Page 117 of One Small Spark
We part, and he backs toward his shop. “Goodnight, goddess.”
Unfair of him to use that nickname when I’m trying to be a force of self-control and restraint.
“Goodnight, cheeseball.”
Jamie’s customer leaves the bakery, and I hold the door open for him before walking back through. I’m contemplating the wisdom of going over to Shepherd’s tonight even though I have to wake up at five in the morning, but I stop short in the middle of the store. Hope is leaning against the pass-through wall between our shops, a giant grin eating up her face.
I try to erase mine, but my post-Shepherd glow probably gives away even more than the floaty expression.
“Things have progressed, I see.” She might as well be twisting her handlebar mustache like a cartoon villain.
I smooth out my apron and tip my chin up. “You didn’t see anything.”
“No, we saw it.” Jamie’s not exactly gunning for employee of the month.
I roll my eyes at him, but head over to Hope, who’s grinning her pretty little head off. “Please tone it down. Your gloating is interfering with people’s WiFi connections.”
“I would just like to say, ‘I told you so.’”
I can’t even hold onto my mad face. That’s how mushy I am over Shepherd. “Congratulations. You’re smarter than I am, blah, blah, blah. You win.”
“Are you happy?”
My heart flutters its answer, which luckily, she can’t hear. “Why do you have to go and ask a question like that? That’s ridiculous.”
“I’m going to take that outburst as a ‘yes.’ I’m happy for you, too.”
“Stop it. Gross. We’re not doing this.” I’ve never been on the receiving end of Hope’s romantic enthusiasm. It’s pretty soon tojudge, but I’d call it a love-hate thing. Like a grandma hug that’s comforting at first but goes on way too long.
“Will Shepherd join us for our next night out?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t asked him.” I smooth out my apron, running my fingers over the pocket. “But probably, yes.”
Hopefully, our next night out isn’t for a while. I need time to get past my urge to poke people in the eye just for seeing us together.
Hope squeals silently, shimmying her shoulders. Best friends who love you too much are the worst.
“Do your mom and Tess know?”
I glance at the door that leads into the back. It’s lucky for me Tess is too obsessed with her cakes to hang out in the front lately. She might even have a wedding cake she’s working on for this weekend. “I haven’t told anybody.”
And really, do I have to? I don’t need to go into detail about my dating life to satisfy their curiosity. So what if I’m happier than I’ve ever been? That’s not their business, is it? That info is on a need-to-know basis.
Hope tries to get a severe face going. “How long do you think you can keep it a secret? You obviously can’t keep your hands off him.”
My dopey smile returns, sending Hope into fresh paroxysms of secondhand joy.A best friend you can’t keep your hands off of.I never knew it until he said it, but that’s exactly what I want, too.
“Oh. I have some non-Shepherd news to tell you.”
She starts beaming again. “You call him Shepherd now.”
“Quit it.” But I’m shining brightly, too. “I got an apartment.”
“Really? When did this happen?”
“Just a few days ago.” I can’t think about what else happened that weekend or we’ll both turn into sappy loons. “It’s really cute. Nobody knows about that, either.”
The smile falls off her face. “Wren. You need to tell people things.”
