AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I rarely deprived myself of anything that wasn’t harmful. Not letting myself get physical with Alivia was an unusual stance to take for me, but I did need more moderation. She was the opposite. Maybe we could learn something from each other.
Alivia and I finally made it down to the food booths, and we decided instead of getting lunch somewhere else, we’d eat here and get a little bit of everything.
Fresh, hot potato chips, shrimp tacos, wood-fired pizza covered in local veggies, and lemonade squeezed from lemons right in front of you were all on the menu.
“I don’t know how we’re going to eat all this, but I’m excited to find out,” I said as we found a picnic table under a tent they’d set up next to the food tents. A small stage was set up at one end and a family fiddler band played merrily as a few kids danced in the grass.
“The bakery was going to have a booth, but Martha was too burned out from Summer Daze, and we couldn’t get things together in time,” I said. Actually, it had been me, Linley, and Mitch who had had to tell Martha that it wasn’t going to happen. Next year, if I we had more staff, we could plan ahead and do it.
“It’s a really nice little town,” she said. “I still miss the city every now and then. Not being able to order a burger in the middle of the night has been an adjustment,” she said with a laugh. I dipped some of the chips in ketchup and Alivia made a face.
“What? Potatoes naturally go with ketchup,” I said.
“No thank you,” she said, making a face and shaking her head as if I’d offered her garbage.
“Well, I’ll be sure to keep my ketchup over here,” I said as she reached for one of the shrimp tacos, squeezing some fresh lime on top.
“Hey,” a voice said, and we both looked up from our food. Natalie had come to visit.
“I just wanted to say hi,” she said, eyeing the food.
“And mooch, I’m assuming,” I said with a laugh. She was practically drooling.
“I’m sorry, I’m starving,” she said, holding onto her stomach. “I didn’t know it was going to be that busy. Em has done these things before, but I’ve never seen it like this.” It was true, the crowd was thick.
“We can get you some food. Just let me know what you want,” I said.
“Could you? That would be great.” She looked down as her phone buzzed in her hand.
“And I’m needed at the booth. Thank you!” She dashed off.
“You should probably get the lamps and stuff you want from Em sooner rather than later, because I think they might sell out,” I said.
“Definitely,” Alivia agreed, reaching for a potato chip and crunching down on it with relish.
We tried to eat fast, but there was a lot of food, and there wasn’t a massive rush. Em could always make a custom order.
I loved that Alivia wanted to support my friend’s business. I mean, her stuff was good anyway, but it was nice to see.
“So, I’m going on a scouting trip to see about some new rugs and furniture for the inn. Just around the state to a few antique stores and furniture places. I normally do those kinds of trips on my own, but…would you want to come?” she asked.
A warm feeling spread through my veins as I looked at her.
“Yeah, I’d love to,” I said.
“Great. I was planning on next Saturday. I’ll buy you breakfast to thank you for coming,” she said.
“You don’t need to do that, but I appreciate it anyway.”
We finished our food and I sent a message to both Em and Natalie asking what they wanted for food, and then Alivia helped me wait in line and carry the food to the booth.
“Oh my god, I swear, my stomach is going to eat itself. I didn’t bring anything,” Em said, rushing toward us. Her booth was still swarming with people.
“You go first,” Natalie said, eyeing the slice of pizza I’d gotten for her.
“I’ll be fast,” Em promised as she walked away to shove her face out of view of the customers.
Alivia and I hung out in back of the booth and sat on the grass as Em inhaled her food and then switched places with Natalie.
