Page 9 of Coming Innocent

“I think Cassidy said he had a photo shoot that he couldn’t get out of, but he did send a gift.”

Spinning around Avery wraps her arms around his neck as she asks, “Did you know about this.”

Hesitantly he replies, “Yes, I did,” as he rests his hands on her hips. “I know that you don’t like surprises, but I thought you may make an exception for this one.”

She narrows her eyes jokingly and she leans up and kisses the underside of his jaw; all she can reach on her toes.

“It’s a wonderful surprise and I love it. Thank you. I’ll show you how much later tonight”

“I’m looking forward to it and you’re welcome.”

Shirley and Temple Fitzgerald interrupt their rendezvous and chat with the couple as a few other townspeople descend upon them. Avery smiles happily at the people surrounding her and she immediately feels a sense of contentment as Logan wraps his arms around her from behind, chiming into the conversations when necessary.

“If you all don’t mind, I’m going to snag Avery away to grab some food. We’ll catch up in a bit.”

“Thank you, my stomach was about to revolt in hungriness,” she giggles.

Logan laughs and responds to her thanks.

“Well, what would you like to eat,” he asks as they eye the large buffet table spilling over with food.

“Everything. I want everything,” she claims ravenously, licking her lips in anticipation.

“Yes, ma’am.”

Not distracted from her view of the smorgasbord before her, but she swears she hears Logan laughing.

***

SCOOTING THE CHAIR OUT next to her best friend, Nikki plops her plate onto the table and dives in. She doesn’t hear any of the conversation going on around her, just simply indulges herself in the melt-in-your-mouth ribs; her plate is piled high with the stacks of barbeque goodness.

Finally pulling the last rib bone from her mouth, she takes a napkin to wipe the messiness around her lips before looking up to glance around the tent. The ten tables are scattered around and she smiles inwardly.

Finally, her father catches her attention and he winks in her direction as someone she doesn’t recognize goes to sit beside him. Nikki nods and continues to glance around the space. Most of the Lady Busy Bees, the town’s local community group of women and the reigning queens of gossip, all sit closely together while their significant others all sit at the adjacent table.

Nikki finds Cassidy, Harlan, Sydney, and Dylan sitting at a table with Amy and Joseph laughing loudly at something Dylan has said and on the opposite end of the tent sits Jameson and Nora, Cliff the local tattoo artist, Sydney’s part-time employee Jessica. Beside Jessica, Everleigh stars daggers at the tent opening where Brooks saunters in with a scantily clad Tiffany, a girl Austin had previously dated before her.

“Uh oh, trouble has arrived,” Nikki says to the air as she takes a sip of lemonade.

“Did you invite her?” Austin asks.

Avery chimes in after sticking a massive spoonful of mac and cheese in her mouth, “Brooks had mentioned that he had lunch plans with her. I guess he assumed he could bring her.”

“I’m fine with it as long as you are, darlin’,” Austin adds as he takes a sip of beer.

“I’m not sure you need to worry about me,” Nikki mentions as Joseph walks over to greet Brooks and a livid looking Everleigh stands from the table, her chair practically falling from its place.

Captivated by the scene before her, Nikki watches as the flowy peach summer dress Everleigh wears swishes around her thighs as she stomps across the tent to where her arch-nemesis stands still shaking hands with her father. Her blond curls bounce with each step and jerk when she knocks her shoulder into Brooks’ arm roughly as she passes.

Joseph steps back to retire to his table and Brooks guides Tiffany to the empty seat at the closest table. As he steps back he takes a moment to glance back at the house and run his fingers through his styled hair, leaving waves in its wake. He takes a deep breath before slouching into the chair beside Tiffany and starting a conversation with the others.

Nikki actually feels her heartache for both Brooks and Everleigh. Something keeps her from reaching out and taking hold of something that everyone else can see when the couple is together. And, by the way she stormed off when Brooks arrived with someone else, Nikki knows that Everleigh cares for the man she swears that she hates.

“That was interesting,” Avery admits bashfully from her place beside her.

“Everleigh just needs to admit that she wants him. It would be easier for everyone.”

“Yeah, but she’s skittish about it. About relationships in general. I don’t think I’ve heard of her ever having a boyfriend.”