Page 49 of Merry Little Sugar Rush
I just look at my friend, not sure I believe her. I can already feel my heart getting way more invested than it should, but I think I can chalk a big part of that up to the familiarity Burk invokes. He was my closest friend for so long for a reason. We just click.
“I guess,” I reply, not sounding the least bit convinced.
“All I’m saying is enjoy it. You deserve this. Especially after numbnuts treated you terribly. You need some happy. Some good sex, and something tells me that man can deliver.”
I glance to my left, following her line of sight, and practically choke on the crisp air. “How do you know?” I whisper, watching as he takes our food toward the pavilion to secure a table.
“It’s written all over his face and body language. Do you know he’s looked over here no less than six times in the last three minutes?”
Instantly, I smile. “Yeah?”
“Uhh huh,” she replies. “Now, step forward and order your drinks before he abandons your food and comes over here to find out what’s taking so long.”
I look back at the line and realize I’m next to order. “Hi, sorry, Janelle,” I tell the woman manning the money box at the cocoa stand. “Can I get two hot cocoas with marshmallow syrup, please?”
“Of course,” she replies, relaying the order to the high schoolers making the beverages.
“Five dollars.”
I hand over the cash and slip a few extra bills into the tip jar. It all goes back to the church and helps fund their annual Christmas pageant. “I heard your sister and the Mitchell boy are getting married,” Janelle says, a sad look crossing her face.
“Uhh, yeah. They’re planning a small ceremony for Christmas.”
Janelle sighs. “Sadie is so heartbroken.”
“Sadie? Your daughter?” I ask, trying to piece it all together but coming up short.
“Yes, Sadie. She’s always had a thing for John. I thought they might end up together,” she tells me wistfully.
“Oh, uhhh…”
“Awkward,” Krista mutters behind me.
“Here you go, Joy,” the girl announces as she sets my hot cocoas on the small table.
“Thank you, Bella.” Picking up the drinks, I say to Janelle, “Have a good evening.”
She sort of mumbles a reply and lifts her nose, but I ignore her. To Krista, I reply, “If you want, you’re welcome to come ice skating with us.”
My friend makes a horrified face. “And be a third wheel? No thank you.”
I bark out a laugh and shake my head. “Offer stands.”
With that, I head to the pavilion to where Burk waits. As I approach the picnic table where he’s sitting, he stands up and gives me a smile. “Everything all right?”
“Yes, Krista was behind me in line,” I inform him, setting the insulated cups down on the table and taking a seat. “I hope you’re extra hungry, because there’s no way I’ll eat all of this.”
He chuckles. “I admit, when she set it on the counter, I was shocked by the quantity of food.”
I reach for my first chip coated in pulled pork, cheddar cheese, and sweet BBQ sauce. “It’s way too much food for one person, but it’s my favorite. I should have told you we could share.” After I chew, I use another chip to scoop the toppings up and hand it across the table.
“Thanks,” he says, taking a big bite. “Wow, that’s good,” he adds after chewing. “Want some?”
I know he’s offering me some of his food, but that’s not where my brain goes. Suddenly, I’m a fifteen-year-old boy and thinking about sex.
Again.
“No thank you,” I respond as we dive into our delicious food. We chat about everything, from work that day to family and friends. We catch up on town gossip, and I do my best to fill him in on what’s happened with classmates we had over the years. It’s comfortable, and every time someone stops by to say hello, Burk is gracious and friendly.
