Page 21 of Game Changer

“Secret?” I ask while scooping up Liam’s kibble and putting them in the clean, gallon-sized pail. He brought the meat. “That cupcake is sweetened with honey only.”

“No sugar?” he asks, licking his giant-sized fingers, which I do my best to ignore.

“The cupcake, no. The frosting, I’m still working on that.” I turn to grab another tray from the freeze-dryer.

“You’re kissing it, Syd.”

I could have sworn he said kissing it, but I know better. “You’re killing it, Syd” is the kind of thing he says all the time. He’s like the walking motivational post on social media. And me? I’m trying to dirty it up.

“Mind if I grab a dozen for the thing?”

“You grab as many as you want.” I smile as I turn another tray in hand. “Just not anything off these trays.”

“Not gonna lie, it wasn’t awful.” He chuckles as he walks around the counter and grabs a box from under the counter. “Wonder how much protein a serving of that has?”

“Ew, no.”

“Ew, no?” He chuckles.

I set the tray next to the bucket, and unable to help myself, I tease, “Jerky’s a better option than kibble. I’m making some for AJ to return to college with him.”

“You freeze-dry jerky?”

“Dehydrate,” I call back to him as I once again exit the area, wanting to create distance. It’s a good thing I have an excuse. I need to get the rest of AJ’s treats inside the machine that I’m considering climbing. The freeze dryer or dehydrator, I’m not picky—either would work on one of two issues I have in his presence, especially when we’re alone … and that only happened one other time—the kiss.

“Didn’t know you were hiding a dehydrator back there,” he calls to me.

“The hunters love it,” I call back.

The bells jingle.

“Hey.”

“Liam, right?” Beau asks, which answers the question as to who’s here.

“We’ve met a few times over the past couple years. Good to meet you again.”

“Damn sure it is hard trying to keep you all straight. Now I know how the folks back home feel.”

With one tray on each hand, I walk out and place them on the counter. “I believe this is it.”

“Talk about shrinkage.” Liam chuckles.

“They may be small, but those things pack a punch.” Boone chuckles, and I can’t help but laugh, too.

“You ate a piece?” Liam asks.

“Trust me; it was not by choice. It was purely an accident,” Boone answers.

“He did say it wasn’t bad.” I grin. “I bet those pups are going to love it.”

“You’ve got the Boone seal of approval.” He lifts two thumbs-up and smiles.

“That’s one hell of an endorsement,” Liam states, a bit too dryly for my liking, but Beau doesn’t seem to notice.

“All right, well, if I don’t see you all at the Brewery, Happy New Year’s Eve.” Beau holds up the box of cupcakes. “See you ’round.”

“See you around,” I say back and watch as he walks out into the cold and to his vehicle before rounding on Liam. “What was that?”

---