AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Go on now.” Tootie scooted us away. “Enjoy the market.” She gestured toward the whiteboard with all the couples’ names on it. “It’s neck and neck for the town’s favorite couple, but I’ve got my money on you two!”
Annie’s soft laugh rolled over me. It was a sound I had heard a million times before but still wished I could bottle up. It immediately made me feel at ease.
My hand found the small of her back, and I guided her toward the bustling market.
The rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee beckoned, intermingling with the intoxicating scent of warm cinnamon pastries emerging from where the Sugar Bowl had a table and stall set up.
Behind the table, Sylvie King was handing change to a customer.
“Huh,” Annie commented.
I turned my attention to her.
“It’s weird she’s not on a date with Charles.” Annie shrugged. “I’m going to snag us those coffees and pastries and see what’s up.”
I nodded. “Duke is across the way. Meet me over there?”
With a nod, Annie slipped away. Across the street and a few stalls over, Duke was standing behind the long tables, discussing produce with a customer and looking thoroughly pissed off.
As he ended the interaction, I stepped up, laughing. My hand shot out, and my brother gripped it. His eyes were focused over my shoulder. When I glanced back, he was watching Annie and Sylvie talking over two steaming cups of coffee.
Duke was watching her. Anyone with half a brain could see his attention was focused on a particularly pretty blonde. I was loyal as a Sullivan, but not oblivious. Sylvie King may be a little cold and dismissive, but she was attractive, and Annie swore she wasn’t quite the ice queen she had been made out to be. Regardless, it was my duty to give my oldest brother shit.
I leaned in close. “You should probably stop eye-fucking Sylvie King in public, dude.”
His eyes whipped to mine, anger simmering in his stare. Duke was always a crabby motherfucker, but clearly I’d hit a nerve.
“Shut it.” His warning was unmistakable, the anger he held on to so tightly just below the surface.
It was the perfect time to poke the bear. “Sorry, man. I just thought you had the hots for MJ, not Sylvie. That’s all.”
My oldest brother’s face turned an angry shade of red. “You keep your mouth shut about them.Bothof them.”
I raised my palms and laughed. “Holy hell, I’m joking. Relax.”
He nearly growled. “I am relaxed.”
I laughed again and shook my head. Years ago I had stopped trying to figure out what the hell Duke had to be so pissy about. When our family went to hell, I chose to mask my pain with humor, sex, and laughter. Duke wore his pain like a badge of honor.
Changing the subject, I looked over his table, which was arranged with baskets upon baskets of fresh Sullivan blueberries along with jams and compotes Duke had made himself. “Do you have any of the blueberry lime? It’s Annie’s favorite.”
Duke snatched a small jar off the table and placed it in front of me with a clunk. I dug for my wallet, but he shook his head. “On the house.”
I patted his shoulder. “Thanks. You’re a great brother.”
A disgruntled noise rumbled from his throat, and I laughed, saluting him with the jar in my hand. “See you later, man.”
I made my way back to Annie. She used one hand to sip her coffee while somehow balancing a white paper bag and my coffee in the other hand. I relieved her of the items and leaned in close. “You get the scoop?”
“Apparently Sylvie and Huck are taking turns behind the stand. She and Charles are meeting up later for their date.”
I glanced at the scoreboard again. “That’s good news for us. They were catching up.” I winked.
Annie didn’t laugh as I’d intended, but only offered a light smile.
A mixture of anticipation and unease swirled within me. Today Annie was still acting differently—her energy a bit subdued, her laughter restrained. It sent a shiver of worry down my spine, tapping into some unresolved fears I didn’t like to think about.
As we meandered through the bustling market, I noticed that other couples from our close-knit town were in the idyllic setting for their own arranged dates. Laughter blended with the hum of commerce and the rustling of paper bags. The farmers’ market was a patchwork of bustling stalls, smiling faces, and the occasional bark of a contented dog.
