Page 23 of Absolutely Not in Love
He simply can’t be.
The next morning, I drag Summer to hot yoga, then we come back long enough to shower and change before we head to the farmer’s market so Summer can enjoy the magic of Harvest Hollow in the fall. She grew up in the mountains too, so she’s used to the gorgeous colors, the reds and yellows blanketing the hillsides and adding pops of color to every front yard. But Harvest Hollow has a particular love for the few months when summer cools into winter. Everything is pumpkin spice and apples and hay bales and scarecrows and warm cider stirred with cinnamon sticks, and I love every bit of it.
“Honestly,” Summer says as we stroll through the market, apple cider donuts in hand, “I used to think that places like this only exist in the movies. But here we are.” She stops and picks up an apple from an overflowing bushel basket, lifting it to her nose.
“They grow apples where you live, too.”
“Oh, I know. But this farmer’s market? It would be the perfect location for a romcom meet cute.” She spins around to face me. “A farmer and a florist, maybe. Or a baker!” She takes a bite of her donut. “A baker and a bookshop owner.”
“Our local bookshop owner just hit it off with a fireman. Does that feel romcom enough for you?”
She gasps. “Please tell me he rescued her from a fire.”
I frown. “Hedid,and it was terrifying because it wasn’t just a movie, it was her actual real life.”
“Geez, you’re right. So sorry. She’s okay, right? And she got love out of the deal?”
I smile, thinking of my friend, Emmy, who runs Book Smart over on Maple Street, and her new boyfriend, Owen. “She totally did. It was cute to watch it all unfold…” My words trail off when Summer stops walking, her eyes locked on something just over my shoulder.
I turn, tracing her gaze to a booth set up at the edge of the parking lot. It looks like the local radio station is broadcasting live, and several Appies hockey players are sitting at a table at the front of the booth, signing autographs and handing out team merchandise.
Can I seriouslyneverescape this freaking hockey team?
Summer grips my arm. “Do you see that guy? The one at the end?”
“End of what?” I ask, still not clear who she’s staring at. Maybe because the second I saw the Appies logo hanging above the booth, I immediately started looking for Felix.
“The guy on the end with the man bun,” Summer says. “I feel like I know him. Could I have met him somewhere before?”
“Are you talking about one of the hockey players?”
Summer nods, biting her lip, and I’m finally able to pick out the guy in question. I’ve never seen him before, but Summer is transfixed. “You could probably look him up on the team’s website,” I suggest. “Maybe see if his name knocks something loose in your brain?”
“Ohh, good idea,” she says, pulling out her phone.
While she searches, my eyes scan the players one more time. I recognize Eli, the guy who has knocked on my door one too many times asking me if I’m ready to have dinner with him yet, but Felix is nowhere to be found—something that sends relief and disappointment pumping through me in equal measure.
The relief, I understand. The disappointment is just silly. What would I even do if Ididsee him? Go up and ask him for his autograph?
“Huh,” Summer says, still looking at her phone. “His name is Nathan Sanders, and he’s from Portland, Maine, so probably Idon’tknow him. Weird.”
“Maybe he just has a familiar face?” I nudge her shoulder. “Or maybe he has a face you like, and you justwantto meet him?”
She barks out a laugh. “What? That’s not—why would he feel familiar? That would be weird.”
“Maybe it’s your heart that recognizes him.”
Summer rolls her eyes. “Please tell me you’re joking.”
“This could beyourmeet cute. The hardened assistant DA and the brutish pro hockey player who’s really just a giant softie and knows exactly how to crack through her shell.”
She pauses. “I would actually read that book. But I’m anything but hardened.” She reaches over and grabs my arm. “Oh, hey, isn’t that your brother?” She points toward the line stretching out from the radio station’s booth.
I smile. “And my nephew.” I loop my arm through Summer’s. “Come on. I’ll introduce you to Maddox—oh geez.” My words cut off, and I change directions, turning sharply to the right and diving behind a stack of hay bales.
Summer freezes, her eyes wide. “Gracie?”
I shush her quickly and motion her over. When she’s finally crouching beside me, I breathe out an enormous exhale and let my shoulders relax. “Felix is over there. I didn’t see him before, but he must have switched seats with one of the other guys because he’s there. He’s sittingright there.”
