Page 75 of I Can't Help It

After over-contemplating multiple different options, I scribble “523” on my paper and hope for the best as I fold it up. Ava hands our guesses to one of the teenage guys running the game, then she leads me to another booth where apple cider is being sold, and she orders some for both of us.

“What should we toast to?” Ava asks, holding out her paper cup.

“To us,” I say without hesitation.

While there’s still an “us.”

She smiles, and I feel its warmth throughout every inch of my body. “To us.”

I tap my cup against hers before we take careful sips of the hot drink.

But then Ava spits her cider out while gagging.

“Whoa!” I exclaim, almost gagging on my own cider from her unexpected reaction. “Are you okay?”

“This is disgusting!” she hisses with a curse. “I feel like I’ve been poisoned!”

At that, I burst out laughing. “Have you never had apple cider before?”

Her eyes begin to dart back and forth as she surveys the area. “No. I thought it would taste like fancier apple juice, but that was like drinking a bag of potpourri.”

“Potpourri?” I wheeze, failing to calm my laughter. “You’re killing me. How am I ever going to enjoy apple cider now?”

“I need a trash can.” She wrinkles her nose, disregarding my commentary. “There’s no way I’m drinking more of this.”

So, we find a trash can being guarded by a scarecrow, and Ava immediately makes a slam dunk with her paper cup of “poison.”

“Terrible. My whole life has been a lie.”

I take a quick gulp of my cider while she’s still staring at the trash can. “I’m sure we can find something else that you’ll like instead.”

And we do, in the form of a pecan pie milkshake.

Did you know that existed? Because I sure as heck didn’t. Anyway, it turns out that Cassie (the woman from Here for the Pie), actually owns the pie shop and has a booth set up for the festival. She also partnered up with the owner of a local ice cream parlor, hence the pie-flavored milkshakes.

“Did y’all ever find the gazebo?” Cassie asks, topping Ava’s milkshake with a small slice of pecan pie.

Before either of us can answer, another voice interjects. “Oh, they found the gazebo all right. I caught them over there acting like a couple of lovesick teenagers.”

Officer Garcia. His hard glare and judging tone make me want to go hide somewhere. Like maybe in the bouncy house that’s set up for kids.

Why couldn’t he just forget about us making out at the gazebo?

Cassie’s eyes get wide, but then she gives Officer Garcia a scolding look. “You were spying on them, Ren?”

He grunts at that. “Don’t be ridiculous. I was making my rounds, and I thought they were your sister and Will sneaking around again.”

“Uh-huh, sure.” Cassie proceeds to shake her head. “Sometimes I think you’re worse than Eli when it comes to me and Lynn.”

Eli. That name sounds familiar for some reason.

Also, how weird is it that Lynn turned out to be Cassie’s sister?

This is definitely a small town.

Officer Garcia (addressing him as Ren seems too personal) ignores what she said and narrows his dark eyes at us instead. “Just make sure to keep it G-rated. This is a family-friendly event and—” His gruff words come to a stop when Cassie touches his arm, and for a split second, he seems to relax.

“Okay, tough guy,” she drawls, flashing him a smile, “why don’t we let our visitors get back to enjoying the festival and I’ll cut a slice of pie for you?”

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