Page 20 of Messy AF
Warren held his hand up next to mine, revealing the matching tattoo on his own palm. “Forever.”
“Forever,” I echoed, grinning as I rolled into him for a kiss. “I love you, Warren.”
“I love you, too, angel.” His arm came around my shoulders, ushering me closer. “Thank you.”
My eyebrows drew together, though my smile didn’t dim. “You’re welcome, but why are you thanking me?”
He curled around me, pressing his lips to my temple with a contented sigh. “For being mine.”
eight
~ Warren ~
Despitetheearlyhours,hundreds of people crowded the sidewalks of Circle City’s downtown plaza.
Couples strolled together unhurriedly. Mothers pushed strollers or chased after toddlers. A couple of teenagers rode past on skateboards, much to the displeasure of other pedestrians.
Conversation filled the morning, a dull roar of sound interspersed with laughter and the occasional shout of vendors hawking their wares. The scent of warm sugar drifted on the breeze, mingling with the earthy sweetness of ripe berries and the sharp aroma of grilled meat.
Rather than overwhelming, however, it all seemed to blend seamlessly, each sound and smell complementing the other.
Running every Saturday morning from late spring to early fall, the annual Farmers Market had been a tradition in Circle City for decades. What had started as a few tables filled with produce had morphed into a full-on event with merchants selling everything from fruits and vegetables to handcrafted soaps.
In the past couple of years, it had even grown to include food trucks and tables offering pour-over coffee with beans sourced from small farms in the Amazon rainforest.
“Where to first?” I asked my mate, nearly shouting to be heard over the din.
“I don’t know.” Tobi stared at the sea of bodies with big, round eyes, seemingly trying to take everything in at once. “I can’t even think.”
“Hmm,” I hummed, scanning the offerings while I thought. “How about something to eat? A croissant, maybe?”
While he didn’t normally eat breakfast, it gave us a destination, a purpose, and I hoped having something in his stomach would help settle him.
“That actually sounds kind of amazing.” He eyed a few of the nearby stalls, his gaze jumping quickly from one to the next. “Where?”
“Just stick close and follow me.”
Still, to be certain I didn’t lose him in the crowd, I took his hand, holding it gently but firmly as I started walking. Pulling him behind me, I threaded my way through the throng, following the aroma of freshly baked bread that wafted on the warm breeze.
While I sympathized with my mate’s anxiety, I didn’t share it. Even in its chaos, gatherings like this held a certain kind of magic, a sense of community that hummed through every exchange.
Vendors greeted customers by name, sliding paper bags across folding tables and tucking fresh bouquets into eager hands. Strangers greeted each other like old friends. Aged men with lined faces and silver hair perched in lawn chairs beneath a shade tree to discuss important city business.
Like who they thought overcharged for tomatoes, and which neighbors had let their grass go a little too long between mows.
Even the pigeons seemed caught up in the celebratory mood, bobbing and cooing, content with whatever crumbs they could scavenge.
As we moved deeper into the plaza, the crowd pressed closer, forcing me to slow my steps as we neared the bakery stall. On the surface, the organizers had probably thought it made sense to stack the baked goods, coffee, and confectioneries together, but in reality, it just made for unnecessary congestion.
Queueing in line behind a young mother with a baby strapped to her chest, I removed my sunglasses from the collar of my V-neck and slid them on. The weather forecast had called for another scorcher, and while not even mid-morning, the sun’s rays already burned hotly against my skin.
Tobi pressed against my side, his hand coming to rest on my forearm. It felt less like an affectionate gesture, though, and more like he was checking for a fever.
“Does it hurt?”
“No, angel. It doesn’t hurt.” Palming the back of his head, I pulled him in and pressed a chaste kiss to his brow. “It’s just a little uncomfortable.”
“I brought extra sunscreen if you need it,” he said, patting the front pocket of his cargo shorts.
