Page 157 of Chasing Shelter

As Duncan headed over to Rhodes to say hello, I sent Trace a death glare. “Seriously?”

“What?” Trace asked with mock innocence.

“You might as well have peed a circle around her,” Arden muttered.

Linc sent Trace a commiserating look. “Good luck, buddy. You’re on your own.”

“Gee, thanks,” Trace said.

I pinned him with a hard stare. “He was just being nice.”

“Blaze, Dunc’s a good guy, but he doesn’t offer to make drop-offs for just anyone.”

I looked over at the owner of Bloom & Berry. Hehadgone out of his way to help. I nibbled on the corner of my lip.

“I see it’s all coming together.” Trace gently pulled my lip from between my teeth. “The same way Fletcher’s always butting his nose in when it comes to you.”

A grimace pulled at my lips. “No, Iknowhe was interested.”

Trace slowed. “How?”

I shrugged. “He asked me out.”

“When?” Trace growled.

“Relax, Chief. It was before we got together. He knows we’re a couple now.”

“Too fucking cute for her own good,” Trace muttered.

Keely ran up to us and tugged at my shirt. “Will you go on the mini coaster with me?”

Trace’s expression hardened as he looked at the small roller coaster. “I don’t know. That thing looks like it’s made of toothpicks.”

Cope’s hand clapped on his shoulder. “We all know your sensitive stomach doesn’t handle coasters well. But don’t make excuses.”

Kye laughed as he strode forward, carrying some blue cotton candy. “I swear he turned green that one year.”

Shep’s nose wrinkled. “He barfed on my new boots.”

“I tried to warn you not to share one of those cars with him,” Fallon said with a grin.

“Way to kick a man when he’s down,” Trace groused.

Rhodes jumped up and kissed his cheek. “That’s siblings, dear brother.”

“Don’t remind me,” he grumbled.

Cope grabbed Luca’s hand. “Come on, El Bell, let’s do this.”

“Hey, that’s my nickname,” Linc argued.

Cope just laughed.

This was the sort of thing Linc and I never truly had, but standing in the bright fall sun, I knew it only made me appreciate having it now all the more. I handed Trace my cotton candy and kissed him quickly. “Take a video, Chief.”

“Ellie…”

But Keely and I were already following behind Cope and Luca as they raced up the marked-off line. They just made the last car of thecoaster before us, but that meant we got to watch them race around the smallish track. The whole thing did shake a little as they went.

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