“Can’t help it when you’re around,” I admit.
“And if you keep talking like that, you’re going to make me fall for you.”
I shrug, because little does she know I’ve already fallen for her. She broke down my walls even before all of this happened on the porch. Before I even touched her intimately.
“Would that be a bad thing?” I ask, my voice laced with hesitation.
She smiles up at me, pressing to her toes and kissing me one more time before turning to walk down the steps of my porch to head home.
She doesn’t need to answer.
Because that kiss was confirmation enough that it wouldn’t be the worst thing that could happen.
“Good night, Griffin,” she says over her shoulder.
“Night, Blair.”
And I stand there on my porch and watch every single step she takes across the grass to her place.
Wishing like hell she wasn’t walking away from me right now.
Can I make her stay?
CHAPTER 31
PUT THE BEST FRIEND HAT BACK ON.
Blair
“It’s entirely too early in the morning to be baking.” I yawn.
Thankfully, Cozy Cup even opened earlier than usual today. Lily grabbed us caffeine, but it still isn’t enough to wake me up.
Lily laughs as she puts a tray of chocolate chip cookies in the oven. “I know, I’m really not a fan of early mornings either. Especially when the sun hasn’t even peaked over the horizon yet.”
“Tell me again why we had to be up three hours earlier than normal to do this?”
“It’s Founder’s Day,” she exclaims.
“That’s right. I remember you briefly telling me about it,” I say, pulling a tray of cookies from the oven just to put another in.
From what I’ve heard through Lily and customers coming into the bakery over the last few months, the town festival is the biggest event Bluestone Lakes has every year. It’s a tradition for them to celebrate the town through a little market set up on Main Street, a carnival set up in front of the school, and ending the night with a fireworks display over the mountains.
I mean, that’s just what I’ve heard through the grapevine.
“It’s the best day of the whole year.” Lily beams with herarms out wide and a smile so big, you could probably see it from outer space.
I can’t help but laugh.
“It sounds like it. And from the look on your face, I can already tell it’s going to be a great day. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile like that—ever.”
She blushes at my realization, but the happiness in her features doesn’t waver.
“Tell me more,” I practically beg.
She jumps up on the counter next to where I mix the batter for an apple crumb cake.
“So it’s an all-day event, basically. People from all over come into town just for this day. Mostly it’s just the neighboring towns, but we’re certainly busier than usual,” she says. “We have tents set up right outside here where people set up tables to sell their homemade crafts and things. We’re going to set up right on the sidewalk.”
