Page 32 of Talk About… History

The house smelled like cookies and I found Sidney and Mama in the kitchen. Mama was piling a new batch of chocolate chunk cookies on the platter and Sidney was chewing away.

“I thought maybe the cookies would lure you down. You look beautiful today, my girl,” Mama said as she slid a cookie my way.

“Thanks, Mama.” I gave her a genuine smile before picking the cookie up and taking a bite of gooey, warm, chocolatey goodness. “Oh my god. I missed these.”

“I’ll seal up a batch and hide it in your room before the boys come home,” Mama laughed. “You know there won’t be any left otherwise.”

“We’re heading to lunch, want me to bring you anything back?” I asked. She patted her stomach and shook her head.

“No, I’ve been a bit nauseous.”

That had my attention and I studied her, noting the circles under her dark green eyes and the slight paleness to her skin.

She narrowed her eyes. “I’m fine, don’t do that. Go have fun.”

“Okay, okay,” I laughed, pulling her into a quick hug before following Sidney out.

“Bye, Mrs. Whitaker!” she called back before the door closed.

We barely sat down in Sidney’s car before I was pulling up the group chat with my brothers.

Avery: Mama didn’t want to eat lunch. She looks like she’s not feeling well. Have you noticed anything off?

Maverick: She’s been going to bed early.

Cameron: We’ve been keeping an eye on her for a few weeks, but we didn’t want to freak you out, she seems fine

Nash: We’ll keep an eye out, don’t worry, Avery.

Nash: You finally out of your cave?

Avery: Sidney forced me out. Don’t worry, the council meeting is in two days and I’ll be back to normal and my full focus will be on Whitaker Brews and our videos

Maverick: No

Avery: Oh yes, big brother, just wait.

“So, where to?” Sidney asked, refusing to let me ignore her for long. “What are you feeling?”

“I don’t know who else is still open outside of Starlight Diner, so surprise me.”

“It’s Rockwood Valley, we don’t exactly have a million options,” Sidney said as she turned onto Main Street. “But there is a cute bistro facing the lake. It’s nice enough we can sit outside and gossip.”

That was Sidney’s way of saying she needed to vent. I was more than willing to focus on her drama instead of mine for a bit.

“Sounds perfect,” I said with a grin. The lake that rested in the valley was gorgeous and I hadn’t had a chance to hang there in a while. “I wish I would have picked up my new camera.”

“Where is it? We can stop first,” Sidney offered.

“At the electronics store on South Street. But we don’t have to detour,” I said quickly.

“Ew, don’t do that,” she said, giving me a look. “Don’t let them change who you are, you were never a people-pleaser.”

Fuck, there was so much I did because of my exes that I didn’t even realize how deep it ran.

“Okay fine, yes let’s stop so I can snag some extra pictures. Maybe I can sweeten the deal for the council.”

“I want all the details on that, not just the vague ones,” she demanded as she turned onto South Street instead of heading for the lake.

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