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“This doesn’t count,” he replied, the tips of his mustache twitching as he smacked his lips in delight.
“You’re gonna burn the other ones,” I taunted, taking another bite.
“Eh, they’re fine.” He dove forward, kissing me again.
A solid plunk sounded behind Weston.
Confused, I quickly peaked around his solid frame of steel and locked eyes with Keaton. His jaw had detached from his face, dropped to the ground just as the plate of three donuts he’d plopped onto the snowy forest floor.
“Mooom?” he cried out, shocked. Weston turned around, as confused as I was.
Pearl’s head popped over the crowd, and she slowly began weaving toward her son.
“Uncle Weston kissed Doc Tenley! Like a romantic kiss!” he gasped, staring at the two of us. His cheeks were bright red, a beanie pulled tightly over his ears with a bubble coat zipped up to his chin.
“Mom!” Keaton desperately called again, and Pearl finally reached his side. Weston slowly stepped away from me, facing the kid. “Mom.” He tapped her arm, unable to peel his gaze away from Weston and me.
“Keaton, what is wrong?” Pearl asked.
But he simply continued to pat the sleeve of her coat.
Weston took a deep breath. “Uh, he saw me kiss Tenley,” Weston muttered, and Pearl blinked once.
Then she laughed.
“It’s not funny, Mom,” Keaton whined, finally snapping out of his shock. He narrowed his gaze at Weston. “You said that you two were just friends, and she was stuck in the sheets. Like Mom and Dad had been.”
“Buddy!” Weston scrambled forward trying to cut him off as Pearl immediately stopped laughing.
“I’m sorry, what?” she asked.
“Pearl, it was nothing. Please,” Weston began.
She held up her hand and looked at her son. “Keaton, what are you talking about?”
Keaton stared at Weston for a moment, then his gaze slid to me and slowly a grin spread across his face. “Uncle Weston, you love her! Like Mom and Dad are in love!” he exclaimed and then spun around and shook his mom.
“They’re in love!” he shouted so loudly that everyone immediately silenced. My cheeks burned hot, and I could’ve sworn that you could see steam coming off of my face from the embarrassment of having every pair of eyes on me. Keaton scooted away, shouting out loud about us being in love as he disappeared back onto the icy rink.
Despite the frosty winter air, I felt warm all over. Weston’s back may be facing me, but he was turning a deep crimson shade, burning with embarrassment, too. Pearl placed a hand over her mouth stifling the laugh as she reached across the table and patted his shoulder.
Doc’s face popped around someone I didn’t know, his eyes connecting with mine. I hadn’t seen him in a few days, since we closed the clinic for the holiday for everything other than emergencies. He slid his arm around his wife’s shoulder and grinned. Nodding once in approval. Well, thank you Keaton. Within the next hour, I could guarantee the entire town would know about Weston and me.
Once again, I would be a hot topic in the town’s news column, along with Weston. Though, I wasn’t too upset about this reason this time.
Appearing over Pearl’s shoulder was a face I’d only briefly seen, but one I recognized immediately. Cash. His features were nearly identical to Butch’s face, a little older, a little wiser, and more wrinkled, but the same. Other than Butch had his mom’s brown hair.
His fingers wrapped around something behind Pearl’s back and jerked. Darting out from behind his mom came Butch himself. “I think you have something you need to tell Weston,” Cash stated, his voice deep and commanding. He wasn’t playing games.
Butch hung his head, his shoulders slumping forward. “I’m sorry, Uncle Weston.” He mumbled. Weston lifted his chin as Pearl crossed her arms and Cash raised his brows.
“Speak up. We talked about this.” Cash pushed him forward by his collar again.
“I’m sorry for how I talked to you. And for telling everyone about you and Doc Tenley. And for putting you in a hard position like I did,” Butch stated a little louder and then swung his gaze to his dad. “Is that everything?”
Cash nodded once as Weston lifted his hat and ran a hand through his hair. “All good, bud,” Weston said lightheartedly, and replaced the hat on his head. He was in a good mood.
Butch grinned and blinked, begging to be released. Cash sighed and let go of his collar, and his son scurried off like a little kid, ready to rip across the ice once more.
