DAKOTA
“Here you are, two Starlight Speckled Sugar Cookies and a large coffee.”
I handed the white paper sack and disposable cup to the man who waited for his order at the bakery counter. I always added the daily bakery specials to a smaller version of the same chalkboard that sat out at the front of the dining room, only this one was tiny enough that it sat on top of the counter next to the register.
Today’s Cookie: Starlight Speckled Sugar Cookies.
It was written in the swirling font I loved to write with, and I’d drawn a big tree with a moon hanging above it and had dotted the sky with stars. Then I’d added three squiggle lines of a stream running through.
My chest constricted as I thought of those nights, the way I’d believed Ryder was the only person in the world who could really understand me.
The only one who could really see.
I’d thought that maybe I’d been the same for him.
“Thank you,” the older gentleman said.
“Any time. I hope you come again.” As soon as I was finished with his order, I eased back along the counter to find I had two new customers sitting in the stools at the bar.
Paisley was grinning at me, as smug as could be, and Evelyn was propped on the stool next to her.
“I figured you would be missing my face by now. I mean, how could you not?” Paisley waved at herself.
“It’s been two whole days, and you know I have most definitely not been missing your face.” I sent her my best glare, even though it was hard to back it with any real anger.
“Did you miss my face, Auntie Dakota?” Evelyn peeped up, a little concerned and not understanding the playful animosity. The little girl sat on her knees so she could see over the counter, her brown hair a mess the way it always was, wild and falling in her eyes. She used both hands to try to shove it out of the way as she peered up at me.
The child could melt you with a glance.
I reached over the counter and tapped her nose. “You bet I did.”
Her smile was so big it took over her entire face. “That’s really good because I missed you, too. All the way to the moon. Did you know I got to take my horse Mazzy for a ride today? Four whole miles.”
My eyes widened. “No way.”
“Yes way.” She gave me an emphatic nod. “I went with my mom, and she rode her horse, too, and we had the most fun we’ve ever even had, and then she said we could come here for lunch since it’s our favorite.”
Love rushed from my best friend.
A torrent.
So intense it nearly swept me from my feet, so I could only imagine the magnitude of what she was feeling.
Evelyn had just started calling her mom in the last couple weeks, ever since Caleb had proposed to Paisley and Evelyn had in turn asked if Paisley could be her mother. Paisley and Caleb had tried to be casual about it, allowing Evelyn to make the progression herself as she felt comfortable.
No question, Evelyn coming to that point had touched Paisley in a profound way.
I was so happy she’d found this piece of her heart.
That didn’t mean I wasn’t still crazy annoyed at my friend who was always up to no good.
Still, I told Evelyn, “It sounds like a wonderful day.”
Paisley cleared the roughness from her throat and pinned on that easiness she loved to wear, tossing a lock of her nearly white hair over her shoulder. “Are you going to feed me or what?”
I scoffed. “Feed you? Didn’t you see I’d pinned a picture of you on the front door saying you’re banned from the restaurant?”
The gasp she let go of was ridiculous. “Ban me? The greatest friend you could ever ask for? The one who promised to help bury the bodies if ever necessary? Your ride or die?”
“My ride or die who keeps trying to throw me under the bus,” I grumbled.
“I’m just trying to get you a ride, Dakota. You should be thanking me.”
“Thanking you for what? Insinuating something you know isn’t there? You have to stop that. The only thing you did was make Ryder go all big-brother bear on me while I’m having to stay under his roof. No thank you very much.”
“I was just feeling out the waters…and believe me, they were hot. Scorching, Dakota.” She dragged out the last.
Disbelief puffed from my lungs, and I kept my words low to keep them from any eavesdroppers hanging out in the restaurant. In Time River, there were bound to be plenty of them. “Hate to break it to you, but those waters are freezing cold. He’s just in a stir over this whole break-in thing. You know there is nothing there, so drop it, okay?”