Page 67
TWENTY-FOUR
ANDRE
Spending Sunday morning, the final day of the festival, at Red’s was a nice extension to the night I’d spent with Ethan. After his repeated dunkings and a pleasant evening of theater, we’d gone back to his place. It was my third night in a row being there, and talking and making out late into the night was my new favorite thing.
We’d come into town because he didn’t have any food in the house other than a couple slices from the maple pie I’d brought over and three-day-old pizza.
“I promise to go to the grocery store tomorrow.” Ethan offered an apologetic smile as we sat in a booth across from the counter. “There needs to be more than beer, tea, and water at home.”
My heart fluttered at his casual use of home. Even if he didn’t mean it as our home, it still triggered an emotional response. “The company matters more than what’s in the fridge.”
“Still.” He reached across the table to squeeze my hand. “I should at least have coffee for the mornings.”
“You say that like I mind coming here.” I gestured around us at the energetic diner. “What’s not to love?”
Ingrid arrived with our breakfast. I got a veggie omelet, and Ethan got eggs, turkey bacon, and an English muffin. She’d barely set down the plates before my phone buzzed with another parade update.
Ethan buttered his toast. “I appreciate you’re trying to ignore your phone during breakfast, but it’s parade day and people have stuff to tell you. It’s okay.”
I sighed and picked up my phone. “You’re annoyingly reasonable sometimes, you know that?”
“Only when it’s necessary.” He winked, and I looked away before his adorableness distracted me.
The message confirmed the sidewalk barriers along the parade route were in place. I responded, then put the phone back on the table face down. “Everything’s good. I’m all yours until I have to head to the parade for last checks.”
Ethan swallowed a sip of coffee. “I’m going to stop by the rink, check in on the morning session.”
“Just don’t let them rope you into an impromptu practice session. Liam can be persuasive.”
“Says the man who got talked into reading three extra stories yesterday.” His eyes sparkled with amusement as he remembered my recap of the story time we had at the picnic.
“That was different. Clara needed to get food, and I can’t resist sharing books with kids.”
“I know.” His voice softened. “It’s one of the things I love about you.”
My heart did that fluttering thing again, and I busied myself with my coffee to hide how much his casual mention of love meant. After how close we’d become, which had included sexy times in the shower this morning, I struggled not to blurt out how I felt about him.
And in the past few minutes, we’d each said the word love in different contexts.
But it was too soon for those three big words to be said directly to him, wasn’t it?
My phone buzzed, saving me from my thoughts, and I stole a quick glance. Wade’s message confirmed the live streaming setup was ready.
I drifted back to the memory of how Ethan had held me this morning. We’d woken early, tangled in his sheets, and shared slow, sleepy kisses before I accepted his invite to the shower. The memory of water cascading over us, of Ethan’s gentle hands and softer words, made me flush.
“You okay there?” Ethan’s voice brought me back to the present.
“Just thinking.” I took another sip of coffee to hide my smile. “About this morning.”
His eyes widened slightly. “Oh?”
I leaned forward, lowering my voice. “Specifically about how good you looked with water running down your chest—and other bits.”
A light blush crept up his neck. “Andre…”
“What? I’m not allowed to appreciate the view?”
“You’re allowed.” He lowered his voice even more. “But I don’t think we want that detail in Maplewood Matters.”
