Page 22 of Small Town, Big Storm

No.

That’s not something I’ve seen before.

I open my mouth to agree with them?—

And then Storm is back.

There are scratches on his arms and a red welt lifting on his cheek.

“Oh,” I say, pressing my hand to my chest.“Are you o?—”

His gaze locks onto mine.

And my insides?They twist like they’ve suddenly been filled with a thousand snakes.

“We need to talk,” he growls.

Fuck.

My eyes flick toward Holly, and he nods tersely.

Fuck.

“Um,” I begin.

“Hey!”

Jumping, I turn to see Finn striding across the grass, her smile wide.

I glance at my watch.“Is everything okay?”The craft fair isn’t technically over for another two hours.

“I sold out.”She tosses her hands up, joy in her gorgeous hazel eyes.“Can you believe that?”

“Um, yeah,” I say.“I can.Your blankets are beautiful.”

Another toss of her hands.“But I didn’t just sell out of my blankets.I sold out ofeverything—towels and potholders and table runners, and I even sold the two rugs I brought with me.”

“Like I said”—I bump her shoulder with mine—“yes, I can believe you sold out, girlie pop.”

She presses her hands to her cheeks, still smiling wide.“Right, I’m just…” She drops her hands with a sigh.“Lucky.”A beat.“So damned lucky.”

“And amazing and strong and beautiful and a hard worker with an extremely big heart.”I bump her again.“Which is why you deserve every bit ofluckyyou have.”

Unlike me.

Because the things I’ve done…

The secrets I’ve kept…

The truth I’ve hidden…

“Eh, I don’t know about that,” she prevaricates, though she says it as she winds her arm around my waist, her voice dropping, her next words genuine.“But, seriously, thank you, Pop.”

I lean against her for a minute, exhale to settle my stomach, and tell her just as quietly, “You’re welcome.”

“So, since I have all of this free time suddenly on my hands, should we all grab dinner together?”

“I—” My gaze drifts over to Storm.