to mind their own business.”
Brooke rolls her eyes at me and then smiles as she bumps her shoulder to mine. “Come on, Dutton, you know better than anyone else that in a small town, everyone knows just about everything about everyone else.”
Yeah, and it’s annoying as fuck.
“I still stand by my answer, but if it helps, my day wasn't exactly enjoyable either.”
“No, how so?”
“I sat with about four different brides and their mothers and mothers-in-law and tried samples of cakes or cookies or cupcakes. This part might delight you. Our chef at the lodge, he can do a lot of things and he's very gifted, but baking a dessert is not where his skills shine.”
I side-eye Brooke to gauge her reaction. Her lips are pressed as she tries not to smile.
“It's okay, you can smile. Despite the relationship we've had over the years, I still recommend you to people, and people still love to rub it in our faces at the lodge that you have the best cakes in this town.”
“Well, I mean, it's the truth.”
“Can't argue with that.” I let out a small chuckle and notice that Hudson's staring at me from across the bar. But it's not just him this time. His twin brothers Luca and Miles, his future brother-in-law Declan, and Linc, another good buddy of ours, have joined him for the viewing.
Fuck.
I'm not going to hear the end of this. Maybe I'll have to skipthe next basketball game with the guys. Which sucks, because I actually enjoy the fact that I get together with the boys. I hate that I call itthe boys, but you know, beggars can't be choosers. And the day that Luca, Hudson’s brother, forced me to start showing up to his impromptu boys’ night was actually something good in my life.
I clear my throat and glance back at Brooke. She's playing on her phone as if I weren’t here at all. To be fair, making conversation with someone you've avoided for most of these years is complicated. Don’t get me wrong, when we get onto a subject, the back-and-forth goes easy, but finding a subject is the tricky part. And right now, I get the vibe that talking about our day isn’t what either of us truly wants to be discussing.
I sit up and look over my shoulder toward the bookstore Sadie owns. Considering the number of books in Brooke’s house, I’d say this is a safe subject.
“So, do you like to read your books on your phone, or do you like to go into the store right there and grab one off the shelf?”
Slowly, Brooke puts her phone down and looks at me. The gleam in her eyes and the way her lips tug to the right tell me she’s amused by my change of topic. But she bites.
“Am I an e-book reader or a paperback reader? Is that what you're asking me?”
“Sure.”
“I'm both. Depends on where I am.”
“Noted.”
“Do you read?” she asks.
“I don't really have a ton of time for it.”
