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“You’re the best,” she says, standing on tiptoe and kissing him on the cheek.
“Missed you,” Declan says, tugging my sister in for another hug.
When he releases her, she turns to me and asks, “What did Marcus get you?”
It’s only now that I notice the bag in his hand.
He’s got this nervous look on his face as he holds it out toward me.
“You got me a souvenir?” I ask.
“Yeah. I hope you like it. It’s kind of a Baltimore thing.”
By this time, the rest of our friends have come out from the back room and they’re standing around watching me and Winona and our NFL boyfriends as if it’s normal for two giant men dressed in business suit attire to crash our book club bringing gifts.
I don’t know what to say, so I take the bag and open it.
Inside are five lemons and a box of soft peppermint sticks. There’s a small velvet bag too. I pull it out and open it carefully. Inside is a glass ornament that fits in the palm of my hand. It's half a lemon with a peppermint stick coming out of it.
“That’s what they do,” Marcus says. “They stick these peppermint sticks in the lemon and put them in the fridge and then they use the peppermint like a straw.” His eyes flick between mine as if he’s waiting for my reaction. “I thought since you like lemonade so much …”
“I love it,” I say.
And I do. I’m not acting. He may not know that, and it’s probably best that he doesn’t, but this is one of the most thoughtful gifts anyone’s ever gotten me.
Marcus Delaney was away at a game and he took the effort to bring me back a gift—and not just any gift—one that says he notices me.
“Thank you,” I say softly.
“Do you men want some pastries?” Sydney offers. “Or hot cider?”
“We’d better not,” Marcus says. “We’ve got to watch what we eat in season. Ask me again in February.”
February. I wonder what we’ll be like then. Broken up, for sure. But will we be civil? Will he be dating someone else? I won’t. I don’t know how I know that. I just do. I’m going to need some time to get over this experience—to get over him.
Chapter 25
Marcus
A house is made of bricks and beams.
A home is made of hopes and dreams.
~ Unknown
“Ready for Sunday?” Jaxon asks me.
“I’m feeling good. You?”
“Yeah.”
His eyes follow mine across the same property where we held the back-to-school event. Tonight we’re here for Cass’s outdoor dinner and concert fundraiser for the food pantry she’s started. The owner of this ranch told her to use it whenever she needs a bigger space for an event.
That’s one of the things I love about Waterford. The people show up for one another.
Cass is at a table near the gravel parking area, talking with two women.
“You can’t keep your eyes off her,” Jaxon says.
