Page 76 of I Can't Help It

A muscle in his jaw twitches. “Fine. But it better not be one of those tiny sampler slices.”

Cassie gives us a wink while Officer Garcia starts examining the pies, so I take that as our cue to escape and I lead Ava to another section of booths.

“Did you see that?” she asks, drinking some of her milkshake. “I think a small-town romance is brewing between those two.”

I gape at her. “Between Officer Garcia and Cassie?”

“Maybe.” She offers a shrug. “I could be wrong, but it just felt like there were some serious vibes going on.”

Huh, interesting.

“This milkshake is changing my life,” she gushes, taking a few more sips. “It’s healing all the trauma that gross cider caused.”

I chuckle lightly before kissing her forehead. “I’m glad you’re recovering well. Should we check out the craft booths next?”

“Yes! Maybe I’ll be able to find something for my aunt. She loves handmade stuff.”

Twenty minutes later, Ava has three tote bags filled with items from the crafts booths.

A patchwork quilt. A resin dish. A crocheted scarf. A mug. A pair of turkey oven mitts. A pinecone wreath. A candle. Andddd a beaded necklace.

“Are you really not going to get anything?” she asks with a pout. “I look like a shopaholic compared to you!”

“I said that I’d carry the bags for you,” I remind her, holding my hand out for them once again. “Then you won’t have to worry about it.”

“But I want you to buy something, so I don’t feel as guilty.” She widens her eyes at me. “What about one of those tie-dye shirts you were looking at?”

Truthfully, I did think about buying a tie-dye shirt.

For Wyatt.

While I’ve never worn anything tie-dye in my life—and I probably never will—he loves the stuff. But it’s just kind of awkward, ya know? Buying something for my best friend while I’m hanging out with his ex-girlfriend?

I rub the back of my neck. “I think they were packing up for the day.”

A lot of the booths are actually starting to pack up.

“I highly doubt they’re going to turn down a sale, though. Especially a quick and easy one.”

She has a point. Plus, I do need a souvenir for Wy. I’ll never hear the end of it if I don’t get him something…

“I’ll grab one,” I finally concede. “Did you want to see if they’re still letting people play cornhole? It’s not super dark yet.”

When she was raiding the craft booths, we had talked about possibly playing the game.

“Yeah, I’ll go ask.” She kisses the corner of my jaw. “This has been so much fun, Luke. I can’t wait to see what they have set up for tomorrow.”

She gives my arm a light squeeze before strolling toward the area where different games are set up, and my gaze stays focused on her for a moment or two, because how can I not appreciate a view like that? Then I drag myself over to the booth selling tie-dye shirts, and I buy one for Wyatt.

Maybe the gift will soften the blow when I tell him that I want to date Ava.

It’s a t-shirt, not some kind of miracle-working product.

A guy can dream though.

* * *

After listening to the origins of how cornhole came to be, we’re given our beanbags and told where to stand. I nod at Ava. “Ladies first.”

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