Page 59 of Meet Me at the Fudge Shop

When it was all said and done, his suspicions were confirmed.

“Wow, you’re doing really well,” he said as he blinked at the computer screen over her shoulder. “I mean, I’m sorry—but I can’t help but see that.”

Lily eyed the balance page. “That’s better than I thought. Not great, but I won’t have to sell a kidney.”

“You’re doing better than great. In fact, you’re leaving me in the dust.” He lowered himself onto the edge of the desk.

She twisted in the chair to face him. “Really? Wow. Fist pump.”

“I’ll try not to be deeply offended by your enthusiasm.”

“I’m sure it won’t last now that you’re getting the hang of fudge making. Your peanut butter fudge from last night was fairly spectacular.”

“You stole some of my fudge?”

“Stoleis such a strong word.” She grinned.

“I’ll have to find a way to get repayment.” And he couldn’t help it—his gaze fell to her lips.

Suddenly, she stopped smiling. Got up.

“Thank you for this.” Lily nodded toward the computer. “We were more than even. You really didn’t have to.”

He took a step back. “I’m glad I could help. No receipt deserves to be treated like that.”

“Haha,” Lily said, then brushed past him to grab the coffee she’d poured a half hour ago off the bookcase where she’d left it. Then she turned, mug in hand. “So, you asked me the other day what I’d do if I lost. But what about you? What are your plans, win or lose?”

Surely he’d mentioned this to her, right? “The plan has always been for me to go back to Chicago. I’ve got a job waiting for me there, but only if I leave right after the festival.”

“Even if you win?” Did he detect a sort of sadness in her?

“Yes. If I lose, I leave. If I win, I leave.”

It suddenly sounded like he’d lose, either way. Huh.

“And how would that work? If you win, I mean? Who would run the shop?”

“I’d help oversee the business from afar and would hire someone here to manage the day-to-day. Maybe my cousin Olive, if she decides not to go to community college on the mainland.”

“So, someone your family approves of. No mercy for the Hart you left in the dust, huh?” She said it teasingly, but it fell flat, as did her smile.

“Lily…”

“No, I get it. Family always comes first, right? And I wouldn’t work here even if you asked me to. I’d bow out gracefully.”

“Hey.” He waited for her to look him in the eyes. “I meant what I said yesterday. I don’t want to fight with you anymore.”

“But it’s so fun.” She sighed. “Just kidding. I don’t want to fight either. It’s kind of exhausting.”

“It is. And you’re right—I won’t lie that I value family. So do you. But I’m sorry that I let it come between us. That I didn’t stand up for you in the moment. Back then, I mean. What happened with Grandpa…”

“Hey.” She walked over to him, touched his arm. “It was an accident.”

“I should have been there.”

“Maybe. Yes. But Alzheimer’s patients get out all the time. Most of them require round-the-clock care from professionals, and you were an eighteen-year-old kid.” She squeezed his arm. “You’ve got to let go of the guilt sometime, Dec.”

He couldn’t break free of her gaze, so beautiful, so honest.

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