Page 142 of Broken Dreams
“Don’t thank me, babe. Thank God for giving you a second chance at finding an incredible man.”
Every day I do and now I can thank him for so much more.
thirty-three
GRADY
“Hello, Mrs. Symonds,” I say as I open the door to Sugarlips, allowing her to exit.
She glares at me a little. Seems a few months isn’t enough time to forgive me for not naming her as the winner of the chili cookoff. “Mr. Whitlock, have a wonderful day.”
I laugh under my breath. “You too.” As she passes, an idea strikes me. “Mrs. Symonds, I have a question.”
“Yes?”
“Do you happen to have any chili still? I know Mrs. Parker froze her batch for when I regained use of my tongue and I was thinking maybe you, her, and Mrs. Cooke could bring some over soon?”
Her eyes widen. “Of course I have some, you don’t just throw away award-winning chili. I won six years in a row before Lynn came in with those fancy spices she got from overseas.” She leans in close. “If you ask me, that should be grounds for disqualification since they’re not authentic. But far be it from me to suggest such a thing.”
I think she did just suggest it, but whatever. “I feel as though I missed out by not getting to enjoy it.”
“You did.”
I fight back a laugh. “Maybe we can do a tasting at the tree-lighting ceremony?” My plan is also to make Asher eat it since he went on and on about my mishap. “I’m sure my brother would make a great judge as well.”
She grins so wide it could crack her cheeks. “I think that’s wonderful! Oh, I think we could have the winner of this year face-off with us too. That way we can really see if that Sullivan family has the best chili.”
I would rather eat snails, but this will put me back in the good graces of the three women who run this town.
While dating Addison has given me some clout, it hasn’t been enough to recover from upsetting them.
“That sounds great. I’m sure Charlotte will be up for the challenge.”
Her lips turn up slowly as though she’s rather enjoying the idea of it. Apparently, I not only pissed off the three of them, but Rowan was even more unbearable. The fact that I chose Charlotte Sullivan, his archenemy in everything, was a dagger to his heart.
Brynlee enjoyed it, as did the rest of us because anything to piss Rowan off is always a good time.
Mrs. Symonds leans in, pulling my arm down, and kisses my cheek before patting it. “You are definitely not a jackass like the rest of them say.”
And then she walks off, leaving me a little unsettled with that last comment.
I look around for Addy, spotting her in the same booth she sat in that night I saved her from the dickhead who wanted to sleep with her. I walk to her, my entire day feeling better just because I get to look at her.
“Hi, dove.”
“Hello. I see you have done something to make Mrs. Symonds happy?”
I laugh. “We’re going to taste their chili.”
“No.”
I raise one brow with a smirk. “No?”
“No, I am not. I endure it once a year, I’m not signing up to do it again.”
I slide in next to her, kiss her pouty lips, and then kick my feet up on the bench across from her. “Well, I didn’t say you were. I’ve volunteered Asher. Since he is doing the tree-lighting ceremony, it works perfect next week.”
She laughs. “He’s going to kill you.”
