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“Got it.” I went to the back of the line, taking a moment to study the other patrons while I waited my turn. Most were tourists, although I saw a few locals. London, who ran the animal shelter and riding school, was seated at a table opposite Cal, her boyfriend and Summer Braddock’s business partner. Many people thought Cal and London were an unlikely couple, but their connection was obvious to anyone who cared to look. London practically glowed when they were together, and Cal’s eyes softened every time they landed on her. My heart squeezed. I wanted that with Nate.
I gave Eden my order, took a number, and went back to our table, surprised to see that Summer had joined Alice. Summer, the only Braddock sister, had the same blonde hair as her brothers. Her eyes as she glanced up and smiled at me were a mossy shade of green that sparkled with intelligence.
“Hey, Summer.” I placed the number in the center of our table and sat. “I’m surprised you’re here. I’d have thought either you or Cal would need to be at the clinic.”
She shrugged. “We decided to close for an hour over lunch. We both had chaotic mornings, so we need the time away.”
Alice winked. “The perks of owning your own business, right?”
“It is pretty good,” Summer agreed.
“Have you ordered?” I asked.
“Yeah. I asked for it to go but then saw Alice and thought I’d say hi.” She leveled a mischievous look at me. “I heard through the grapevine that Nate finally got a clue. Rumor or fact?”
My heart skipped a beat. “Who told you that?”
As far as I knew, we hadn’t shared our changed status widely—unless, of course, Alice had spilled the beans. She loved a juicy piece of gossip, but she usually knew when to be tight-lipped.
“Oh, don’t glare at Alice.” Summer laughed. “It was Maddy who told me. She brought their cat in for its yearly vaccinations this morning. She assumed I already knew.”
I winced. “It’s still early days, and we haven’t talked about when we’re going to tell people, so I’d appreciate it if you could keep it to yourself. Honestly, I didn’t even know Nate had told Maddy.” I couldn’t hold it against him though. Transparency was important when it came to co-parenting.
“My lips are sealed,” she promised. “But can I just say how happy I am for you?” She bounced in her seat, her smile stretching from ear to ear. “I’ve always considered you a sister, and it would make me so pleased for it to finally be official.”
Her words made me warm and gooey inside. “I love you, Summer.”
“Back at you, Gracie.” She grabbed my hand and squeezed it. “Seriously, Nate is lucky to have you. I hope he realizes that.”
“Thanks.” I squeezed her hand back, then let it go. “But dating Nate or not, you’ll always be my sister of the heart. That doesn’t change.”
“N’aww!” Alice clapped excitedly. “You guys are just too cute.”
Summer rolled her eyes. She was about to reply when Eden called her name. She stood, intending to get her order, and nearly smacked into Asher, who was coming the other way.
He grunted and steadied her. “Be careful where you’re going, Baby Braddock.”
Summer scowled. “Maybe you should be careful not to get in my way.”
Alice and I exchanged a glance. Every time Asher and Summer were near each other, sparks practically exploded between them. Based on the longing looks Summer directed at him when she thought no one was watching, I knew she yearned for him to see her as more than his best friend’s little sister. She’d had a crush on Liam’s broad-shouldered, dark-haired friend as a teenager, and it had never faded. I felt a pang of sympathy. I knew what that was like. Asher, on the other hand, was a dark horse. I’d never been able to tell what he really thought of her.
“Whatever.” Asher stepped around her to address us. “Mind if I take that last seat while I wait for my order to be called?”
“Go for it,” Alice said.
I watched Summer’s back as she headed for the counter, wondering whether she’d return or take her food to go. With Asher around, I couldn’t be sure either way. She seemed to take the opposite route to what I had with Nate and went out of her way to antagonize him—which wasn’t hard, since he had a short fuse. In the end, she did come back, although perhaps only to spite him.
I was grateful when a waitress brought our lunch over and even more grateful when Asher left. I liked him well enough, but he made Summer tense, and I found it difficult to relax when my companions were on edge. The three of us chatted while we ate, and it occurred to me that we should do this more often.
Eventually, Alice and I headed home. But by the time we got there, I wasn’t feeling so great. My stomach was cramped and bloated.
“Are you okay?” Alice asked, her brow furrowed with concern.
“Not really,” I admitted. “Maybe I ate something that was off. I might lie down for a while. Do you have enough work to get on with?”
“Of course. I always do.” She nibbled her lip. “Should I call Max to set up an appointment?”
“No. Hopefully I’ll have a nap and be fine after.”
