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As Kyle and his team celebrated, Katie gathered ours together and whispered, “Next year is our year, all. If Sabrina can get her friend here, he’ll be our secret weapon. Can you do it, Sabrina?”
Sabrina blinked. “Who are you talking about?”
I clarified, “She’s talking about Taylor’s husband.”
Sabrina cleared her throat. “Oh, well, we’ll see. He’s kind of a busy guy.”
Katie shook her head. “We’ll think of a way to get him here. I can’t pay him millions or anything, but maybe if we bribe him with cheese, wine, and whatever else we’ve got, it could be enough.”
Sabrina chuckled, and I sighed before saying, “That’s next year, Katie. For now, just shake hands with Kyle so we can end this and get some food. I’m starving.”
The parents of the Evans family had a rule—no one ate until the two teams congratulated each other on a job well done. Something about not wanting the hostility to ruin the rest of the day or something. All I knew was that it was tradition.
Once Kyle and Katie did that—Kyle looking smug as all else, and Katie scowling—the Evans dad, Henry, shouted, “Food’s ready!”
Everyone gathered their crap and headed toward the large barbecue and tables set up with burgers, hot dogs, and a lot of other food. I was about to find Abby and talk to her when Avery took my hand. “You were amazing, Millie! You can throw so much farther than I can. Can you teach me how to do it?”
I smiled. “I could, but your dad is a lot better than me.”
Glancing over, I noticed West and Wyatt together. West must’ve heard us because he grunted and said, “I had more practice growing up. If we had a swim contest, I’d lose.”
It’d been so long since I’d been on the swim team that it took me a second to comprehend his meaning. “That was years ago, West.”
“But you have a pool in your backyard.”
“Yes. But I rarely use it.”
I never had the time.
Avery jumped a little. “I didn’t know you had a pool! Can we use it? Please, Millie?”
West frowned. “You can’t just invite yourself over, Avery.”
Wyatt spoke up. “Can we come over, pretty please?”
I bit back a smile at his overly polite tone. The little guy was laying it on thick. “It’s up to your dad. If he says it’s okay and can watch you, then sure.”
As soon as I said it, I regretted it. The last thing I needed was West bare-chested in swimming shorts, showing off those arms, shoulders, and chest. So I added, “Or if someone can watch you. An adult has to be there.”
Wyatt looked over at West. “Dad? Can you take us?”
West grunted. “We’ll talk about it later. For now, let’s get some food before it’s all gone.”
As he herded his kids away, part of me itched to follow.
But then I reminded myself I needed to keep my distance from Weston Wolfe. His hidden charm and kindness were something I didn’t think I could keep resisting.
So I headed over to Abby, who was with Katie and Amber—the four members of the BFF Circle in one place.
Amber smiled at me. “So you are alive. I haven’t seen you in the bakery, apart from wedding cake tastings or orders, in weeks.”
The four of us usually had tea or hot chocolate and scones once a week, when Katie often smuggled in some Baileys to add to the hot chocolate. “I know. But it’s turning out to be an amazing summer for me and my business, and I just have so much to do.”
Amber looked at me in that way she had, the one that I swore could read my mind and knew I was hiding something, and then she said, “Next week, you’re coming, no matter what. Even if I have to send Katie to kidnap you.”
Katie rubbed her hands together. “I’ve always wanted to try that. Well, in a non-creepy and completely legal way, of course. But we’re besties, so kidnapping is allowed. You’ll never see me coming.”
And knowing Katie, she wasn’t lying.
