Page 136 of Just One More Thing
The place erupts in cheers anyway. Loud delighted chaos from people who’ve been watching, wanting, and waiting for years.
Mrs. Kravitz claps. Miss Hattie lets out a full whoop. Frank raises a powdered doughnut in silent support. Humphrey hmphs approvingly.
Mo points at all of them. “Every single one of you needs a hobby.”
Miss Hattie cackles. “Honey, you are the hobby.”
That breaks her. Mo starts laughing so hard her shoulders shake. And watching her standing there laughing in the middle of Holey Moley with half the town celebrating around us?—
something inside me finally settles.
Relief.
I’ve wanted this for so long I forgot it could actually happen.
Hank starts hopping in excited circles, arfing because everyone else is excited, and that seems reason enough for him.
I step up behind her. “You okay?” I ask quietly near her ear.
She turns her head toward me. “I think so.”
I brush a strand of hair away from her cheek and kiss her there.
Her fingers hook absentmindedly into the waistband of my shorts before she realizes what she’s doing.
I definitely realize.
Her voice softens. “I liked waking up with you.”
That lands right in the center of me. “I liked waking up with you too.” Then I lean down and kiss her again. This time on the lips.
Not long.
Not for the town.
Just for her.
CHAPTER 33
EMORY
This town treats privacy the way it treats the “do not feed the seagulls” signs. Cute in theory. Rare in practice. Mostly something people mention right before ignoring it completely.
Three minutes after eight, Mrs. Kravitz comes into Holey Moley for a glazed twist and studies my face like she’s trying to identify visible signs of romantic activity in my pores.
“Beautiful morning,” she says.
“It is.”
“Very bright.”
“Sure is.”
“Good weather for…“ She pauses delicately. “Walking home.”
I hand her the box. “Enjoy your glazed twist, Mrs. Kravitz.”
She smiles like I’ve just confirmed a dozen separate rumors.“Oh, I will.” Then she leaves with a cheerful little, “toot toot.”
