Page 6 of Sugar and the Skeptic
“Judging by how cute this box is, I can already imagine. Thanks for these.” I select a sugar-coated treat and take a small bite, impressed by how cakelike the texture is. “You wanna know something weird?”
“Always.”
I smile. “I think Rafe thinks my name is Sugar.”
A slow grin takes over her face as she peels the liner off the base of her muffin. “Is that what he’s calling you?”
“Yeah. He did it when I left the wedding, and then he said it again when I was packing up my van this morning.”
“You gonna tell him he’s got it wrong?”
I bounce my shoulders as I chew. “I don’t know. I kind of like it.”
Serenity giggles as she takes a bite of her breakfast. “You are bothsodone for.”
Putting the muffin down and wrapping my hands around the steaming mug, I frown. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t know if you met Jade at the wedding yesterday. But she has this theory that when a Valentine man sees the woman he’s meant to spend his life with, his soul winks at her in recognition. She calls it a soulwink.”
“As you would.”
“Yeah. Logic, right?” She taps her head. “Anyway, Rafe is the only Valentine who’s still single, and you just happened to walk in while he was vehemently denying soulwinks are a thing, and caught his attention. From what I hear, he literally stopped forming words when he saw you.”
I almost choke on my tea as her words hit me full force. “Are you trying to say his soul winked atme?”
She giggles again and shakes her head. “I don’t know. Maybe. It sounds nuts, I know. But I promise you when I met Nelson it was like lightning struck, and we haven’t been apart since.”
“That sounds really beautiful, Ren. But I can’t say I’ve felt any lightning bolts. Embarrassment? Yes. Awkwardness? Most definitely. But anything beyond that is a hard no.”
“Hard no, huh?” she says, sipping her tea. “Then why are you blushing over him?”
A smile jumps to my lips, and I try to keep it from taking over. “Because the guy saw me bent over naked this morning.”
She responds by waggling her eyebrows.
“Oh, stop. His immediate reaction was to tell me to put on clothes and get out of his lake. I’m a little humiliated, if I’m honest.”
“I’ll bet he’s not humiliated…Sugar.”
“Stop!” I laugh. “It’s not like that. I mean, sure, he’s hot as hell. All those Valentine men are—that wedding was man-meat city. But that doesn’t mean we’re destined for each other, or whatever this soulwink thing you’re talking about is supposed to mean. Besides, you and I both know I won’t be sticking around long enough to evenfind outif there’s a possibility of anything there. It’s just not how I operate. I’m all about my van and my freedom.”
She places her mug down on the counter and rests her chin on her upturned hand. “Doesn’t it get lonely, though?”
“Never.” I say, pushing down the feeling that threatens to out my lie as I reach out and place my hand over hers. “I make friends everywhere I go. And before I can outstay my welcome, I move on to the next town. It’s a perpetual holiday, babe. And I genuinely love my life.”
Letting out a sigh, she straightens. “I know. I just…I wish you could stick around, you know? Put down roots in the same town as me so it could be like the old days. And Whisper Valley is such a great vibe. I know you’d fit in here. And just imagine, if somethingdidhappen between you and Rafe. We’d be sisters.”
A slow grin curves up my lips as I stand and move around the counter to hug my lifelong friend. “We already are, Ren,” I say, squeezing her tight. “We always have been. And always will be. No matter where on this earth I might happen to be.”
She hugs me back. “I know. But you can’t blame a girl for wanting to make it legal.”
Laughing as I release her and I step back, I gesture toward the front door of the cabin. “How about you show me around town? I want to see your yoga studio and everything you love about this place.”
“I’d like that. I was actually going to suggest you make some of your crystal candles while you’re using the cabin. I can sell them at the studio and you can earn a little extra cash.”
“Sounds perfect. And I think I found just the thing to make you a Whisper Valley exclusive too.”
Her face lights up. “I can’t wait to see what you come up with.”
