Chapter 9 #3
The blonde—Jordi’s best friend, Holland White—turned in her chair and grinned. “It is indeed.” A copy of the infamous paper was spread in front of her.
The front photo, of him and Lily in the fudge shop lobby, facing off, arms crossed and frowning like rivals, caused a hitch in his chest. Dani had taken those photos when she’d first learned about the reporter.
She’d had to do many takes because Declan and Lily couldn’t stop laughing. It had been a good day.
Now he didn’t know if he’d hear Lily laugh again. The article had said some pretty terrible things about her fudge.
Declan groaned at the women’s attention. “Not you guys too.”
Holland rolled up the paper and smacked his arm with it. “Nah, we know better. We remember what you looked like in junior high with those braces. And you had zits just like the rest of us. Now you’re a big star. ”
“Oh, yeah.” Jordi grabbed a bagged-up Styrofoam container and slid it across the bar to Declan. “And remember that time his brother snuck in and cut part of his hair in his sleep?”
Holland snorted. “Declan was sooooo upset about his precious hairdo.”
“Understandable. He had to shave his whole head and his ears stuck out like Dumbo.”
“Thanks for keeping me humble, ladies.”
“Always.” Jordi’s smile faltered. “I do wish they hadn’t done Lily dirty like that, though.
I mean, just look what he said about her fudge!
” She grabbed the paper from Holland, her eyes scanning the article.
“Ah, here. The fudge was a symphony with out-of-tune instruments, honking and blaring, as if not even attempting to play the same sheet of music . I mean, come on. Who says that?”
“Well, the man has a point.” Isaac plopped his bucket next to Declan, and water sloshed over the sides. “Have you guys had her fudge? Way too salty in my opinion.”
“Didn’t she, like, go to school for candy making? I’m guessing her creations are exquisite.” Jordi wiped down her counter with a rag. “Go away if you can’t say anything nice, Isaac. In fact, I see a dirty table over?—”
“School or not, she’s got an overinflated sense of her abilities.
I’m thankful that someone finally brought her down a notch.
” Isaac turned to face Declan, practically lounging against the bar.
His eyebrows lifted in challenge. “What about you, big brother? You seem upset, but you should be reveling in your victory over her.”
He started at him. Since when was Isaac on his cheer squad? “I don’t wish her to fail, Isaac.”
Except, wasn’t that was this competition was about? Someone had to win, and someone had to lose. A.k.a. fail.
“Whatever, dude.” Isaac walked off whistling toward the kitchen.
Holland frowned. “Tell Lily that those who know her know that she’s talented. In fact, I’ll be by soon to grab some of her fudge. Oh.” She seemed to realize who she was talking to. “I mean, I’ll buy some of yours too. For the competition. I just want Lily to know we support her.”
“No, it’s okay. Go give her a boost. It’ll make her feel good.” He lifted the bag to Jordi. “Thanks for this.”
Maybe the chili fries hadn’t been worth all this. Probably he should have gone in through the kitchen. Declan hauled it across Main Street and up Jonathon Boulevard toward his parents’ house, where he’d finally, at last, be blessedly alone.
Except maybe not.
Because when he got to the front steps, he heard someone calling his name. Brandon came out of Grandma’s house and jogged over.
“Hey, man. It’s been a few days.” Brandon smacked Declan on the back. “Seems things are going well if that article has anything to say about it.”
“Don’t start.”
“Whoa, what’s eating you?” Brandon sniffed. “And are those chili fries I smell?”
“Yeah. Mom’s.” Declan turned to the door.
But much as he loved his cousin, if he let him in, he wouldn’t leave for hours.
Instead, he sat down on the front stoop, setting the container of fries next to him.
“Wanna join me for a sec? How’s Grandma?
” He had been so busy with the competition, Declan hadn’t been able to stop by and visit much since coming home. Hopefully she’d be at church tomorrow.
“Doing okay. She just fed me a can of soup and some grilled cheese before heading to bed.”
“In other words, you’re still starving?”
Laughing, his cousin flexed. “You think soup’s gonna sustain these bad boys? Of course I’m still starving.” He plopped down beside Declan, the fries between them. “Don’t mind if I do. But you’ve gotta tell me what’s going on.”
“Uh, pass.” Declan opened the container, the top of which was slightly damp with steam. The golden fries were hardly visible under the layers of chili, cheese, and onions. He pulled out one of two plastic forks—Jordi must have thought he was sharing with someone—and handed it to Brandon.
“Come on, dude.” Brandon stabbed a fry and, leaning over the container, managed to get it and a mountain of chili into his mouth without spilling a drop.
After he chewed, he pointed the fork at Declan.
“You haven’t given me an update for over a week, when you said, and I quote, ‘Working in the same place as my high school flame might have been a mistake.’”
“I still stand by that statement.”
“So.” Brandon shifted on the step, leaning back against the staircase post. “Have you kissed her yet?”
“What? No.”
“But you want to.”
Declan leaned forward and buried the bottom part of his face in his hands, groaning. “I don’t want to want to.”
“And why not?”
“Because it’s complicated.”
His cousin took another stab into the chili fries. “From what I can tell, you guys complement each other really well. And you clearly care about her.”
“Of course I do. We’re friends, I think. Like today when everyone was waving around that newspaper, I could see her sinking in on herself and I just, I don’t know. I want to help her.”
Brandon swallowed. “Friends? Does she know that?”
He sighed. “Not sure. Maybe. The other night, we put some of the past to rest. Apologized. Agreed that the family feud was stupid. But yes, I don’t know. There are these moments when I think, maybe…”
“You could fix things. Go back to the past.”
“I don’t want the past. I want…”
“Her.”
He sighed.
“I knew it!” Brandon hit him on the shoulder. “You’re crazy about her.”
“Crazy’s a little over the top.”
“Cra- zy , cuz. You always were.”
Yeah, he had been. In fact, that’s why he lost his head a little around her. Why he’d gotten into trouble. So maybe he should pay attention.
“Maybe. But it changes nothing. I’m still leaving for my job in Chicago in a few weeks.”
“You wouldn’t consider staying?”
“What would I do here?”
“You’re a smart guy, Declan. You’d figure something out.” Brandon looked down at the container, which was almost empty. “Sorry, man. I ate all your food. You want the last bite?”
“You go ahead. I’m not hungry anymore.”
Shrugging, Brandon polished it off, then tossed the plastic fork into the container and closed it, sitting back against the railing again, studying Declan.
“What?”
“You said what would happen if Lily won, but what about if you do? After that article, it’s a strong possibility if it wasn’t already.”
“It is. But if I win, I’m still going back to Chicago. I’ll hire someone to run the place here.”
“What about Lily? Why not hire her?”
It was the same idea he’d had—and thrown away—earlier this week. “She definitely wouldn’t want to work with Mom and Dad with me gone.”
“You’re not thinking, man.” Brandon reached over and smacked Declan’s head.
“Hey!” He rubbed the spot. It hadn’t exactly hurt, but still. “What was that for? What am I not thinking about?”
“The fact that nobody is making you go back to Chicago. Your parents would love it if you stayed. And if you stayed, you and Lily could work together. Really put the family feud behind you.”
“I’m not sure she’d work in a Kelley shop. That might be too much for her.”
“You’ll never know if you don’t ask.” Brandon reached over to smack him again, but Declan strong-armed him back. Brandon laughed. “And you’ll never know if she is feeling the same way if you don’t just man up and kiss her.”