Page 70 of The Cinnamon Bun Book Store
Right.
‘Do you want me to get you another one?’
Hazel shook her head, not wanting another cider and also to rid herself of the ridiculous thoughts that wouldn’t leave her to have her reckless summer in peace.
‘No, I’m good.’
Noah quirked a brow and stole back the salt and vinegar chips, but didn’t argue.
The tables had filled up around them as the evening darkened. Groups of people talked and laughed over their drinks. Kids ran between the trees and groups of adults. Couples sat in Adirondack chairs around little private fires. Under the table, Noah’s legs tangled with hers.
Even though the day had been warm, the air cooled off quickly with the sinking sun. Hazel ran her hands over her bare arms and rubbed them to warm up, wishing they’d snagged a seat with a fire pit.
It would be even cuter here in the fall, she thought. She could imagine all the be-flanneled Dream Harbor residents making the short drive to enjoy the changing leaves and a hard cider.
‘Cold?’ Noah asked, already unzipping his hoodie.
‘Oh, no, I’m fine.’
‘Full of lies tonight, Haze,’ he said with a teasing smile. He came around to her side of the table and draped the sweatshirt over her shoulders. It was big and warmed from his body and Hazel couldn’t help but snuggle into it.
It was completely absurd, but no boy, or man as the case may be, had ever given her their sweatshirt or jacket or even a damn scarf to keep her warm. And it was equally absurd how freaking happy she felt now that she had Noah’s.
He rubbed a hand over her back, creating more heat with the friction and his nearness.
‘Better?’
Hazel smiled at him like the besotted idiot that she was. ‘Much.’ Her inner nerdy teenager was shrieking obnoxiously in her head. The cutest guy in town had given her his sweatshirt and she could barely stand it.
Good thing she was a mature, grown woman, though, and was totally keeping it together on the outside. Probably. She couldn’t really tell what her face was doing.
Noah wrapped an arm around her as he finished his beer and Hazel let herself lean into his side. She was sure there was a Dreamer or two around here somewhere and the rumors would beat them back to town, but she really didn’t seem to care.
For all the energy she put into wondering what people thought about her, whispers about her and Noah didn’t bother her at all.
Maybe because you really like him and he seems to like you and why wouldn’t you want the whole damn town to know?!
God, that inner voice was really getting sassy.
‘You’re never getting this sweatshirt back, by the way.’
Noah laughed. ‘Okay, consider it a HANSOF souvenir.’
Hazel’s dreamy you’ve-got-a-crush-on-a-boy thoughts stuttered to a stop. A souvenir. A souvenir to remember something that had a hard end date like a vacation.
‘Yep. Exactly.’ She finished off her cider and focused on the intricate artwork on the can instead of on Noah’s words and his arms and his absurdly cozy sweatshirt.
This thing was temporary. That was the whole point, wasn’t it? Hazel honestly didn’t know anymore.
‘Hey, can I show you something?’
Hazel glanced up and found Noah looking uncharacteristically uncertain.
‘Sure.’
‘Great, let’s get out of here.’
They gathered up their trash and headed back across the gravel lot to Noah’s car. Hazel held tight to the too-big sleeves of his hoodie and the very important fact that this thing between them was just some reckless fun.
