“I’m telling you,” Poppy declared, waving a half-eaten cinnamon roll like a conductor’s baton, “we need face masks, fuzzy socks, and something ridiculous to watch. Maximum chaos, zero plot. I’m thinking of that movie where the guy falls in love with the mannequin.”
“Hey, Poppy, aren’t you supposed to be working?” yelled Junie.
“Let’s just say I’m on an extended break,” she called back, giggling so hard she almost spit out her cinnamon roll.
“Hey, watch it.” Kip popped a bite of donut into her mouth. “But to your point, I’d say only if we follow it with crafts. I found these new glitter pens that are actually non-toxic. We couldmake bookmarks, or little keychains, or those cute painted rocks everybody’s doing now.”
“I just want to know why Kip here wants water or acrylic paint pens instead of oil-based ones. Is it just me, or does that scream ‘I’ve got plans with Daddy later’?” Tildi wiggled her eyebrows.
“Oh-oh,” everyone said in unison. Kip’s face turned the color of cherries, but she didn’t deny it.
Tildi leaned forward, eyes sparkling with mischief. “I have a better idea than painting rocks. Can anyone say ‘tattoo’?”
Joy nearly choked on her coffee. “You’re going to give Boone a heart attack. Can you imagine what would happen if you came home with more ink? Even temporary ink? Can anyone say, ‘red ass’?”
The whole table dissolved into laughter, and even Junie couldn’t stop the smile tugging at her lips as she carried over a fresh tray of warm donuts. This was exactly what she needed today. All her girls being loud and silly and full of love. Tanner’s visit that morning had left her stomach in knots. She was still trying to understand what had happened. Having the girls over was a good distraction.
Kenzie leaned back in her chair, smirking right at Junie. “You know, if you think Tanner is still seeing you as just a friend, you’re crazy. That man looks at you like he’s two seconds away from throwing you over his shoulder and carrying you off to his man cave.”
Junie’s cheeks heated instantly.Oh no. Not this again.Her heart gave a silly little flip even as her brain tried to shut the thought down. She shrugged. “I didn’t notice.”
“Seriously. Don’t give up on him, Junie. That boy has been gone for you for years. He just needs a little push,” Tildi chimed in.
Joy pointed a fork at her. “Exactly. You two have history. Real history. The kind most people would kill for.”
Poppy sighed dreamily. “I mean, come on. The way he looks at you when he thinks no one’s watching? That’s not ‘just friends’ energy.”
Junie busied herself arranging the donuts so she didn’t have to meet their eyes. Inside, her thoughts were a whirlwind.
They didn’t understand. He teases me, and they think it means something more. Not Junie. She’d learned the hard way that Tanner’s teasing was just that… teasing. She’d been tag-along little Junebug since she was six.
He still ruffled her hair like she was a kid.The only difference was he’d shifted from calling her Junebug to calling her Cupcake. Not that she was complaining. Cupcake was an awesome nickname.
But if she was being honest with herself, a tiny, hopeful part of her still whispered that maybe, just maybe, her friends were right. Memories of how suggestive his teasing had been lately replayed in her mind on a permanent loop, making her stomach flutter every time.
Something was different, for sure. Why had he gotten so upset about the flowers? If it were anyone else, or she were anyone else, she’d swear he was jealous. But that was just silly.
“I don’t know,” she said softly, trying to sound casual. “He’s always looked out for me. That doesn’t mean he wants… more.”
Kenzie snorted. “Junie. Honey. That man isnotlooking at you like a little sister anymore. Trust me.”
Before Junie could come up with a reply, the bell over the door jingled. Another delivery driver stepped inside, holding a flat package wrapped in plain brown paper. Junie’s stomach sank.
Not again.
“Another one?” Kenzie asked, her voice dropping.
“Just put it here on the table,” Tildi said.
The girls all turned. Even Cherry, sitting at the far end of the counter with her usual scowl, lifted her head with interest.
“Come on, open it,” Poppy urged. “Maybe it’s from Tanner this time.”
Junie hesitated, but five pairs of eager eyes were locked on her. With a sigh, she untied the string and slid the paper off. Inside was a thick photo album. Her hands trembled slightly as she opened it.
Page after page of pictures carefully cut from old Wilder Community School yearbooks. Every single one had Junie or Prestonin it somewhere. Their faces had been circled in bright red marker. Some pages had hearts drawn around the circles. Others had little notes in the margins:Soon. You’ll see.
The table went completely silent.
