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I spy a broken seashell lying nearby and grab it, using it to carve out a heart around our matched imprints and then adding a S + V below them. Once I'm done, I toss the shell aside and pull my phone from my pocket. I hold it up, arm around her shoulders. "Smile."

"Sully, people are watching us."

"Then let's give them something to see." I plant my lips against her cheek in a sloppy kiss that has her face scrunching up in a combination smile and grimace, and I take the selfie, managing to capture the heart and our initials too.

I bury my face in her neck next and blow a loud raspberry, earning another peel of laughter that's so rare and so very precious to me. "Look at that," I tell her when I lift my head and hold my phone to show her the picture.

I watch as Violet sinks her teeth into her lower lip before loosing the smile she can't hold back. I nudge her with my elbow. "That's my girl."

"You're crazy."

"So you don't want me to text the photo to you?"

It's a trick question, and she picks up on that fact in an instant. Say no, and it means she isn't receptive to us.

Say yes and…

"Send it," she says softly.

When I flash a knowing grin, she shakes her head and walks away with a roll of her eyes. I chuckle and catch up, wrapping my arm around her waist to lift her up and swing her around before kissing her again.

Chapter 24

Violet

* * *

Happiness feels weird, I decide.

But as I drive Betty to the Richardsons' house for the two-hour booking that afternoon before my shift at the Pelican, I try to wrap my head around the fact that, despite everything going on?

I'm happy. And it has everything to do with Sully.

I turn right down the street and frown when I see another food truck in the Richardsons' driveway. I talked to Brooke Richardson in person when she'd booked the date, and my understanding is that Betty would be the only food truck due to budget constraints. I squeeze Betty into the driveway on the other side so as to leave room to move between the two large vehicles.

There are adults and kids everywhere, but I take note of Brooke and her husband exiting the porch while exchanging confused looks. That's all it takes for me to frantically grab the schedule and double check the booking date. It's right there in yellow. Meaning they made a deposit but had yet to pay in full.

This isn't the first time the couple has booked with us. Jas and I knew Brooke from high school, so we allowed for some leeway when it came to payment, telling them they could settle up on the day of the party because it was also their payday.

My stomach pinches in unease as I open the door. "Hey, guys. How are you today?"

Brooke blinks at me and shoves her sunglasses up on her head. "Hey, Violet. Um, I'm kind of confused. What are you doing here?"

I stand from the driver's seat with the schedule book in hand, flipping it around. "You booked Betty? I have you right here."

Brooke shakes her head and looks visibly upset. "We did, but—you cancelled."

"What? No, I didn't."

"Yeah, you did. Someone called and said you couldn't make it. That's why we…" She waves a hand at the other bus. "We've been waiting on you to return the deposit."

"What?" Neither Jas nor me did that.

"I was there when she got the call," her husband said with a serious expression and nod of his blond head. "We scrambled to find a last-minute replacement because that's all Con wanted for his party."

"I'm sorry. I don't know what happened, but I didn't cancel."

"You know, I'd always give you girls the business, Violet," Brooke says in a lowered voice. "I'm not sure what to say, but…we can't afford both trucks."