Page 68 of Just One Moment

Heshakes his head and scoffs lightly, dismissing himself as usual.

Wesit there, hand in hand, not needing to talk to feel the others comfort.Whenthe bath water starts to cool,Isqueeze his hand, and he turns to look at me.

“Willyou tell me a nice story from your childhood?”

Hehesitates, thinking, before his rich voice pacifies all the remaining sadness. “Myfirst memory of theFallFairis with my dad.HetookPatand me on the tractor ride.Thereare ten months between us, and the guy who runs it had a stupid height restriction.Wewere both an inch shy and would have had to wait an entire year before we could ride it again.Beforewe got measured, our dad stuck wads of newspaper in the heels of our sneakers, and we made the cut.Bestday of my life.Well, for a six-year-old.”

Laughingsoftly, my thumb strokes across his knuckles, and he relaxes into the touch. “Canwe go on the tractor ride?”

“Hmm, you might be too short.”

Isplash the back of his head, and he flashes me that smileIknow only few get to see.

Longafter we say goodnight to each other, sleep is the last thing on my mind.Instead,Ithink how goodGrahamandIwould be together.

AndthatIreally,reallylike my fake boyfriend.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

graham

“No.Notthere.Youcan’t have a savory pastry among the sweet ones.”IswatBooth’shands away and take over.

It’snot that big of a deal, butIonly have a short while to make this small space look perfect for her.

“Howdid you even pull this off?”Dexasks as he assembles a small wooden shelf ready to showcase pies, muffins, and loaves of bread.Thetable is draped with a red-and-white checked tablecloth and decorated with wreaths and gourds.

“Itwas difficult.Quinnpractically lives in the bakery, butJohannarepeated whatItold her and said it wasn’t worth opening.Sheleft me a key for emergencies, and the minuteJotexted to say the coast was clear, we snuck in to snag some stock.”

I’mworriedI’moverstepping the safe boundaries of our relationship, but asIlay out the last of the whoopie pies,I’mconfident she’s going to love this.

Ihope.

Shit.

“She’sgoing to hate it,”Igroan and start to retreat from the table.

“Nope!”Boothshouts and grips hold of my elbow to dragme back. “Quitdoubting yourself.Thisis nice—reallynice.IfIwere a chick and a guy did this for me,I’dbe buying a one-way ticket to pound?—”

“BoothEliasSadler!” a voice calls, making us all jump.Weturn to find my mom strolling our way withLottieandPatrickin tow. “Iraised you better than that.”Shepoints a warning finger at my little brother.

“Sorry,Mom,” he says with a face like a scorned puppy.

“Sorry,Mommy,”Patrickmocks.

Boothwhips his head toward him. “Ididn’t even call herMommy.Getyour ears checked, old man.Don’teven ge—”Hiswords are cut off, distracted by something, and a fascinated look sweeps over his features.Weall follow his gaze and groan when he makes a beeline toward the woman standing in front of a table filled with art pieces.

Thedark-haired woman doesn’t notice him until he’s standing right next to her, with a coy grin on his face as he points at some of the canvases.

“Doeshe ever take a day off?”Dexsighs.

“Never,”PatrickandIsay in unison as we watchBoothwork his magic.Ortry.Scratchthat,fail.Becauseminutes later, he’s stomping back over here, lips pressed in a thin line with his hands shoved in his pockets.

“Ladytrouble?”Ichuckle and hook an arm around his neck.

“Getoff.”Heducks out of my hold and straightens his jacket.

“Whatwas that about?”Patrickasks with an amused face.

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