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A buzz from Evie’s phone, propped up against the window, claimed both of their attention.
Sam:
Still think we should tell Mum. It’s HER shop, Sprout. Not yours. Yet
Rolling her eyes, she continued folding the bags.
“I take it that’s your brother?” Sunita picked up a Granny Smith apple from the cutting board.
“Sam thinks all this is too much for me.”
“Well, it is a lot, Eves.”
She shot Sunita a dirty look. “Not you, too.”
“Hey, all I’m saying is this would be a lot for anyone.”
Evie winced. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bite your head off. It’s just—Sam’s been really overbearing.”
“Protective older brother syndrome strikes again.” Sunita twirled the apple by its stem. “Does he know Nick’s here?”
“I may have mentioned it.” Evie stuffed the bags in a drawer. “I have to nail this, Sun. I can’t go down in flames in front of Nick—of all people.”
“You won’t! We’ll make sure of it.”
“We?”
“You didn’t think I’d abandon you in your time of need, did you?”
“But this is your holiday,” said Evie. “You’ve worked damn hard for this week off.”
“Yeah and I’d be spending most of it with you anyway, right?” Sunita glanced around the narrow galley kitchen on wheels.
Evie knew sweating over its burners and griddle weren’t part of Sunita’s original holiday plans but couldn’t have loved her more for offering. “You’ll have to take an online food safety course. Takes a few hours.”
“I’ll do it tonight.”
“You’ll have to wear a hairnet.”
“Awesome, ’cause yours is so fetching!”
Evie smiled. “Ah, Sun, I love ya. Thank you.” A buzz came from the window again. “God, what now, Sam?” Her glare darted to the screen.
Caleb:
See you at 8?
Oh shit. Totally forgot. Evie grabbed her phone, her shoulders caving. “Looks like One-Kiss Caleb will remain that way for the foreseeable.”
“He canceled?”
“No, but I have to.” She typed a quick reply.
Evie:
In catering hell at the castle. Sorry! Another time?
“I have to buy groceries tonight then organize tomorrow’s meals”—she hit send—“and make sure today’s screwup doesn’t happen again.”
