“No way,”she heard Tom Bernard saying to the other three boys, who had trailed back over just in time to see Cody and Annika leave with Cash. “He wasn’t lying.”
Bella enjoyedher morning watching Cody, Annika, and Cash laughing, running, flinging snowballs, and just generally having a good time.
As promised, Tom Bernard and his crew came after Cody as soon as the competition began. Bella wonderedwhy Cash wasn’t with the kids and figured that he’d gotten held up by fans wanting to chat about music or his childhood here in town.
Instead, as soon as the boys had Cody and Annika all but cornered by the skating rink, Cash jumped out from behind the big evergreen and let out his signaturewhoopthat he liked to yell at his concerts and in many of his songs.
The boys turned to him in awe, and Cody and Annika pelted them with snowballs while they were distracted.
“Nooooo,”Tom yelled. But he was smiling, and he gave Cody a friendly wave on his way out of the park.
“See ya, Cody,” another boy called to him.
Cody beamed. But before he had time to celebrate, someone hit him in the shoulder with a massive snowball. His face fell, but Bella had to laugh when she saw the excitement of the tiny little girl who’d taken him out as she jumped up and down and pumped her little, mittened fists.
When Cody spotted his attacker, his smile returned and he pretended to fall to the ground, causing the little girl to practically lift off the ground with joy. Still grinning at her, he got up, waved to Annika and Cash, and headed over to Bella.
“That was nice,” Bella said. “You made her really happy.”
Cody shrugged, his eyes on the remaining two members of the alliance.
They did pretty well for a bit, hiding behind the rink and lobbing snowballs whenever anyone passed. But before too long, someone took notice. Acouple of teens snuck up from behind and took aim at Annika. Most of them missed, but one hit her mark.
Annika jogged over to join Cody and Bella.
“That was fun,” she said, panting. “I guess it’s all up to your dad now.”
But Cash got a lot more daring as soon as he was the last of the trio on the field. He took his vengeance on two of the teens who had taken Annika out, whooping as he did. But then he was hit by Dale Stravinsky, the high school softball coach, just a moment later.
Cash didn’t even really try to dodge, and Bella thought it was sweet that he clearly hadn’t wanted to stay in the game without the kids. And now that the flurries had turned into a proper snowfall, Bella was starting to feel the chill a little more.
“Hey,” Cash said as he rejoined the group.
“Sorry we didn’t hang in there longer,” Annika offered.
“We’ll have to start planning our strategy earlier for next year,” Cash said immediately. “Anybody want ice cream?”
Next year…
He said it so casually that it was easy to believe he meant it. But Bella knew from experience that saying a thing and actually doing it could be worlds apart.
“Definitely,” Cody replied.
As the big, lazy snowflakes fell all around them, turning the little town into a perfect snow globe, Cash led the way toStone’s Throw Creamery. The Lawrence family’s ice cream shop was right across the street from the park, so it was the perfect spot for them to stop.
Clearly, they weren’t the only ones to have that idea. There was a decent line out front of the shop, and the inside looked pretty packed as well. Cash’s sister-in-law, Charlotte, was visible through the big front window, busily filling orders behind the counter.
“Come on,” Cash said, bypassing the line and holding open the door.
“Don’t we have to wait? Cody asked quietly, indicating the people outside.
“That table in there is reserved for us,” Cash told him, nodding toward the only empty seats in the place.
“No way,” Annika said. “I didn’t even know you could do that.”
“Family privilege,” Cash said with a wink.
“Nice,” Cody told him, gesturing for Annika to walk in ahead of him.
