Page 81 of A Cup of Autumn
Keaton.
They’d talked nonstop since they left her house. The only breaks in conversation had been when they ate, but the silence was comfortable rather than awkward. Now that the plates had been removed, they continued talking.
He took a sip of water. “So a few freshmen, especially the gamers, were floored that Thor and Loki weren’t OG in comic books. They went into complete denial, which wasted an entire class when I’d hoped to cover all the Norse gods because they wanted to show me the movies the characters were in.”
She laughed. “I thought your students were the best and the brightest.”
“Some must slip through the cracks.”
“Or maybe they live sheltered lives.”
“Possibly. Enough about my classroom tales.” Keaton reached across the table and laced his fingers with hers. “Tonight is a celebration. We did it. All the prep for the Boo Bash is completed.”
Raine stared at their linked hands. She should be more weirded out, but his touching her felt totally natural. “We work well together.”
“We do.”
“Raine?” a woman asked.
Emmett’s mom stood near their table with a shocked expression on her face. “Hi, Mrs. Wilson.”
Mrs. Wilson’s brows knotted. “Um, hello. Who’s your friend?”
“Keaton Andrews, this is Mrs. Wilson. Mrs. Wilson, this is one of Callie’s brothers.”
Keaton flashed her a polite yet practiced smile. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Wilson.”
Mrs. Wilson’s mouth formed a perfect o, but her gaze remained locked on Keaton’s hand on Raine’s. “Emmett told me he’s been trying to reach you.”
Raine schooled her features, not wanting to show her surprise. Mrs. Wilson had never been antagonistic, but gossip had gotten back to Raine that Emmett’s mom thought he could do better. Though Mrs. Wilson had been upset when her son left town. “I’ve been busy at the shop and planning the Boo Bash.”
Keaton raised her hand and kissed the top of it. “And spending time with me.”
Mrs. Wilson’s eyes nearly bugged out.
“I have.” Raine owed Keaton for helping with the Boo Bash, but his actions tonight earned him dessert. She would be buying at Lawson’s the next time. “I heard Emmett’s seeing someone. I hope that’s going well for him.”
“Of course, it is.” Mrs. Wilson stared down her nose. “My Emmett is a catch.”
Raine kept a smile frozen in place. Mrs. Wilson had told her after the breakup there were plenty of fish in the sea.
“So is Raine,” Keaton said, not letting go of her hand.
She would order him an extra scoop of ice cream if he wanted pie—or whipped cream if he got something else. Whatever he wanted.
Mrs. Wilson continued to stare. It was uncomfortable and weird.
“We were just leaving,” Raine said. “See you.”
Emmett’s mom walked away.
“Is she gone?” Raine asked.
“Peeking around the corner,” Keaton whispered back. “Was that as weird for you as it was for me?”
“Weirder. I’ve spent every holiday for the past four years at her house. She was happy when Emmett broke up with me, but she acted surprised that I was with you.”
“Not surprised. Upset.”
