AllFreeNovel
Share Us
But now, it is. I’m opening up to that love all over again.
Here, in his arms, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.
“We’ve missed out on years together,” he whispers. “I plan to make up for it.” He lowers his lips to mine again, and I realize that with Nick, there will never be a best kiss. Each one he’s ever given me is better than the last.
Over by the awning, I hear Roxie cheer.
When Nick and I part, her voice rings through the rainy night. “Hey, you two love birds, are you gonna come in here and lead this club of yours or what?”
My grandfather waves us in. “Come in out of that rain, you crazy kids. We got pies fresh out of the oven, and hot coffee, too.”
“Hey, that doesn’t sound half bad,” I say to Nick, as I rest against his side.
He wraps his arm around me and pulls me close. “Sounds like heaven to me. You ready to lose that tiebreaker? Because I’m feeling lucky tonight.”
“Ha. You wish. I am taking you down, buddy.”
“We’ll see about that.” He holds the diner door open for me.
I follow the crowd in, feeling like the luckiest woman in the whole world.
Chapter 30
Maddison
One year later
“Maddie,eek!”my sister shrieks, the minute she lays eyes on me.
I’m in my parents’ basement, perched on the lumpy couch. She plops down next to me and places a small blue jar on the coffee table before twisting to frown at me.
“It’s almost eleven,” she says, plucking at the collar of my robe. “You’re not dressed yet? We’ve gone over the schedule a thousand times, and I warned you not to get a late start.”
I swat her hand away from my bathrobe. “Would you quit being so dramatic? We have plenty of time.”
I lift the blue jar off the coffee table. It’s filled with brown powder.
Spices?
I unscrew the top and sniff, trying to figure out what she’s up to. “What is this… cloves?”
“Nutmeg.”
“Weird choice for a wedding gift, sis.”
She breaks out of lecture-mode to give me a quick smile. “The secret ingredient.”
“For the Bradshaw pancakes?”
She nods. “Now that you’re going to work at the diner, you have to know these things. And, if you ever tell anyone—besides Nick, I mean; he can know—you’re going down.”
“What, you’re going to tackle me?”
“To the ground.”
“Sheesh.” I screw the top back onto the jar and give her a smile. “Fine. Whatever. I think I’ve proven my ability to keep a secret. And I don’tworkat the diner, by the way. I picked up one shift a week because I want to hang out with my family and help out. That doesn’t?—”
“Gran ordered you an apron.”
