The Cinnamon Bun Book Store (Dream Harbor, #2)(78)

Annie ignored Mac and turned back to Hazel. ‘Trent is a new friend. It just seemed nice to invite him.’

Jeanie hustled out of the kitchen with several trays of cheese and crackers in her hands. ‘And the more the merrier,’ she said, eyebrows raised like she was communicating a very important message to him and Hazel. A message about how no one was to ruin her Friendsgiving with drama.

‘Hmm.’ Hazel’s little noise of disapproval was all she contributed to the conversation.

‘Well, it’s nice to meet you, Trent.’ Noah stuck out his hand and the man breathed a small sigh of relief. ‘How’d you meet Annie?’

‘I tried her cookies and I just had to have more.’

Hazel choked on nothing, sputtering and coughing. Noah patted her back, biting down on his own laughter. He may or may not have heard Mac grumble something about staying the hell away from Annie’s cookies, but it was hard to hear over Trent’s backpedaling.

‘Uh ... from her bakery. Chocolate chip. I went to buy some and we got to talking. That’s ... uh ... what I meant.’

Noah chuckled. ‘Yeah, she’s the best.’ He winked at Annie and she smacked him playfully on the arm.

‘Gee, thanks. Okay, now that we’re all introduced, let’s move on to having a nice day.’

More grumbling from Mac’s corner.

Logan was the next to emerge from the kitchen and Noah was starting to wonder how many more people were hidden in there. His friend was wearing an apron with a giant turkey on it.

‘Looking good, man,’ he said with a grin as Hazel followed Annie into the dining room for snacks.

Logan glanced down at his apron and then back to Noah with a frown. ‘Thanks. How’s your sister?’

‘Much better, no thanks to me, but I kept the kiddos occupied at least.’

‘Good man.’

Noah leaned toward him. ‘Did you do it yet?’ he whispered.

‘Shh!’ Logan grabbed him by the arm and dragged him back into the kitchen. ‘What are you crazy?’

Noah rubbed his arm. ‘Sorry. Geez.’

Logan frowned. ‘Sorry. I just don’t want to ruin the surprise.’

‘So you didn’t do it yet?’

‘No.’

‘I thought you said, by the end of the year...’

‘There’s still time.’

‘Hey, did you check the biscuits?’ Jeanie swept back into the kitchen and Logan nearly jumped away from Noah like they were caught doing something nefarious. Jeanie eyed them skeptically. Oh, his best friend was definitely going to ruin the surprise.

‘Uh, yeah. They need a few more minutes.’

Jeanie tucked herself next to him and Logan draped an arm over her shoulder. He dropped a kiss on the top of her head.

‘So how are things with Hazel?’ she asked Noah.

‘Don’t pretend she doesn’t tell you everything,’ he said with a laugh.

‘Not everything! And besides, I like to hear it from you.’

Noah couldn’t help the smile on his face. It was inevitable when he thought about things with Hazel.

‘Things are great with Hazel.’ Great, amazing, the best two months of his entire existence, no big deal.

Jeanie grinned.

‘Uh, do you need help with anything out here?’

‘Nope. We’ve got it under control.’ She glanced over her shoulder as something bubbled over on the stove, hissing as the liquid hit the hot burner. ‘Mostly. Anyway, maybe you could just go make sure Annie and Mac stay in their own corners.’

‘Oh, is that all? Maybe I could figure out world peace while I’m out there.’

Jeanie laughed as she moved back toward the stove. ‘Thanks, Noah! You’re the best.’

‘Yeah, yeah,’ he muttered as he went back out to the living room.

Annie and Hazel were busy stuffing themselves with cheese and crackers while Trent and Mac seemed to be in the middle of some sort of staring contest. At some point, George had arrived with Jacob and Crystal, whose rumored NFL boyfriend was off playing in Texas today. And the three of them were busy mixing drinks at the little bar cart Logan had set up.

Nana and Grandpa Henry were in Florida for the winter, so they weren’t around, but soon Alex and Joe arrived to round out the group. They’d been on again, off again since Hazel’s birthday but apparently today they were on. With the way everyone was already drinking, Noah could picture this Friendsgiving rapidly deteriorating, but he was going to do his damnedest to make sure that didn’t happen. He planted himself in the seat next to Mac and handed the man a small plate filled with crackers.

‘You should probably eat something.’ Noah eyed the empty scotch glass in Mac’s hand.

Mac grunted but started shoving crackers in his mouth. ‘I don’t know why she brought him.’

Noah glanced at where Trent was now by Annie’s side, looking at her all sweetly.

‘Maybe he’s nice to her.’

Mac scoffed. ‘I’m nice to her.’

‘Right.’

More grumbling. More cracker eating. ‘She’s the one that’s not nice.’

‘You are aware that you sound like a kindergartener, right?’

‘I’m aware.’

‘Okay, good. As long as we’re on the same page.’