Page 134 of Sugar & Shadows

“We’d need help from the town,” my mom warned. “Budget, resources,” she listed, ticking them off on her fingers. “Probably help with permitting and insurance.”

“And you know Bitsy Bramble will hate this.”

Marigold waved a hand. “Leave Bitsy to me. I think we can pull this off.”

As I looked around the room, my heart swelled. We were doing good here. I was doing good. This looked nothing like my former life.

It felt nothing like it either.

And for the first time, I didn’t miss it one bit.

Chapter 34

Gabe

Panic coursed through me as I spun in a circle with my hands on top of my head.

The kitchen was destroyed. Potato peels, sprigs of rosemary, and random garlic cloves littered the countertops. And Sabrina would be here any minute.

Despite the mess, the chicken I’d put in the oven to roast smelled amazing. Perhaps I could do this after all.

I’d watched the YouTube video three times.

But what if I gave her salmonella poisoning? Fuck.

A car door shut outside, sending me reeling again. I rushed around the space, sweeping all the debris into the trash can, worried she’d think I’d gone back to my slovenly ways.

For the record, I had not. I’d thrown laundry on the couch the other night out of habit, then I’d been unable to sleep until it was put away.

When I opened the door and saw her, my breath caught. She was in all black, of course, and was holding her laptop and a stack of files.

“I have so much to tell you.” She walked past me and kicked off her heels. “What’s that smell?”

“I cooked dinner,” I said proudly.

Frowning, she assessed me. “I thought we were talking about town stuff.”

“Yes, but we need to eat, right?” I gave her my most winning smile.

So maybe I’d had ulterior motives when I invited her over. The primary being that I wanted to see her. And maybe I wanted her here. My house felt more like a home with her in it. But I couldn’t say that out loud, so town business it was.

“And since neither of us can cook, I figured I should learn,” I added.

Her face softened, but she moved on. “Want the good news?”

I nodded.

“According to Nina, your favorability ratings have gone up since you impregnated me, because, apparently, I’m a baddie.”

“I’ll take it,” I said, taking her coat. “What’s the bad news?” With a hand at the small of her back, I led her to the kitchen where I’d set the table with actual plates.

“The bad news is that we have a brilliant idea and it’s going to take a ton of time, effort, and money to pull off, and I’m obsessed with it.”

I looped my arms around her and dropped a kiss on her forehead. I wasn’t sure I was allowed to do that, but I couldn’t stop myself. We had not revisited the boundary conversation we started the other night, and I had no idea where we stood. But she was here, and that meant something.

While I served dinner, she told me about the plan.

“Maple Olympics?” I asked.