Page 15 of A Slice of Summer
He slumped. “I’m in the doghouse, guys.”
Sadie and Angus watched him.
Garrett half laughed. “Puppy dog eyes? That’s all you’ve got for me?”
Footsteps sounded.
His sister marched toward him with pursed lips and a tight expression.
“This doesn’t look good,” he whispered to the dogs.
Sadie rubbed her muzzle against his leg.
“Garrett Robert Andrews.” Flames danced in Callie’s eyes. Her arms flew to her waist, so her elbows stuck out. It was the same position their mom took when upset. “What did you do to Taryn?”
Uh-oh.Garrett gulped. “I told you I didn’t want to come.”
“You said there might have been a slight misunderstanding. An understatement?”
Not knowing what happened inside the bakery, he shrugged.
“I asked Taryn if you usually liked molasses cookies, and she said you couldn’t have a cookie. Taryn has never said anything like that, and she wasn’t joking. What did you do?”
His muscles tensed, not that they’d relaxed much since he arrived. “Is she okay?”
“I don’t know. I left to come out here.” Callie dragged her teeth over her lower lip before glancing at the door to the bakery. “What’s going on?”
His temple throbbed, threatening to explode into a massive headache. He massaged his forehead with his free hand. “It’s a long story.”
“I’ve got all night.”
Which meant she wouldn’t let this go. No one appeared to be paying attention to them. He didn’t want to drag Callie into any drama or small-town gossip. Taryn, either. But he would keep his voice low, just in case someone eavesdropped. “This isn’t the place to—”
“Taryn is my friend. She’s baking our wedding cake.” Lines formed on Callie’s forehead and around her mouth. “If you’ve caused a problem…”
“Taryn got upset at me when I picked up the bread earlier. She said she’d rather not see me again.”
“I must be missing something. You haven’t been here since December.”
Garrett brushed his hand through his hair. He didn’t see a way out of this except by telling the truth. “Taryn and I went out when I was here the last time.”
Callie blinked as if she were trying to make sense of what he’d said. “One date shouldn’t be that big of a deal.”
No, but… He swallowed.
“It was more than once.” Garrett blew out a breath, only none of his tension left. His muscles tightened into marbles, making his skin itch. Might as well say it. “Taryn and I saw each other every day after we met, except for Christmas Day.”
He’d tried to think of a way to be with Taryn then, too, but his absence on a holiday would have made his family suspicious, so he’d called her instead.
“But…” Callie’s eyebrows drew together. “You never mentioned it. Neither did she.”
“I asked her not to.”
“Why?”
“That was when you told us you didn’t think you fit into the family. That you felt overshadowed by me, Flynn, and Keaton.” Sadie nudged his leg, and he patted her. At least the dog appreciated him. “You and Brandt were newly engaged. It was your time to be the center of the attention.”
“I wouldn’t have minded.”
