“Well, if they do, dibs on a seat at the counter.”
Sage laughed. “Can we count on you to be at the Christmas Eve dinner? We’re going to do shirts or something for Team Sparky’s.”
They’d been excited since the moment I told them when I’d gotten back to their place after leaving Mickey’s. Sage had arrived at the diner the next day with a list of ideas on how to highlight Sparky’s. They and our parents had fallen into a huddle to brainstorm how to make a splash and have fun with it. Before getting close to Mickey, I would’ve joined. But now? It was complicated.
“Of course. Our family is looking forward to it.” Dave glanced around before leaning in. “Hopefully, the television people don’thear about the Maple Street Prowler. We don’t want that to end up on national news.”
I bit back a laugh and made a note to tell Mickey about that later.
Shortly after, my phone lit up with a text from Mickey, but we were so busy selling food that I wasn’t able to read it for nearly half an hour.
Mickey: Vixen. You ever thought about the origins of those names? Isn’t a vixen another word for a sexy woman or something?
I snorted.
Amos: Don’t forget about Donner. That just makes me think of cannibalism.
Amos: BTW, I’ve heard several people talking about the Maple Street Prowler. Better watch your back.
Mickey: I’ll never be able to wear that coat around town again.
Amos: Maybe you should donate it to a thrift store and leave a cryptic note inside. You have the power to create an urban legend.
I glanced over at the Red’s booth and caught Mickey looking my way. We shared smiles, which helped ease some of the angst I’d been feeling for days. All too quickly, someone approached the Red’s booth and pulled Mickey’s attention away.
Just one look and a smile sent my stomach swirling like I was on a roller coaster. It wasn’t only Mickey. It was the enthusiastic greetings from people around town who stopped to tell me how happy they were to see me. It was the energy of Maplewood and its obsession with festivals. It was recognizing people and getting to spend time with my family. The longer I stayed, the harder it was to imagine going back to Boston. And if I stayed, what would that mean for Mickey and me?
That’s it. I can’t just let this slip through my grasp.I was a goddamned adult, and how many times had I been hurt by guys ghosting me without having a fucking conversation about it? It would be hypocritical as hell to wait for Mickey to initiate a conversation. I liked him too much to let things fizzle.
Before I lost my nerve, I picked up my phone again.
Amos: When’s your next free evening? I’d love to spend more time with you.
TWENTY-THREE
MICKEY
I hadn’t hovered by the living room window in this house since I was a kid, spending the night with my grandparents and waiting for Grandpa to bring me a slice of pie from the diner. I loved our maple custard pie, but it didn’t taste as good as Amos.
A car approached, but as it drove by, I saw it wasn’t Amos’s sedan. I continued pacing as a giddiness swelled within me at whatever surprise he had planned for us.
After Bo’s unexpected visit, I’d convinced myself that I would only get time with Amos in a festival capacity until he moved back to Boston and became part of my highlight reel for the year.More like starred in it.Initially, I’d been pretty pissed at Bo for basically asking us to stop seeing each other or whatever we were doing. Then the reasonable voice reared its annoying head and pointed out that he was only expressing a realistic concern for his two friends. He was right, anyway. Amos would be moving away soon, and it would hurt like hell when he did. I’d gone and let myself get attached to the one person I shouldn’t.
The rumble of another engine had me eagerly looking out the window once more. Amos pulled into the driveway and parked behind my car. There was something about the sight of his carin the driveway instead of the street that made me yearn for something more with him.
Before Amos had a chance to get out, I was already out my front door and locking it. I bounded down the wet steps as safely as I could while rain fell around me. I slid into the passenger seat, and before saying anything, I leaned across the console and kissed him.He initiated tonight, now it’s my turn to make an effort.
A slow smile spread over Amos’s face. “Now this is the energy everyone should bring to a date.”
“Is that what this is? A date?”
Amos searched my eyes before nodding. “I want it to be. That okay with you?”
“More than. I know things are murky, at best, but right now I know that I want to spend time with you, however I can get it.”
His smile grew. “Me too.” Then he reached into the back seat and handed me a navy gift bag with white tissue paper.
“What’s this?”
