Page 56 of The Huckleberry Bookshop

“I posted about it on social.” Chad winked and turned, leaving her there to obsess over how fast the numbers were crawling upward—and all thanks to him.

Chapter 10

What on earth was Armadillo Day? Mullens wandered among the revelers on Main Street, Sweetheart Creek. The evening parade had ended, and he’d lost sight of Athena and Meddy. They’d been handing out mini tarts and grinning like their dreams were coming true. They’d been working the crowds without having to check in with each other, always knowing where the other sister was and what they needed. More huckleberry tarts? The other sister was already approaching the car driven by what Mullens guessed was their dad, and grabbing another tray from their mother, who was in the backseat.

It made Mullens homesick for a life that no longer existed for him. After Evonne had passed away, his parents had split, and he’d shuttled between the two homes, often forgotten about. There were no family meals or trips, just notes on containers of food in the fridge, or pinned to cash and left on the counter along with a takeout menu. And so he’d learned to cook as well as how to count on himself.

Eventually his dad had bought him a car so he could drive himself to hockey practices or take himself to games and tournaments. Next had come a credit card, and lies about his age when hotel clerks asked for an accompanying adult, or ID proving that he was one, in order to check in during out-of-town tournaments.

Somehow, despite a lack of parental guidance, Mullens had achieved his dreams.

But he’d never really gotten past his grief, had he? Never really figured out the pain.

He stood on the corner, blindly watching the small town go by, people nodding to him, offering hellos. Just a stranger, and yet he felt like he was at home.

Before he could change his mind he pulled his phone from his back pocket and dialed the team’s psychologist.

“Hey, it’s Mullens.”

“What’s up?” The man on the other end of the line was kind, but also had a firm edge that said don’t-mess-with-me. He’d tried to crack Mullens a time or two; he’d been making the rounds through the Dragons since September.

Miranda, the team’s owner, had a plan to whip her players into shape, everything from being more financially aware to dealing with their own emotional baggage, as well as taking care of their nutrition and physical fitness. He’d never been on a team quite like the Dragons, and he found it was growing on him. It wasn’t just a job; it was a family and everything that went along with it.

Doubting himself, he remained silent.

“Mullens?”

He caught sight of Athena hustling across the street, beelining it to the bookstore. Tonight was the grand opening and he’d caught only glimpses of her all week as she prepared for it.

“I was thinking…” he began.

Athena looked tired. Had she stopped to eat today? He’d tried pressing a cup of apple cider into her hands earlier—after sidestepping an armadillo that seemed intent on keeping a cluster of people away from the food trucks. Apparently, the beast didn’t understand that the day was in its honor—or maybe it did and was lording it over the humans. But getting Athena to accept the drink had been like forcing a cat into a travel carrier.

“Mullens?”

“Sorry.” He closed his eyes, pinched the bridge of his nose and turned away from the street. “I was thinking I have some stuff I haven’t let go of. Can you help me with that?”

“Yes.” There was a pause. “When are you free?”

Mullens faltered. “Now?”

The man laughed. “I’m eating supper with my family. The only reason I didn’t let your call go to voice mail is because I imagined you might be desperate.”

“I am.”

His tone turned to wary concern. “Is it urgent?”

Mullens watched Athena vanish into her shop, her words from the other week rattling in his head about how he didn’t let her in—and he knew that was because he was avoiding feeling the pain of his past.

“Not life or death, but I’m ready to make a change.”

Athena had been operating on adrenaline and excitement, but she could feel her energy starting to wane. It had been a long week. The shop was now open and people were streaming in for tonight’s grand opening, keeping her and Meddy hopping.

And Chad was everywhere.

He had been since the kiss. Like a stray, it felt as though he was always lurking in the shadows, one eye on her in case she set out another food dish. Or in their situation, let down her guard and opened herself to another kiss.

She’d thought about that kiss a lot. Too much.

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