Page 41 of Under Pink Skies

With the cookies in the oven and a timer set, Imogen and I curled up on her sectional, Kindles in hand and glasses of non-alcoholic sangria on the coffee table. I cracked the windows that framed both sides of the fireplace so we could get some fresh air.

Saturdays were the best day of the week by far.

When the timer for the cookies went off, I jumped up to remove them from the oven as my phone rang on the way.

“Hello?” I answered, tucking my phone between my shoulder and ear as I shoved my hands into oven mitts.

“Hey,” Connor’s gruff voice crackled over the line, and I almost dropped the burning-hot pan of cookies. I caught myself and placed the pan on the stovetop, removing the oven mitts and turning off the oven.

“Got a proposition for you. Are you busy?”

“Saturdays are for the girls,” I said simply.

“I don’t know what that means,” Connor said, and he sounded so serious that I let out a full-belly laugh, unable to stop myself. Imogen’s head popped up over the couch in the living room, awhat the hellexpression on her face. I waved her off, swallowing deep gulps of air to calm myself down enough to speak.

“Imogen and I still bake on Saturdays,” I explained, leaning against the countertop as I slid my phone into my hand. “But what did you have in mind?”

“My grand overlord, Kameron, showed up last night, and we wanted to ask if you and Imogen would come over to the cabin tonight for an informal get-together. I’m assuming we’d probably do some talking about the festival, but mostly, I figured it would be a good idea for everyone to get to know each other better, given that we’ll be working so closely together the next few weeks.”

“Let me ask Imogen,” I said, putting my phone on mute. I threw myself over the back of the couch, landing with a plop mere inches from Imogen’s feet. She had her tassel blanket pulled up to her chin and a hoodie over her head, obscuring her face.

“What?” she said flatly, already suspecting something up my sleeve. I smiled sheepishly.

“So, I know Saturdays are normally our day, but how would you feel about going over to the boys’ cabin for a small get-together later tonight?”

Imogen blinked, as if trying to comprehend my statement.

“Are we seriously calling them ‘the boys’ now?”

“I don’t know what else to call them,” I cried, immediately regretting this decision. “I think it would be good to meet Kameron in person. And Lucas! Have you met Lucas yet?”

Imogen raised an eyebrow as she shut her Kindle case.

“I haven’t met him, no. Do I need to?”

“You’re just as involved with this festival as I am,” I said. “Okay, maybe not exactly, but—”

“Abbie,” Imogen cut off my rambling with a smirk. “If you want to go, we’ll go. It’s just fun to torture you first.”

I heaved a sigh of relief. This was the perfect opportunity for all of us to get to know one another. And the presence of people between us, acting as a natural buffer, made me feel better about going somewhere where Connor and I would be expected to interact.

I took my phone off mute and pressed the speaker button.

“Hey, are you still there?”

“Of course,” Connor said, and I bit back a smile. “What’s the verdict?”

“We’ll be there,” I said. “How does six-thirty tonight sound?”

“Perfect,” he said. “Kam’s planning to grill some burgers. If y’all want anything to drink, feel free. Otherwise, we’ll see you when you get here.”

Chapter 14

Connor

ImogenandAbbiearrivedat our cabin at six-thirty on the dot—though with Abbie driving, that didn’t surprise me in the slightest. Lucas opened the door, inviting the two of them into our space. They both wore gorgeous sun dresses, Imogen’s pale blue while Abbie had chosen a sunflower-printed one.

My heart skipped a beat as I looked at Abbie. She was beautiful all the time, but there was something about her in a dress that sent my brain into overdrive. Before I was truly cognizant of my actions, I walked over to her, taking the bottle from her hands and pulling her in for a side hug. She melted into me, letting her head rest on my shoulder for the briefest of moments before pulling back.

---