Page 23 of The Grumpy Side of Paradise

Lynette’s finger drops from my mouth, which also drops open, because what is happening here?

“Just don’t give them to the aliens. That’s all I ask.” Lynette speaks to the room at large while she grabs napkins and utensils from the counter behind me. “I don’t know if Georgia is in touch with them, but I wouldn’t put it past her. Probably how she got all over the internet. That web’s crawling with them.”

“Get your seat, Lynette,” Second Amendment guy says. “I’ll bring your order when it’s ready.”

He nudges me forward, and I realize I’m holding up the line. I step up to the register, and Adam nudges Mekylie out of the way.

“I’ll take this one.” He steps behind the register, and his smile grows wider, which may be even more disconcerting than the whole alien thing. Especially with the way we left things the last time I saw him.

“I just wanted a huckleberry shake,” I say. “I don’t know what an a-ball-shiver is.”

Adam laughs. Helaughs.“A-bull-skeever,” he pronounces slowly. “Danish pancake. It’s Britta’s specialty when huckleberries are out of season. Which they are. Do you prefer Nutella or lemon curd?”

“Lemon curd?” I say uncertainly.

“Lemon curd, Britta,” he calls over his shoulder.

Britta’s face peeks above the machinery behind Adam. “Hi Evie! Good choice! You’re going to love them.”

“So I’ve heard,” I reply, more to Adam than to her. “Is there anything else I’m going to love?”

“Paradise?” he says with a shrug, then waves the people behind me to the second register where Mekylie has taken over. “What do you think so far? I know it’s only been a few days, but what’s your impression? You’ve seen Grandma Rose’s, right?”

I cock my head to the side, waiting for him to catch his mistake and remember our conversation there. “Um, yeah. Unless that wasn’t her house I ran to a couple of days ago.”

“Right on the lake? Great view of the water and the mountains?” He leans against the wall to his side and crosses his arms.

I nod, trying not to notice that he’s flexing andsmiling. The smiling is even more distracting than the muscles. His muscles I’ve noticed before, but until now, he’s done an amazing job of hiding his toothpaste-advertisement smile.

“That’s it, then. What did you think?” he asks.

I stare at him, waiting, wondering if maybe Adam has a split personality. “That I’d like to do something with antlers,” I answer, slowly.

His eyebrows go up, and he nods. “Great idea. Like a chandelier or something?”

I raise my own eyebrows. “I’m thinking more like a wreath kind of thing, or maybe even a table.IfI can find an antler shed, that is.” I lean closer, hoping my words prod his memory.

“Antler shed.” He purses his lips. “I can help you find some. Shouldn’t be too hard.”

I glance side to side, wondering if I’m being pranked. “Okay. That would be… great. If you’re not too busy. Do you have to be back at the store today?”

“Nah.” Adam shakes his head. “My brother’s got it covered.”

“Bear?”

His eyebrows go up. “You’ve met my baby brother?”

Now I turn my whole body, trying to make eye contact with Lynette, because I’m positive I’m having an alien encounter. Something has taken over Adam’s body. Something cheerful and pleasant, but somehow less attractive.

“Yeah. The other night? At The Garden of Eatin?”

“You were there?” He pushes himself up from the wall. “Did you go to their little concert on Saturday? I used to play with them, but I got too busy.” His eyes drop to his fingernails, like there’s more to the story than he’s letting on. Like how he got too busy to play with them in the three or four days it’s been since he was playing with them.

“But you were there. On guitar.” I am not putting up with this nonsense any longer. I don’t know what he’s playing at today, but there’s no way he’s forgotten how he playedto methat night. Or how rude he was just a couple of days ago.

“Zach!” Britta calls from the back. “Order up!”

Adam turns around and grabs the plate Britta sends through from the kitchen, and everything slides into place.

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