Page 39 of One Small Spark
“Maybe you can bring your bike, too.”
I laugh, picturing it. “My bike isn’t safe to ride.”
The old bike I got in middle school is still in the garage at home. The frame’s rusty, and both tires are flat and probably unusable. I’m sure it has more dangerous defects I can’t even recognize. But it’s sweet August wants to include me in his fun.
“You could fix it up,” he says.
I refuse to imagine the look on Callahan’s face if I were to roll that thing into his shop. He’d laugh me right back out the door.
“For now, I’ll be happy to watch you ride your bike,” I tell August.
“I’m good at riding.” His mouth opens wide in a big yawn. “I hardly use the training wheels anymore.”
“That’s because you’re awesome.” I kiss his forehead. “Love you, buddy.”
“Love you, too, Wren.”
I wish I could say the moment clears my mind, but it soothes my heart, and that’s more than enough.
I join the others in the living room, hopefully betraying nothing of my tumultuous thoughts.
“Rough day?” Tess gestures for me to take the empty armchair across from Ian. She and Charlie are on the couch, a tablet between them with a gallery of wedding cakes on the screen.
“I don’t want to interrupt your meeting.” I drop into the chair anyway.
“You’re not.” Charlie sets the tablet on the coffee table. “I’m venting about Leo more than we’re talking about venue business.”
“You and Leo?” I didn’t think I was so out of the loop with town gossip I would have missed that nugget.
“No. No way. Not like that.” Charlie’s got both hands up, the perfect definitionof denial.
I’m getting a weird sense of déjà vu right now.
“He’s working at the lodge with me,” she explains. “My parents asked him to help with some marketing as we get the venue off the ground.”
“Yeah. A retired NFL player marketing a wedding venue. I can see that.” Not that Leo wouldn’t do it. Ego doesn’t seem to be a big problem for him.
“I know. But he’s like a second son to them, and they love having him around. He’s practically my brother.” Her nose wrinkles on the last word. “But he’s constantly underfoot and has way more energy than I know what to do with. The man needs a hobby.”
Tess laughs. “As a retired NFL player, I’m pretty sure this is his hobby.”
“It’s got to be hard for him to adjust to a life without football,” Ian says. He knows a thing or two about starting over. After he lost his leg, he had to reevaluate his whole career, too.
“I’m sure his millions of dollars will help him adjust.” Leo’s a great guy, but I don’t know how sad I can be about him not getting paid big bucks to play his favorite game anymore. Plus, he doesn’t seem all that distraught.
But looks can be deceiving, can’t they?
For example, when the broody, unassuming guy kisses you like he’s on death row and you’re his last meal. Didn’t see that one coming.
“That’s not very kind of you, Wren.” Leave it to Tess to mother me a little.
“No, she’s right,” Charlie says with a laugh. “He’s going to be fine. He’s got a lot of ideas for what he wants to do next. I’m sure he’ll land on something that makes sense. Until then…” She gusts out a sigh. “I get to be his boss.”
“Lila’s trying to get the two of us to do some kind of local promo for the new Irwin’s store when it launches.” Ian shakeshis head as if this is just as ridiculous as Leo marketing the wedding venue.
Except, in his case, he actually is a world-famous mountain climber. From all I’ve heard, Grant actually fanboys overhim. He’ll fit right in at the outdoor store.
“Prepare yourself to be Lila’s new best friend.” Tess smiles over at her man. “Sunshine doesn’t have a lot of famous residents. You and Leo just might be the entire club.”
