Page 188 of Small Town Firsts
“Yes, just like yours, though yours is the prettiest in all the land.” I leaned forward to kiss the tip of her nose and she giggled.
A minute later, we were on the road to the diner. I debated giving Ally a head’s up that I was stopping by, then decided a sneak attack was best. I wasn’t trying to corner her or convince her of anything. All I wanted to do was look her in the eye and make sure she was okay. And to apologize. Possibly fifty times or so.
I parked up the street from the diner and released Laurie from her car seat prison. Setting her on my hip, I checked my jacket pocket to make sure the cookies were still intact. Laurie wasn’t about to miss a chance for more sweets, however. She got one forbidden glimpse of them and screwed up her adorable face, her big blue eyes going shiny with unshed tears.
“For me?” she wailed. “For me?”
God save me from women. I truly wasn’t equipped to deal with them. Every time I thought I could handle the task, new obstacles were thrown in my path.
I dug out one of the cookies and resigned myself to a sleepless night with my child. Just as well. God knows I had no other reasons not to sleep at night. Last night’s event had been a one-off, certain to never be repeated again.
Virginity destroyer.
The little bell over the diner door dinged as I entered with a now contentedly munching Laurie. She was spewing crumbs all over my wrinkled dress shirt, but my attention snagged on all the faces that turned my way. It seemed like every patron in the place was staring at me and Laurie.
All but one person with a high, bouncy dark ponytail, and that was because she had her back to me. Luckily, she was talking loudly enough that I could hear her just fine.
“Oh, not you too, Sally Mae. As I was just telling Vern, I was just helping him with a problem. You know, as a friend.”
Sally Mae was looking past Ally at me. She cleared her throat. “Uh, dear, I’m not sure?—”
“Certain issues of a performance nature,” Ally went on. “Any good friend would help. Now would you like eggs over easy like usual with red potatoes and a side of sausage? We have the summer fruit cup on special today. Comes free with any meal.”
“Alison,” I said in an undertone.
Ally’s shoulders went tight in her uniform, but she didn’t glance my way. Didn’t acknowledge me at all.
“The fruit cup has blueberries, honeydew, pineapple, and slices of fresh strawberries. The first crop this year from Happy Acres Orchard, right down in Turnbull.”
“Alison,” I said again.
Laurie finished scarfing down her cookie and pulled her chocolatey fingers out of her mouth. “Ally!”
Yeah, my best friend might be able to ignore me, but she definitely couldn’t ignore my little spitfire.
Ally turned, a genuine smile creasing her face and lighting up her honey eyes. “Hiya you. What’re you doing here?” She moved forward and snatched Laurie out of my arms without acknowledging my presence. “Look at these cheeks, all covered in chocolate. What has your daddy been feeding you?”
“Cookies. Unca O and me made ‘em. Daddy brought you one.”
“Daddy actually brought you two, but a certain thief felt the need to sample more of the merchandise.” I cupped my daughter’s head, leaving my hand there until Ally had no choice but to meet my gaze.
“I texted you.”
“Sorry, working.”
“And gossiping. About problems of a performance nature.” The diner was far too quiet around us, and I wasn’t about to give the town anything more to chat about today. “Is Sage working?”
“Sure am.” The cheerful blond crossed the restaurant with a tray full of dishes. “How can I help you?” Sage asked as she passed us, stopping to say something to Mrs. Negley in one of the booths.
They both giggled and glanced my way.
Fabulous.
“By the way,” I said, raising my voice, focusing on Ally’s face as it paled, “we both know my performance was just fine. Spectacular, in fact.”
“Enough to knock you right out?” Sage asked, blinking innocently when I narrowed my eyes.
“Back room,” Ally muttered, handing off Laurie to Sage without even waiting for my direction. Even with all this shit between us, we had a rhythm.
