Page 69 of Wake Me Up
And for the next hour, we don’t talk about hockey or jobs. He shows me pictures of his son, and I tell him all about Freya and the kids. And it’s one of the best conversations I’ve ever had with a friend in my whole life.
“How’s it been going with Jasper?” I ask Gramp while I fill some cream horns. I remind myself to leave out a few for Aviana because they are her favorite.
“Well, I’ll tell you this much: the dipshit doesn’t wear his hat backward anymore.” He scoffs. “I nipped that in the ass real quick.”
I could argue with my grandfather that just because the poor kid wears his hat turned backward doesn’t mean he’s a loser, but I’d be wasting my breath because once Gramp has made his mind up about something, it’s all over.
“Yeah, okay,” I mutter instead, popping the cream horns into the case before heading to finish up my next item on the list—frosting the cookies. “You’re just a ray of sunshine, Gramp. Did anyone ever tell you that?” I grin, fighting back a giggle.
He mumbles something before grabbing his jacket and slowly pulling it on one arm at a time before carefully zipping it. “Fifteen minutes left till closing time,” he utters, shuffling toward the door. “Lock up, would you? I’m going home early.”
“Yes, sir.”
I watch him walk out the door and shake my head, wondering what’s got him so salty today, but then I remember it’s Gramp, and he genuinely enjoys being wound up all the time—or pretending that he is.
One by one, I frost the sugar cookies in the different and unique ways that have become so popular here. Aviana is finally back at school, and to be honest, I’m really enjoying being back in the bakery, where I can create things that are both yummy and cute.
The door chimes, but I don’t look up right away, as I’m mid-cookie-decorating, and I’m not about to mess up now. Even though the kids would be happy if I did because I take the crappy-looking ones to them.
“Is this any way to treat your customers?” Tripp’s deep voicedrawls, and a smile creeps onto my lips as I finish up what I’m doing in a hurry—no doubt screwing it up.
“It depends. Are you a paying customer?” I tease before turning toward him.
I take in the sight of him for the first time in five or six days. First, he was out of the state at an away game, and then last night, he had to meet an old friend for dinner.
The old friend was a dude. I made sure of that.
“I’ll pay for a few cookies by eating your cookie.” He cocks his head to the side. “Deal?”
Rushing toward him, I leap into his arms, thankful that there’s no one else in here. He twirls me around before kissing me.
“I missed you,” he says, his stubble tickling my flesh as he moves his lips to my neck. “You smell so fucking good.”
“Missed you too,” I answer sweetly. “Did you have a good time with your friend last night?” I wink. “Well, hopefully nottoomuch fun.”
“I did.” He gently sets me down on my feet before motioning toward a table with a few chairs at it. “Do you have a few minutes to talk?” He must read me like a book because he adds in, “Don’t worry; it’s nothing bad, I swear.”
I look toward the window and see no one seems to be heading inside. “Sure.” I nod, walking toward the table. “It’s been dead today anyway.”
As I sit down and he takes the seat across from me, I have no idea what this could be about, but if he tells me not to worry and that it’s nothing bad, I believe him.
His hands reach for mine, and he cups them. “So, I’ve told you a bit that my body hurts sometimes, right?”
A deep frown forms on my face, and he squeezes my hands.
“Stop worrying, dear God, woman.”
I sigh, nodding my head. “Yeah. You’ve mentioned it before.” I cringe. “And I can tell because, sometimes, you move a certain way, and it’s pretty obvious that you’re in pain.”
“Yeah. I’ve been playing hockey for a long time, and it’s just … well, my body has kind of had enough, I guess.”
He’s nervous while he talks, which isn’t something I’m used to withhim. Tripp keeps his emotions in check, but right now, even his voice holds a heavy weight to it.
“My friend Cade—that’s who I met last night. While we were at dinner, he told me that he just got hired as the head coach for NE University.”
“In Massachusetts? I actually have a few friends who went there.” I think back to all the good things I’ve heard about it. “That’s a great college. D1, right? That’s amazing for him.”
It’s super cool that his friend got hired at such an incredible college, but I’m unsure of why Tripp is telling me this right now. I was worried he was going to tell me something was wrong with him health-wise, but now, I’m not sure where he’s taking this.
