Page 39 of Take This Heart
I open up the family thread.
$100 to the first to congratulate us on WINNING
As we’re weaving through the crowd toward the door, I bump into someone hard enough that her drink sloshes a little.
“Oh gosh, I’m so sorry,” I say, instinctively reaching out even though it’s too late to help. “Get one drink in me and I’m like a newborn fawn.”
The girl—no, not a girl, definitely a woman, and one who has the most perfect cheekbones—glares at me.
“Watch where you’re going,” she snaps, brushing past me.
I turn to watch her walk away.
“Okay,excuse me,” I mumble.
Erin leans in, eyes wide. “Who is that? You know what?” She grabs my arm. “She came into the store the other day and asked a bunch of questions. She asked about you.”
“She did? What did she want to know?”
“Well, she asked about all of you…if you were usually in town full-time or not.”
I frown. “I wonder why.”
I look around the bar, but now she’s nowhere to be found.
“Hmm. Well, she didn’t seem very happy to see me.” I snort and grab my jacket, trying to shake off that little dark cloud. “It’s been so fun.”
I hug Erin and she groans when I hug too tight. “Okay, okay.I’mglad to see you, but you’re cutting off my circulation.”
I let her go, grinning at her, and she grabs her stuff.
“I’ll walk out with you guys,” she says.
I try, but I can’t quite get my arm in the sleeve of my jacket. Milo takes it from my hands and helps me out.
“Tipsy trivia queen,” he murmurs.
“I have a tiara in my purse,” I whisper back. “Don’t test me.”
My knees are a little wobbly as we walk out of The Loon. Milo takes one look at me as I try to open the passenger side door of someone else’s car and gently steers me away.
“Not ours,” he says patiently, unlocking his SUV. “Come on, Mildie. You’re with me.”
Erin blows me a kiss and yells, “Don’t make out too hard!”
“ERIN,” I hiss, not too tipsy to set her straight.
“Bye, babe! Bye, hottie!” she sings, disappearing into the night.
She lives close enough to walk, lucky her.
Inside the SUV, it’s warm and quiet. Milo’s hand brushesmy leg when he hands me a bottle of water, and suddenly I amveryaware of him. And this tension that’s been building forweeks.
“You make an okay partner,” I say, leaning my head back against the seat.
He glances over at me. “Yeah, you too.”
We’re quiet as he drives. And then, all too soon, we’re home. When I glance at Milo, he’s staring at me.
