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I shouldn’t feel like that, but it’s like I’m inexperienced compared to them, and I don’t know why, and it sucks.
I’ve got a college degree. My own business. I’m disciplined, punctual, and a taxpayer. Why do I feel younger than them?
“Come on, we’ve gotta get back.” Hunter dusts off his hands. “Lights out in thirty minutes.”
They’re all working at Camp Blackhawk, like last summer. They get a couple of hours of free time while the kids have campfire jamboree at night.
I hand Hunter the two boxes to drop off at the senior center. “Where’s Kade?”
“Tending to needs.” Dylan cleans her teeth with her tongue. “Whatever that means.”
“Even I know what that means,” I say as I lead the way to the back door.
Kade would prefer to spend his summers doing one thing and one thing only, so suffice it to say, he makes the most out of his two hours of free time before lights out.
“Hey, what’s this?” Dylan asks.
She picks up the phone that the customer left, turning it over in her hand.
“Someone left it on a table,” I tell her. “I’m going to put it in Lost and Found.”
“It looks like the one that was in my desk when I stayed in Weston,” she explains. “I forgot about it.”
A look passes between her and Hawke.
“Did you see who left it?” Hawke asks me.
“Some guy.” I take the phone out of Dylan’s hand and set it back down. “I didn’t get a good look. Why?”
Hawke’s quiet before he draws in a deep breath and shakes his head. “No reason. Just leave it in Lost and Found. Someone will come for it.”
Aro throws him a look as I push open the back door, nudging them out. Not that I don’t love them, but I have exactly two hours before I need to be in bed.
Dylan takes another bite, groaning. “Quinn, seriously. You should go global.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“At least Goldbelly!”
I smile, giving her a little shove.
But then she spins around. “Or enter that baking contest!”
“Right!” I feign enthusiasm. “The Shelburne Falls Festival of… Reindeer…Chestnut...Silly Sweater Dasher Dancer Ice Miracle Angel Fest!” I tease. “Will do!”
Hunter laughs his ass off because I’m a baker in a small town, and I’ve heard all of the Hallmark jokes.
They wave, Dylan blowing me a kiss, and I catch it, closing the door and locking it.
I adore them all. I love how happy they are. They deserve it.
It’s just hard to be the odd one out in the group now. I don’t feel lonely until they’re around.
And Kade doesn’t count. He loves his life the way it is.
I shake it off, growling at myself in the privacy of my shop. It’s just the fatigue. It’s making me cranky. Overworked, not enough me-time.
I need some fresh air. And my earbuds.
