Page 203 of Worth the Trip

“How?”

“It’s information. A limited menu. A different market. We can bring Scoops & Stories with us without pretending one successful Saturday means we need a lease.”

“That sounds like you already know what part interests you.”

I exhaled. “Maybe.”

“Then look at that part.”

“You make things sound simple.”

“I ain’t saying expansion simple. I’m saying a pop-up ain’t a marriage proposal.”

I laughed. “Very romantic comparison.”

“Accurate, though.”

I turned the laptop toward me. “Demand can make you feel like you’re supposed to do something.”

“Demand gives you information. It don’t get a vote.” That made me pause. Landon continued. “You don’t expand because people want access to you, Hershey. You expand if the vision feels like yours.”

I looked toward the dark window.

“And if I wanted to explore Self Springs?”

“I’d support you.”

“That’s vague.”

“It’s supposed to be.”

“Convenient.”

“Nah. Depends what you ask for. You need information, I give you information. You need introductions, I know people. You need boxes carried at the festival, I got shoulders.”

“You’d stay out of the way?”

“Don’t disrespect a sincere offer with impossible standards.”

I laughed.

Then his voice settled.

“I can hold the flashlight, baby. You decide where we looking.”

My fingers stopped on the laptop.

“You really don’t understand how attractive that is.”

A short pause.

“What part?”

“You wanting me closer and still refusing to make the decision about you.”

“Of course I want you closer.” The ease of the admission reached me. “If Crème & Chill opened ten minutes from me, I’d become a lunch-hour problem immediately. But I ain’t about to have you build something you don’t want because it makes my commute convenient.”

I smiled.