Page 37 of Forever To Me

We pass the old pharmacy, its awning faded but stillstanding strong, flapping in the breeze. Handwritten notes advertising “homemade salves” and “two-for-one root beer floats” fill the display window.

“You ever had one of those floats?” Walker asks, pointing his cup towards the window.

I shook my head as I sip my coffee. “Nope.” It tastes like something safe, something familiar, like crisp autumn mornings and cozy blankets, like the kind of softness I don’t always let myself have.

Like something I could get used to.

He stops, eyeing me like I’ve just confessed to something criminal.

“You mean to tell me you’ve never had a Bridger Falls root beer float?”

I'd never believe it could taste better than this coffee.

I smirk. “What, is that a deal-breaker for you? On being my friend,” I add in quickly.

“Almost,” he mutters, his eyes crinkling at the sides when he smiles. “Lucky for you, I’m big on second chances.”

Green flag.

I sip my coffee to hide my grin as we continue walking.

Okay, yeah. Maybe this could work. I can be friends with Walker.

We pass the fire station next, where a few firefighters sit outside, drinking coffee. Ollie spots us immediately and waves.

“Well, well, well,” Ollie called out, grinning. “First she’s on the back of your bike, and now you’re having morning coffee strolls, Walker? When’s the wedding?”

Walker doesn’t slow down. “Go play with your hose, Ollie.”

Ollie laughs, shooting me a wink, and I laugh so hard.

“Don’t let him pretend to be all gruff and rough,” he calls to me. “Walker’s secretly the town’s biggest teddy bear.”

Walker flips him off without lookingback.

I chuckle, glancing up at him. “Teddy bear, huh?”

Walker sigh. “You and Olliewouldget along too well.”

Green flag.

We stop in front of Murphy’s Auto Shop, where the scent of motor oil and gasoline mix in the air.

Poppy is under the hood of a truck, grease smeared across her cheek, and her dad stands beside her, giving her instructions.

“She’s going to take over this place one day,” Walker says. “Her dad won’t admit it, but he’s proud as hell of her. She’s an even better mechanic than he is. And he’s the best in a two-hundred-mile radius.”

Poppy catches us looking and flashes me a knowing grin. “Morning, lovebirds!”

Walker mutters something under his breath.

I smirk and nudge him. “You make a lot of enemies in this town?”

Walker exhales. “I make a lot of nosy-ass friends in this town.”

Green flag.

We eventually reach the small town square, where wooden benches sit beneath tall, sprawling oaks.

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