Page 35 of Not For Keeps
We reach the stand, and the scent of cinnamon sugar and warm apples wraps around us like a cozy blanket. Maya’s eyes go wide at the trays stacked with fresh donuts.
“Pick one,” I tell her. “Just one.”
“One for now,” she says, already reaching.
The rest of the group fans out—Andres goes straight for the hot cider, Mariana’s trying to convince Anna to split a caramel apple, and Seb is interrogating the teenager behind the counter about how many grams of sugar are there in a donut.
Mateo stands beside me, shoulder just barely brushing mine. “You want one?”
I glance at him. “Are you talking about the donuts or the cider?”
“Yes.”
I huff a laugh. “Cider. But only if you’re getting one, too.”
He nods and signals to the vendor. “Two ciders, please. And one of whatever she’s having,” he adds, gesturing to Maya, who is already covered in powdered sugar.
We settle onto one of the benches just off to the side, where the group can still be heard arguing about donut rankings. Powdered over jelly. Bavarian cream over strawberry frosted.
Mateo passes me the warm cup, and for a moment, ourfingers brush. I take the cider and sip. It’s too sweet. So, of course, I love it.
I glance over at him and notice that he’s watching me.
“You’ve got something,” he says, gesturing to my face,
I blink. “What?”
He leans in, just slightly, and brushes his thumb gently against the corner of my mouth. Powdered sugar. The contact is brief. But it’s enough to completely short-circuit my brain.
His hand drops back to his lap. “You good?” he asks, voice low.
I nod. Liar, liar. “Yeah,” I say. “Just…sugar rush.”
He smirks. “Sure.”
I take a long gulp of my cider. “I’m serious,” I say.
Mateo stretches one long leg out in front of him and bumps my foot lightly with his. “You’ve got your overthinking face on,” he murmurs.
“I do not have an overthinking face.”
He side-eyes me. “You absolutely do.”
Before I can argue, Maya appears out of nowhere with powdered fingers and sticky cheeks. “Picture time!” she announces.
Anna is already waving everyone over toward the big photo wall set up by the cider stand—stacked hay bales, scarecrows, and pumpkins.
Mariana hands her phone over to one of the teens working the stand. “Hi! Can you take a picture of all of us, please? Like, multiple? Don’t be shy with the shutter.”
Seb and Andres immediately start striking ridiculous poses—Seb throws his arm around the scarecrow, looking like he made a new lifelong pal, and Andres kicks a leaf pile into the air.
Mariana rolls her eyes and grabs Seb by the shirt, dragging him back in line. “You’re taking one normal photo. Please. For the family album.”
Maya plops herself in front of everyone, cheeks puffed, ready to burst with joy and excitement. “Mateo, come here!”
He steps in beside her, and without hesitation, lifts her into his arms. She squeals and wraps her arms around his neck, giggling.
Mariana looks at me, eyes sparkling, and says loud enough for everyone to hear, “Smile like you’re in love!”
