Page 83 of Meet Me at the Fudge Shop

Declan ran a hand through his hair. “Honestly? I don’t know. I think Lily might have an edge. But at this point, I’ve done all I can do.”

“Hmm.” Frowning, Isaac circled back to the fudge, slipping slices into boxes that Declan had prepared. “And you really think that Mom and Dad will be okay with you dating the woman who took Grandma’s house from her? Who took our legacy away?”

“Look, I know it’s hard to understand, but none of this is Lily’s fault. It’s not mine, either. We’ve just been victims of our circumstances, but we don’t want to be anymore. We’re going to forge a different path for our families. End this feud.”

Isaac whistled. “Pretty tall order.”

“Tell me about it.”

“And what happens if Mom and Dad never accept Lily? What if her parents never accept you? You gonna go all Romeo and Juliet on us?”

Declan elbowed Isaac as he handed him another box. “Don’t you wish.”

“Solo heir to the Kelley throne does have a nice ring to it.” Isaac waggled his eyebrows. “But seriously, man. Have you really thought about the consequences of this? I know, I’m the last one to talk, but I’m just looking out for you. For all of us.”

“It’s nothing I haven’t already considered, believe me. But I’m just hoping that time will buffer the hostility.”

“I hope so too, for all our sakes. Especially Grandma.”

Maybe his brother didn’t mean it, but his words were an ice pick, twisting in Declan’s heart.

By the time they poured the final batch of fudge onto the marble table, Isaac had taken over paddling it into shape. He’d insisted on cutting it and boxing it.

Declan’s phone buzzed, and Isaac looked up from the table. “Go ahead and take that. I can finish up.”

Lily’s name popped up on the screen. “It’s okay. I can call her back.”

“Just go, man.” Isaac waved him off. “There isn’t much more to do here, and I’ll finish up—cut these, wash the dishes. Leave me the key and I’ll lock up.”

He glanced down at his phone again. Maybe there was time for a quick meetup with Lily, just to say a proper goodnight. “You sure?”

“Absolutely. Like you said—you’ve done all you can do, and you’ve got a big day tomorrow. Let me take care of the rest.”

Huh. Well, if this wasn’t the biggest seismic shift in the world. “All right. Thanks, man.” Declan tossed his keys to Isaac.

“No problem. And tell Lily I say hey.”

Declan blinked at his brother for a moment, looking for signs of sarcasm, but they weren’t there. Isaac just kept on working.

If Isaac could accept Lily, if he could make such a one-eighty, then maybe the rest of Declan’s family could too.

ChapterThirteen

It was make or break time. Go time. The beginning of the end.

Whatever cliché Lily wanted to use, today’s festival earnings would determine the winner of the fudge shop.

But that was almost secondary to the buzzing giddiness inside her at the thought that she and Declan would finally publicize their feelings for each other. He’d been so sweet to stop by last night, but she was tired of sneaking out to meet him in the darkness.

Even though she appreciated a moonlit goodnight kiss.

Hopping off her bike, she shivered at the early morning chill in the air. The festival didn’t start for another few hours, but she’d woken before the sun and figured she might as well get over here to start setting up. At the very least, she could spend some time exploring the upstairs storage room. Ever since Mom’s suggestion that she clear it out and make it a habitable living environment, Lily had been excited to get up there, to check it out and start dreaming.

Might have done it last night, but then Declan had stopped by and all thought of anything but taking a stroll with him flew from her brain. And then she’d woken today—a day all about second chances. New beginnings. Possibly a win under her belt too.

Humming to herself, Lily stuck the key in the back alley lock, opened the fudge shop, and watched her big win float right out the door along with five-hundred-million gallons of water.

And, even if that was an exaggeration, the destruction inside the fudge shop kitchen wasn’t.

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