Page 99 of Tender Heart
“Here, you’ll need something extra, the wind is nippy tonight.” She hands me a blue ombré scarf. It’s silken between my fingers and a perfect match for my dress. “Thank you, this is beautiful. I didn’t think to bring one.”
I wrap it around my neck, and she adjusts it a little before turning my collar up on my jacket for a snug fit.
“Gorgeous. Ah, look at those stunning brown eyes against that blue.” Iris shakes her head with a smile. She’s like theolder sister I never had. I can practically feel my heart getting attached. Iris locks up and we make our way down Main Street, heading for the festivities.
Twenty-Seven
CALLUM
Main Street is lit up under strings of rainbow lights. Stalls line the sidewalk, and we meander down the center of the closed-off street. Townsfolk mill about, chatting, purchasing from stalls, eating, and laughing. Live music drifts through the space like the ocean breeze it mixes with. Em finds us before we even make it a block.
“There you guys are. Geez, it’s crazy out tonight.” He beams a smile at me before turning to the two women at my side. “Iris. Evie.”
My little sister scrunches up her nose, smiling as she takes him in. She leans in, saying something to Em as Evie gives him a little wave and a hello.
They part, and a suspicious glint lines my sister’s green eyes. But when Em’s brows lower, I glance at Evie. She’s wandered away, looking over a stall of candles and knickknacks. She leans down, hands holding her hair back as she smells a large three-wicked candle. I can’t drag my eyes from her. The way the warm night’s breeze plays with her hair, how the soft amber light highlights the angles of her face and neck.
Iris joins her, and I break my gaze and shift on my feet before crossing my arms over my chest.
“You guys staying for the fireworks?” Em asks.
“Don’t see why not.”
“Good. Iris misses you.”
I raise an eyebrow. Since when do Em and Iris talk feelings?
“She has friends. And I get here as much as I can.”
“It’s not the same as—” He clamps his jaw shut, his gaze swinging to the ground as he shoves both hands in his back pockets.
“Evening, Emmett.” A gruff voice breaks through the tense air thickening between us.
Em turns. “Oh hey, Errol.”
Great.
“Errol.” I don’t look at the old man, hoping he will think better of this conversation and keep moving through the crowd.
He doesn’t.
“Figured you’d ruin a nice night for the folks, did ya, McCreary?” Errol’s rumble catches the attention of the people around us.
For fuck’s sake. How long is he going to carry this shit for?
“Something like that, old man.” I pay him a passing glance.
“Sounds about right. If it wasn’t for that little woman”—he nods toward Evie—“I’d have you marched right back to the dock you slithered into.”
Christ.
Em shifts on his feet. “Calm down, Errol. Festival’s for everyone.”
Errol wobbles toward me, and it’s now that I smell the alcohol on his breath. “Don’t cause any more trouble.” His gnarly finger stabs my chest.
Annoyance turns to daggers in my eyes, and I stare him down. “Get fu?—”
“Okay.” Em guides Errol away and back through the crowd. He talks calmly to the old man.
