Page 37 of Crazy Love

“Don’t let her fool you,” Addy says proudly. “Goldie is an amazing artist and has a Bachelor of Artsanda Master in Design Studies?—”

“She’s smarter than all of us,” Camden says, laughing. “Not you, Adeline, but our siblings.”

Goldie loops her arm through her brother’s and wrinkles her nose. “Don’t listen to them. I’m here to talk about Addy.” She winks at Addy, who looks horrified. “Our girl is pretty great, right?”

Addy’s eyes widen as she tries to stare Goldie into silence. I decide then that I think Goldie is fantastic.

“I think she is,” I say, nodding as I look at Addy.

Sam, the little traitor, steps forward with a grin. “So, Camden. What do you do?”

“I own a restaurant in Denver. You’ll have to come visit sometime. Bring Penn with you. My treat.” He smiles at Sam and then me.

“That’s so cool,” Sam says. “Did you know that Penn has won three Super Bowls, and last year even though his team lost, he was still named the running back to watch?” He looks at me proudly. “On one sports show I saw, they said Penn is on his way to being considered one of the five greatest running backs of all time!”

I put my hand on Sam’s shoulder and squeeze it. “And this right here is why I take this guy everywhere,” I say, grinning at Sam. “Thanks, bud.”

“Yeah, I think you’ve got the number one fan spot filled, but I’m right up there with you in the Penn Hudson fan club,” Camden says. “All you guys, man. It’s been an amazing few seasons.”

“Wow. Thank you. I didn’t see all this praise coming.” I laugh. “Hopefully, we’ll make you guys proud this year.”

“Well, now that you’ve got my girl fueling you in the right way, maybe you will!” Goldie says.

“There’s just a whole love fest going on here, isn’t there?” Addy says pointedly at Goldie, who just smiles innocently.

“Right,” I say, clearing my throat. “Well, we should?—”

“Join us?” Goldie interrupts, her smile widening. I have to smile back. I think this girl might be Team Penn, but I could be completely wrong here. “We were just about to grab some pastries. You and Sam should come.”

Addy’s eyes dart to mine, but I can’t read anything in them today. Does she want me to say yes?

“Uh,” I start, and Sam claps his hand on my shoulder.

“We’d love to!” he says.

CHAPTER TWELVE

EMBARRASSMENTS

ADELINE

When Goldie called to say she had a surprise for me, I wasn’t expecting her to show up in Silver Hills first thing yesterday morning. I’ve never been so happy to see her.

“I’ve missed you like crazy.” We’ve been saying that to each other over and over.

She’s wanted all the details about Penn, and I’ve been trying not to obsess about Penn, so…it’s not going so well. Our littleepisode in my office hasn’t helped, and running into him and Sam at the Pixie Pop-Up Market isn’t helping either. Penn, on his own, is enough to make me drool, but seeing how sweet he is with Sam…next level.

I haven’t been able to get my mind off of PennorSam. It seems so obvious to me that Penn should have custody of Sam. Why would anyone keep that from happening? I’ve obsessed a bit, telling Goldie all about it.

And Goldie is intent on praising me up to Penn, which is making me a nervous wreck. On our walk to Luminary Coffeehouse, I try to subtly tell her to cut it out.

Inside, Clara, the adorable barista, greets us. “Ah, newcomers and regulars alike! Newbies, you’re off the hook for today, but for the regulars, you know the drill. You dance, you get coffee.”

I glance at Goldie, who raises an eyebrow, intrigued.

“Let’s see what you’ve got,” she says.

I do a little hip shake across the floor and turn back to see Penn watching with approval. He nods at me in a way that makes me feel like I’ve just won a prize and then he turns to Clara.

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