Page 132 of Lavender Lake
“I’m eating for two,” Hadley said.
“Yeah, that excuse only lasts so long,” Gracie said as she plated our tartlets. “What are you drinking?”
“Nothing too sweet,” Hadley said. “So how about a hot chocolate with extra whipped cream and caramel drizzle?”
“And I just became a diabetic,” I said. “I’ll have an herbal tea. Hibiscus if you’ve got it.”
“I’ve got it,” Gracie said.
“No coffee for you?” Hadley asked in surprise.
“I’m coffee’d out,” I lied.
“You guys take a seat and I’ll bring you the drinks,” Gracie said.
“And we’ll take the rest of those tartlets,” Hadley said. “To go. For Dad and Jane.”
“Uh huh.” Gracie grinned.
“Five bucks says they’re gone before we get home,” I quipped.
“Why would I bet against you?” Gracie asked.
Hadley and I took our tartlets to the corner table and sat down.
“This is nice,” she said. “Just you and me, out and about. We hardly get to do that anymore.”
“That’s because you’re too busy sucking face with your fiancé to want to do anything else,” I teased.
“Hmm. He’s just so delicious, I can’t help it.”
“Can I change the subject?” I asked.
“Sure.” She picked up a tartlet and bit into it. And then she moaned.
“I’m telling Declan you cheated on him with a lemon curd tartlet,” I said with a laugh at her reaction.
“After he has one, he’ll understand. You want to talk about something?”
I nodded.
Gracie came over to the table and dropped off our drinks. “I meant to tell you I met the Monroe brothers the other night at the Copper Mule. The whole fleet of them.”
“Oh yeah?” Hadley took her hot chocolate and licked off the top of the whipped cream peak.
“Yeah.” Gracie looked at me. “Harlan has a thing for you.”
“No, he doesn’t,” I protested.
“Then why did he ask me questions about you all night?” she asked. “When he found out we were friends from school, he held me hostage and asked all about you.”
“Harlan would be perfect for you!” Hadley said to me. “At least while you’re home. No muss, no fuss.”
“I’m not interested,” I said.
“Why not? He’s cute,” Gracie said.
“He is cute,” I agreed. “I’m just not interested.”
