Page 22 of Bravo

You like cookie dough? How cool, me too. Where did you grow up?

Contrary to what I told Bradyn, I’ve always been super social and a serial oversharer. Before, that didn’t matter as I didn’t have much to share. Now, though—the chain around my neck feels heavier as the past tries to sneak up on me again.

Not now, Kennedy.

“Here you go, ladies.” He offers me my cone, and Lani takes hers. “For you, Mr. Hunt?”

“Bradyn,” he corrects. “And I’m good, Chance, thanks.”

“No problem. That’ll be five even.”

“I got it,” Bradyn offers, stepping in front of us and offering the kid a twenty.

“You didn’t need to do that,” I say quickly, feeling completely uncomfortable with the favor. I know he’s only doing it to be kind, but his family has already done so much for me, and they don’t even know who they’re letting sleep on their property. It feels wrong to take anything else.

“I don’t mind.”

“Thanks, brother,” Lani says and heads toward the door. I follow her, and Bradyn heads out after us, once again holding the door. “See, if you eat ice cream when it’s not a thousand degrees outside, it doesn’t melt as fast.”

“But your tongue freezes twice as fast,” Bradyn replies.

Lani chuckles. “You think you have all the answers.”

“Just most of them.”

Their adorable sibling back-and-forth has made me insanely jealous that I never grew up with a sibling.

“Here I am.” Lani points to her car. I head for the passenger seat.

“Are you heading back to the ranch?” Bradyn questions.

“Yeah, why?” Lani asks.

“I’m headed back there too. I can drive you back, Sammy, if you like. Then Lani can just head home.”

“Oh, good idea. Is that okay, Sammy? Do you mind?”

Deer in the headlights, that’s me. Either accept the invitation to be driven home by my boss, whom I am incredibly attracted to and can never hope to have a relationship with, or risk hurting his feelings and insist Lani drive me home so I can have distance.

Decisions, decisions.

“Sure, that would be great, thanks.” I step away from the car and head back up onto the sidewalk.

Lani looks between me and Bradyn then back to me. “Are you sure? I can drive you out.”

“Totally fine.” I smile. “Thanks for the fun night. It was really great.”

“Anytime. See you tomorrow! Love you, Bradyn!”

“Love you too, Lani.”

She beams at us then climbs behind the wheel of her car and heads out.

“I’m right over here.” He gestures toward his truck, which is parked right in front of the café.

We walk in complete silence as I finish the ice cream, even though it’s the last thing I want to do. We pass a trash can, so I toss my napkin inside then wait as Bradyn opens the passenger side door of his truck for me.

As soon as he shuts the door, I realize what a mistake this was.

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