Luca beamed. “Totally, Coach Jackson. I know all the best cupcakes. My mom always lets me have one after school or practice.”
A scoff had my attention lifting from Luca to Evelyn standing rink-side, her arms crossed over her chest. Annoyance flickered down deep as I raised a brow in her direction. “Something you want to say?”
Evelyn let out a huff of air. “I just hardly think it’s appropriate to give a child sugar every single day.”
Luca glared at her. “You’re just mad because Daniel hates yourcupcakes. He says you make ‘em with carrots instead of real sugar. He always asks me to sneak him one of my mom’s.”
Evelyn gaped at Luca as Teddy tried to cover a laugh with a cough. Evelyn’s spine snapped straight. “It’scarob,not carrots, and it’s perfectly delicious.”
“Keep telling yourself that, lady,” Teddy muttered.
“Daniel, we need to go. You have your cello lesson,” Evelyn yelled, her voice going shrill.
Teddy shook his head. “Poor kid. She probably has him scheduled to within an inch of his life.”
Daniel rolled his eyes at Luca in commiseration as he skated past, and I clapped him on the shoulder pad. “Killer shooting today. Keep up the hard work.”
The kid grinned up at me. “Thanks, Coach Reaper. I’ll practice tonight.”
“After cello,” Evelyn snapped.
Daniel ducked his head. “After cello.”
Jesus.That mom needed one of Lolli’s pot brownies. Stat.
17
SUTTON
The strainsof country music swirled around me as I maneuvered between tables, balancing coffees, teas, and an array of baked goods. It was a dance I’d perfected over the years, having waitressed long before I scrounged up the money to buy the bakery and transform it into The Mix Up. The tray felt like an extension of my body at this point.
I stopped to chat with some tourists and regulars along the way. I’d even put together a little pamphlet of local recommendations to give to those who were new in town. It felt like a nice way to repay the community that’d welcomed me when I needed it the most.
I slid an iced tea and sandwich onto a table for one and grinned at the woman sitting there. “One chicken pesto panini with extra sun-dried tomatoes.”
Fallon grinned up at me. “Thanks, Sutton. This is my favorite midday treat.”
As I glimpsed a hint of shadows under her eyes, I knew she more than deserved it. “I’m glad you’re taking some time foryourself.” I inclined my head toward the stack of files. “Or at least feeding yourself while you work.”
She chuckled. “Life’s a balance.”
“I know that well.”
Fallon studied me for a moment. “Are you hanging in there okay?”
I nodded quickly. “Cope’s been a lifesaver.” I tried not to flush at the fact that his entire family, and a large portion of the community, knew he was doing me this favor. “Hopefully, I won’t have to impose for that much longer.”
Fallon’s hand snaked out to squeeze my arm. “Don’t rush it. Everyone needs a safe place to land once in a while. It doesn’t make you any less of a badass.”
I swallowed, trying to clear the burn lighting along my throat. I didn’t need to be a badass, but I also didn’t want to get used to someone being there to help when they wouldn’t always be. And Cope’s time in Sparrow Falls was limited.
“And it’s good for my brother,” Fallon went on. “He’s lighter. And not just in his fake, jokey way. Coaching this team, helping with Luca…it’s given him a purpose I think he really needed.”
Something shifted in my chest. It wasn’t painful, but it wasn’t comfortable either. “He’s a good man. Luca thinks he hung the moon.”
Fallon’s mouth curved slightly. “And what do you think?”
My stomach hollowed out. I wasn’t completely sure how to answer that question without lying straight to Fallon’s face. Thankfully, Rick saved me by stomping down the back staircase and leading a couple who’d been viewing my old apartment toward the door.
