Brenden leans in close to me to look at the cinnamon roll, but I’m looking at him. At his cheekbones, pink lips that are shining from the icing... and his glasses. She drew Brenden for me.
But why?
Is this elementary school teacher secretly some kind of witch who can look inside me and see what I want the most? Or is my desire for Brenden painted clearly across my face now? Have I lost the ability to hide it that I’ve perfected over the years?
It startles me when his eyes meet mine. His expression is unreadable, but I just know he spotted the glasses too. The chatter of May and her grandparents around us fades to background noise. His stare bores into me so hard I’m afraid I might combust.
So I do the first thing I can think of. I swipe my finger right through the icing, smearing the drawing, and then reach out quickly to wipe it across his cheek.
His eyes light up in surprise before he starts laughing. May whips out her phone to take a picture of him, and whatever intense things I was feeling a moment ago ease into something simpler. Something that feels an awful lot like contentment.
I go to offer him a napkin, but he uses his finger to wipe the frosting off his face, then brings it to his mouth to suck it clean. I quickly look away before my dick can get any ideas again.
We all stand around watching the festivities while we eat the pastries. As I predicted, I don’t even come close to finishing mine. It’s good, but way too sweet for my taste. Before I toss it, though, I give it one more glance and kind of wish I’d been like May and taken a picture before I destroyed the little icing Brenden
Maybe I like sweet when it comes to him.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
BRENDEN
Walkingaroundthefestivalwith Travis yesterday was fantastic. Even Elise and Grant’s presence couldn’t dampen the fun of watching Travis relax and enjoy himself in an environment he usually avoids.
Sure, I caught him glancing around nervously sometimes. Probably scanning for potential gossipers who might be paying too much attention to us being here together. But that’s understandable. I was nervous about it too. If he gets outed because of my crazy scheme, I’ll never forgive myself.
We got some questioning looks, but everyone knows the two of us are friends. And that I occasionally make it my mission to get him to do things he doesn’t want to—for both his own good and my own amusement. So I don’t think anyone thought it wastooweird.
I did manage to steer Elise and Grant clear of most conversations with the locals, so that helped. All it would take is one innocent mention about me and Travis being a couple, and both he and I would be screwed.
Let’s just hope things go as smoothly today with the games. There will be many more eyes on us, since Travis and I are competing. I still can’t believe he agreed to do it with me.
It’s funny, because I was upset when May first said she wanted to compete with her grandmother instead of me. But now, slightly more than twenty-four hours later, here I am practically bouncing out of my seat at the idea of seeing Travis participate in all the craziness.
“Why are you smiling at nothing like a total weirdo?”
Ah, shit. I’ve been caught.
As I turn my head toward Addison, I school my face into a more neutral expression. Lately, I can’t even think about Travis without grinning. Any time I see him, my brain immediately goes to,I’ve sucked that man’s dick.
“I’m taking in all the excitement around us,” I lie. I told her I’d help her out manning the booth early this afternoon before the games start. Not that she needs it. A few of the other employees have volunteered to do short shifts too. But being the owner, I should put in at least some time chatting with the tourists and locals.
Addison is working the booth for almost the entirety of the festival. I told her we could work out a different schedule so she could enjoy some of the activities too, but she insisted that she was fine doing this and didn’t have any interest in wandering. She’s definitely got a bit of Travis’s antisocial tendencies in her.
Or maybe that’s just a result of her divorce. Who knows what she was like before her ex cheated on her. I imagine that would mess anyone up.
“As much as I know you’re enjoying this craziness, somehow I don’t think that’s why you were smiling like that.”
“Well, you’re wrong,” I say, leaning into the lie, even though I’m sure she won’t believe me. “I can’t help that I love my town.”
She gives me a skeptical look. “Uh huh, right. Are you sure it doesn’t have something to do with a certain flannel-wearing man that you were prancing all around here with yesterday?”
“Wha-who? N-no,” I stutter. “We’re just... I had to drag him here. I thought it’d be good for him to get out and socialize every once in a while. Wouldn’t want him to turn into a scary hermit. Grow his beard too long, drive off in his truck and disappear into the mountains, never to be heard from again.”
“Okayyy...” Addison’s now looking at me like she’s actually concerned for my sanity. Which is whatever. People look at me like that a lot. “I’m only saying I’ve seen you two when he’s been around the inn. Lately, you get this moony-eyed look on your face when you’re with him.”
“I donotget moony eyes!” I argue. Because that can’t be true. Maybe lust-drunk eyes, but that’s all.
“You do,” she says flatly. “It’s annoying.”
