Page 80 of In Every Chapter

“Of course! She’s right over . . . oh, there! Up on Nash’s shoulders.”

And sure enough, Stephanie, looking more casual than I’d seen her in ages, wearing capris and a graphic tee—and was that a cowboy hat?—perched on a tall man’s shoulders, laughing at something he said. He smiled up at her like she was his world.

Liz waved a hand, and they moved towards us. With ease, the man reached up and lifted Stephanie off his shoulders, holding her steady when she wobbled once her feet touched the ground.

“You good?” he asked.

Going up on tiptoe, Stephanie kissed his cheek and plopped the hat on his head. “Perfect.” Her eyes brightened when she saw me. “Pais! This is Nash!”

I took a minute to study my bestie’s fiancé. He didn’t give off millionaire vibes in his jeans and T-shirt paired with his nerdy dark-rimmed glasses. “Nice to meet you. Again.”

Nash’s smile was warm. “Glad you’re with us for the day.”

“Uh . . . Not to be weird, but why are you wearing a cowboy hat, Nash?” Liz asked dubiously.

Stephanie grinned, lifting a hand to smooth her slightly mussed black curls. “He lost a bargain.”

“You guys are still doing that?” Ben asked, lips twitching.

“I thought you hated the Texas cowboy stereotype,” Liz pressed.

“I do, and we are,” Nash said, wrapping an arm around Stephanie’s waist and tugging her closer.

“In my defense, you did suggest this particular wager and punishment.” Stephanie crossed her arms in what I was sure was a power move, but it didn’t work on Nash.

“Oh, I’m exactly where I want to be, darlin’,” Nash said, brushing a kiss to her lips.

“And on that note, let’s find Jules and Myles and get this show on the road!” Liz announced, tugging Ben after her.

Myles and Juliet joined us on the way to where the pancake breakfast was being hosted. Juliet’s face took on a green shade when a fresh cornucopia of smells wafted past us.

My gaze wandered across the open park to find Greyson. It wasn’t like I meant to find him; he was just . . . magnetic. And totally adorable as he served a couple of kids a stack of pancakes.

“I think we should divide and conquer,” Stephanie said, scanning the busy greenway. “Some of us should take orders while the others guard enough seats for the rest of us.”

“I’ll be a guard,” Juliet offered, smiling faintly. “I’ll even sing if it means I don’t have to stand in line smelling all of that.” She flapped her hand towards the tents.

“I’ll stay with you,” Liz offered. “Ooh, kitty!” She crouched to pet Jerry, who was sashaying around her legs. The usual nuisance-turned-golden-child purred under Liz’s cooing, nudging his head into her palm and acting the part of an adoring feline instead of a miniature devil with fur.

“Show-off,” Juliet muttered without any heat.

“My very own Disney princess,” Ben teased.

After we got everyone’s orders straight, I joined Nash, Stephanie, and Ben in the line while Juliet dragged Liz and Myles away from the heady confusion of smells. The pancake breakfast was legendary in Serenity Springs. It was all done by volunteer and donation, sponsored by local businesses. They rotated servers every year, and Greyson and a couple of the guys from the mechanic shop were up for service this time.

I studied him unapologetically while he dished up a plate of pancakes for a wide-eyed little boy and drizzled syrup on top. Greyson was great with kids. I’d seen him with his nieces and nephews, and he was a natural. A deep longing ached in the middle of my chest. We hadn’t discussed kids since the day we’d dropped Juliet off at the airport. I’d seen the pain in his eyes then, and somehow that hurt more than my own struggle to come to terms with that lost dream.

Someone jostled me, interrupting my musings. Noticing the gap in the line in front of me, I scurried forward. Oops.

“What can I get you, gorgeous?” Greyson asked, when I stepped in front of his section.

“Do you greet all your customers like that?” I asked, hand to my chest.

His eyes twinkled with humour. “Just the extra gorgeous ones. You’re the only one I’ve seen who fits the bill.”

My cheeks heated and were going to need their own personal fan if this man insisted on flirting so much in public. “Two double-doubles please.” Code for stack of two.

Greyson flipped a few pancakes and dished them up. “Syrup?”