Page 4 of Wanting Happily Ever After

Brody turned to look at his friend. “And how do you know that’s Rory’s favorite flavor?”

“It’s every little girl’s favorite flavor, isn’t it?”

She shot him a look, but Brody wasn’t imagining the blush he saw on his friend’s face. Sarah had mentioned more than once that Amy had been spending quite a bit of time around Rory’s auntie, Nicole. Brody definitely wasn’t going to ask, because it wasn’t his business, but judging by Amy’s reaction, his suspicions were correct and there was something more than friendship going on between the two.

“Sure it is.” He winked. “But you’re right. It is Rory’s favorite, and I was going to take it over there later. But first, let me pull together some type of hot weather menu.” He moved to leave Amy in the kitchen, to head into his tiny office, when she stopped him.

“Don’t forget to call a repair man.”

He flinched, hoping she couldn’t see his reaction. “Of course. I’ll find time to call a repair man.” He dropped his head and rubbed his temple as he mentally added,And the money to pay for it.

ChapterTwo

Sarah adjustedthe fan in Rory’s room so it wasn’t aimed directly at the little girl, but just over her sleeping body. It was futile, really, to try to get any real air movement in the house when it was so hot outside, but if it meant that Rory wouldn’t wake up sweating and uncomfortable, she’d give it a shot. Before she left, she picked up the stuffed bunny from the floor and tucked it under Rory’s arm, dropped a kiss on her forehead, and slowly crept out of the room, leaving her daughter to sleep.

“Investing in an air conditioner seems like a really good use of funds right now,” she moaned as she made her way outside and onto the back deck, where Brody was lounging on the wicker furniture she’d invested in last year. There was a slight evening breeze, and with the sun finally starting to set in the summer sky, it should be starting to cool off a little. Hopefully. She flopped down next to him on the lounger.

“I didn’t think people got air conditioning in the mountains.” Brody grinned. “At least not in their homes. It turns out they’re more or less required in restaurants.” He shook his head a little and pinched the bridge of his nose.

He’d shown up at her house after the dinner rush at Birchwood, an ice cream cake in his hands, and stress lines on his handsome face. He hadn’t wanted to talk about it, just said something about it being crazy at the restaurant, and she’d let it go. They’d each eaten a slice of mint chocolate chip ice cream cake. It was Rory’s favorite flavor, and despite Sarah’s reservations about giving her ice cream so late in the evening, there was no way she could refuse. Rory loved Brody, and as they’d both pointed out, it was a celebration. After all, they’d made it to the play-offs.

Besides, itwassummer. And in the end, Rory had gone to sleep easily, completely unaffected by the ice cream.

“I have definitely thought about it,” Sarah said, returning to the conversation of air conditioning. “But really, it only gets this hot for a few weeks out of the year. I can struggle through. What were you saying about Birchwood? Is the A/C down again?”

“Again?” He tilted his head. “Has Amy been talking?”

Sarah shrugged. “She mentioned it to Nicole, who—”

“Mentioned it to you.” He shook his head. “I hope it doesn’t get around,” he said. “No one in town is going to want to eat in a sauna, and my patio space is only so big. Summer menu or not.”

A flash of guilt went through her as she remembered the conversation with her sister-in-law. “I’m sure Nicole only mentioned it to me because she knows that you and I are…friends,” she finished lamely. She watched his face for any indication that it could ever be anything more than friends, but his face didn’t change. She’d been thinking more and more about trying to date again, and ironically, it was her sister-in-law who’d become more and more interested in Sarah’s love life, pushing her to get out there. But that didn’t mean it had to be Brody who she went out with.

“And I mean,” she recovered and spoke quickly to cover up any awkwardness, “Amy would have only told Nicole because they are…” She gave up and shook her head. “I mean, I don’t know. I assume they’re dating.” Her sister-in-law came out to her family when she was in high school, but beyond a few short relationships when she lived in the city, Nicole’s love life had been almost as nonexistent as her own. She chuckled a little as she reached forward to grab a glass of water. Changing her mind, she reached instead for the cooler that held a few bottles of beer.

She held one up to Brody, who nodded.

“Absolutely.”

Sarah twisted off her cap and held out her bottle for a cheers.

“I knew there was something going on there,” Brody said with a laugh. “I mean, I wasn’t going to ask Amy or anything, but she sure talks about Nicole a lot.”

Sarah grinned. Her late husband’s older sister was a huge part of her and Rory’s life, and one of Sarah’s best friends. Nicole had confided in her many times that she was interested in the chef. And although there still didn’t seem to be an official label on anything, if the glow in her sister-in-law’s cheeks was any indication, she was absolutely smitten.

Despite herself, Sarah couldn’t help but feel a little jealous of Nicole. It had been so long since she’d felt the excitement of a new relationship. And she’d been barely older than seventeen the one and only time she’d ever felt it. She’d started dating Josh in high school and he’d been her only boyfriend. Married shortly after they graduated, and then pregnant during nursing school, there’d never been an opportunity for any actual dating. And if she were honest with herself, she wasn’t sure she’d ever actually had the whole butterflies and excitement with Josh that everyone talked about. It had just been…comfortable.

She shook her head to keep from going down that path. There was no point. “It’s nice, but…”

“But what?”

“This is going to sound so bad.” Sarah swallowed hard and for a moment debated on saying anything at all. Maybe it was the little bit of beer she had, or the heat, but she made the decision just to say what was on her mind. “I’m kind of jealous.”

“Jealous?” Brody sat up and raised his eyebrow. “Of Nicole? I didn’t think Amy was really your type.”

Sarah burst out laughing. “She’s not.”

Brody shook his head and ran a hand through his hair. “Then what?” he asked. “What are you jealous of Nicole for?”

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