Page 254 of Worth the Trip

“I know. Wanted to hear you say it.”

Something tightened pleasantly behind my ribs. “This part was never optional.”

“I know that too.”

Her attention traveled over the shelves before returning to me. Moisture gathered beneath her eyes.

“Nana.”

“I got allergies.”

“You do not.”

“This city got different pollen.” I smiled and leaned my head against hers. She touched my cheek. “You took that trip and came back with more than you left with.”

The sentence settled somewhere deeper than business.

Months earlier, Self Springs had existed mostly as mileage in my mind. A place on the other side of a drive I had not expected to make repeatedly. Then it became Landon’s city. His family. His work. A bookstore. A cabin. A festival. A place where people had tasted what Nyla and I built and asked when we were coming back.

Now I was standing inside the answer.

“Yeah.”

Nana squeezed my hand. “I’m proud of you.”

“Thank you.”

“And before you start turning my compliment into some lesson about this building, I ain’t talking about the store.”

My throat tightened.

Of course she wasn’t.

“I know.”

“Good. Now where the butter pecan? I rode all this way. I’m not about to stand around hungry while you get sentimental.”

I laughed and led her toward the counter. “That sounds more like you.”

“I been me the whole time. You the one been traveling.”

We had barely reached the dipping cabinet when another familiar voice entered behind us.

“Damn, Coco. I drove all this way and I’m already getting ignored?”

Nyla closed her eyes.

I turned.

Malcolm walked through the front door wearing jeans, sneakers, and a black T-shirt that fit his shoulders with entirely too much confidence. He looked around the shop once, spotted Nyla, and headed directly toward her without bothering to pretend the ice cream had anything to do with his arrival.

Nana followed my attention. “Who that?”

“Trouble.”

Nyla pointed at me. “Don’t.”

“I was answering Nana.”