Page 52 of A Surefire Love
Like a perfectly aimed and well-deserved pie, embarrassment splattered across her face. What was she doing, checking him out? And while they were working with the youth, no less.
Around her, kids and adults mingled. Hadley and Mercy scored the can of cherry pie filling and scurried off toward the shade of a tree, plastic spoons in hand. Sydney and Ray started picking up pie-making supplies. Nolan unspooled the hose and aimed it at the pavement, dissolving the sugary remnants of the projectiles. Anson flipped the rag he’d been using and swiped the clean side over his hair.
Blaze passed the remaining cloth from one hand to the other. He’d probably want it for his shoes or a second pass over his face and arms, but she wouldn’t be the one to give it to him. Until her wayward hormones got the memo they were just friends, she’d keep her distance.
She draped the cloth over the edge of the water bucket and retreated inside.
20
Anson kept an eye on Mercy, who squealed as Hadley chased her around a tree. Blaze had disappeared, but she couldn’t have gone far without her sister.
“I hope lots of people tell my dad how great this was,” one of the kids said behind him.
Anson turned to find Dylan. “Glad you enjoyed yourself.”
“Yeah. I mean, I got to throwtwopies at you. Plus, the old lady at the last house was so happy we helped, she cried. We were going fast because we wanted to win. If it wasn’t a race, we wouldn’t have gotten to her house, but I’m glad we did, and not just because of the pie.”
Anson clapped him on the shoulder. “Helping people feels good, doesn’t it?”
Dylan’s smile dropped prematurely. “I just wish I could help you more.”
“Help me with what?”
“My dad says you’re running the youth group into the ground. He wants to replace you.” He looked toward hisfriends. “I think they had fun. I’m going to try to bring them to Branching Out tomorrow.”
Carter had once offered similar help, but he hadn’t repeated their dad’s mission in such stark terms. A warning tone droned in Anson’s ears. Eric might’ve grown more outspoken. “It’s not your responsibility to help me with your dad. That’s between us and the leadership board.”
“But that’s the thing. Dad talks to people about you.”
Anson massaged his own shoulder. “You don’t need to worry about it. God is in control, and I’m glad you brought friends so that they can know Him too. That’s the important thing.”
Dylan’s mouth curved in a half smile, but before they could continue, his mom called him and his friends over to her SUV. Meanwhile, Ashley West parked. Hadley and Mercy bounded toward her and climbed in the car.
Anson helped Sydney and Nolan scrub pie toppings off the pavement and carry the table inside. One by one, the leaders said goodbye. Anson piled up one last load of empty pizza boxes and deposited them in the trash bin beside the building.
He could lock up and head home, but his SUV had company in the form of Blaze’s black sedan. They could finally talk. Light steps carried him back to the building.
He checked the youth room first. Empty, but he’d left it unattended during the pie ceremony. He pulled the food stash out from under the couch. He checked it once a week, and nothing had changed since he’d first found it.
Today, however, an apple rolled into his hand instead of an orange. Some of the candy had been swapped out for other varieties, and the note with his phone number was gone. He scanned the room but saw no hints to reveal who’dstopped in. He hadn’t seen any students snacking on anything besides pizza and pie filling during the event.
He rubbed his mouth, considering his options. All of them would require steps he couldn’t complete now. He put the bag back and locked the room before setting off to find Blaze, if she hadn’t already ducked out.
No one sat in the sanctuary. He swung by the offices, but all the doors remained closed. On his way to check the gym, he heard water running in the kitchen.
Blaze stood at the sink. Her jeans and long sleeves suited the cooling weather. Despite being in a ponytail, her hair reached the small of her back. What he wouldn’t give to walk up behind her, slide his hand across the soft fabric of her shirt, and feel the ends of her hair feather across his knuckles.
She shut off the faucet and plunked a handful of serving spoons into the drying rack. Wiping her hands on a towel, she turned from the counter and jolted. Exhaling, she pressed a hand to her chest. “How long have you been standing there?”
Longer than he should’ve been.
She smirked. “Nice shirt.”
“This old thing?” He tugged the hem for the hundredth time.
With a chuckle, she dipped her chin and turned away.
As she replaced the towel on its hook, he leaned against the counter beside her. “Was that coffee in your mug earlier?”
