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“I wouldn’t go that far,” he said, watching me work.
“Fine. Maybe that’s a little dramatic.”
“You’re jealous.” A smile slowly spread across his face, and he leaned into me, his breath tickling my neck. “You’re actually jealous.”
“No,” I scoffed, though once again, the feeling behind the words was lacking.
“It’s adorable.” He raised a hand to lightly touch my side, and I involuntarily jerked, sending the spoonful of vanilla sugar in my hand all over Flynn’s head.
“I’m so sorry!” I dropped the spoon and immediately started brushing the sugar out of his hair. “That tickled, and I—”
“Nothing a shower won’t fix,” he replied, reaching out and gently grabbing my wrists. Idly, he dropped one and traced his finger around the other one. “I forgot how ticklish your sides are.”
“Maybe you deserve that sugar in your hair.” My heart sped up at the gentle touch of his fingers, lightly tracing fireflies along my skin. With the way we stood, no one could see it. A tiny private moment in a very public arena.
“You act all tough, but I know what’s in that cup. I can’t wait to try it.” He lifted it up, raising an eyebrow and giving me a closed-mouth half grin before taking a sip.
“Hold on.” To distract myself from his smolder, I reached out and snagged a toasted marshmallow stick to drop into his mug. “Now it’s done.”
“Best hot chocolate I’ve ever tasted.” He grinned from behind the mug.
“Is it my turn now?” Lexi stomped up, breaking the moment.
Feeling the stare of other women on me made me uncomfortable, but I suppose that was to be expected. If Candace and Danielle could see the way he felt about me, the other women weren’t oblivious to it.
“He’s all yours.” I gestured to Flynn.
“These dates aren’t just set up for the two of you, you know.” She tossed her hair over her shoulder and hooked her arm through his.
“There’s plenty of time, Lexi. There’s no rush. Thank you for the hot chocolate, Harper.”
With a resigned sigh, I headed back to the booth with my new friends. I knew watching him with other women came with the territory, but watching him with Lexi made me angry. I hadn’t gotten to know all the women, but most of them seemed to be on the show for Flynn. I could accept that.
Lexi and I ran in opposite crowds throughout school, she with the popular kids and me with whoever I’d clicked with. Her circles surrounded her, while mine could hardly even be called circles. I didn’t have many friends, and was perfectly happy that way.
We might have gotten older, but some things never changed. She still craved being the center of attention, a place she fought Regina for at every opportunity here. Flynn deserved better. She wanted his celebrity, not him. I doubted she had any idea that his favorite pizza involved pineapple and jalapenos.
“Flynn asked me to bring this to you,” Candace replied, dragging me out of my thoughts. She handed me a steaming mug of hot chocolate with a plate beneath, chocolates tucked off to the side.
“He better watch out. Regina and Lexi won’t like that.” I meant it to be a joke, but it came out angrier than I’d intended.
“They can get over themselves.” Candace scooted into the booth next to me. “I find this incredibly entertaining.”
I lifted the mug as my heart skittered. As soon as the first touch of the salty, sweet flavor hit my tongue, I knew. Salted caramel hot chocolate.
“They’re caramel,” I replied, answering Candace’s unanswered question as she leaned over to examine the candies left on the plate.
“How do you know?”
“I just do.” A smile broke through my mood.
I’d once sprained my ankle so badly, the doctor was sure I’d broken it. Steven and Flynn vegged out on the couch with me for days, watching movies and playing Mexican dominoes to take my mind off being stuck inside. One day, Flynn had dropped by while Steven was out, and he’d brought a box of caramel chocolate candies. Only caramel. Teenager me thought it was the sweetest thing anyone had ever done for me, especially since they were my favorite. I always assumed Steven told him that they were. But the fact that he still remembered that tiny tidbit about me, shifted something inside.
As I took another sip, I realized he’d stacked the chocolates on top of a folded piece of paper. Hoping I could read it without a cameraman realizing that Flynn made a move, I snatched it up and unfolded it beneath the table.
You’re not the only one with a memory like an elephant. One day, I’ll take you on a proper date with no cameras and no interruptions. You look beautiful today.
“Marry him.”
