Page 91 of Choosing You

Sloane rested a hand on his chest and looked him straight in the eye. “I cannot listen to you list every festival detail again. Plus, Jade’s one of the coordinators. She knows what’s here.”

He pouted dramatically and then sighed. “Okay, fine. I won’t talk about it. Jeez.”

“Seriously, Jade, if ever you need to do a PSA on the festivals, hire Will. He knows everything about them.”

“I will definitely keep that in mind,” she said, smiling. “Did you see that your dad and The Ridge have a booth set up here?”

“What? Seriously?”

She nodded. “Just in case anyone didn’t know they existed, they wanted to have a booth.”

“They’re not selling beer, are they?” Will asked. “Because I could totally go for one right now.”

“No,” she replied. “No beer. It was too short notice to get them a liquor license, but they’re selling food and soft drinks, and handing out swag with their logo and information on it. They’ve had lines all day!”

“Good for them! I still can’t believe they all opened a bar! My Uncle Shane has the family pub down in North Carolina and it’s been in our family for generations, but I never thought another Donovan would open one.”

“It’s been great for all of them, especially my father-in-law. Poor Ronan’s been kind of depressed since he had his health scare a few years ago. He spent a lot of years working at your uncle’s pub and felt a little lost when he thought he needed to retire. Then he moved back here after reconciling with everyone and…” She sighed. “It’s been great having him around, but it was heartbreaking because he just didn’t know what to do with himself. He ran errands for Levi, he’d come and do dishes at the coffee shop, sweep up hair at Ash’s salon…now, he has a purpose.”

“I love that for him. I’m still surprised at how hands-on my dad is being. I had no idea he was even interested in that kind of business! Did you know he and my mom are looking to live here part time? They want to be snowbirds! What in the world, right?”

“It’s nice to have this kind of closeness with the family and seeing them all work together,” Jade replied. “And having Marcus, John, and Max involved too just makes it like…like the family is growing and the business is showing that.”

“This family is definitely growing,” Sloane said with a laugh. “I’ve been walking around seeing everyone and it’s wild seeing all my cousins with their kids. The next generation of Donovans is here and they are outnumbering us wildly!”

“That is for sure.” Jade motioned them close again. “And it’s growing again,” she whispered, pointing to her belly.

“Oh my God!” Sloane cried, hugging her. “Does anyone else know?”

“Just the immediate family. I’m only eight weeks along, but we are super excited and I’m seriously praying for a girl this time. I love my boys, but I am outnumbered at home!”

In the distance, someone called out Jade’s name and she waved and promised to chat more with them later. “Start thinking of some fun reels you can do for the coffee shop!”

“Wow, that’s amazing news about the baby,” Will said as they walked away.

“That it is. Wow! They’re going to have three kids. I can’t even imagine what it’s going to be like for them with a new baby and Levi potentially running for mayor! Talk about insanity.”

“Some people thrive on that sort of thing, I guess. But then they also have a huge support network with your family and Jade’s. I’m sure they’re going to be in an all-hands-on-deck mode going into the new year.”

“Probably.” They walked around in companionable silence for a few minutes until they came to a couple of game booths.

“What’s your favorite stuffed animal?”

“What?”

He nodded toward the rows of stuffed animals.

“Will, you don’t have to win me anything. I’m having fun just walking around with you!”

“Nuh-uh. We are at a carnival, and I am going to win something for you. I never had the chance before, so I’m going to do it now. Come on. I’m really good at the ring toss, but I’m even better with those water guns that blow up balloons, so…what are we trying to win?”

It was a ridiculous conversation, but she thought the penguin was particularly cute.

“Whichever game the penguin’s at. He’s the cutest.”

Straightening, he pouted again. “I thought I was the cutest?”

Leaning in, she kissed him. “No, you’re the sexiest, now come on. Win me a penguin!”

---