Chapter 19 #2
We head toward the food, which is divided into stations.
Gabriel and I are at the hamburger table.
I grab a bun and pepper jack cheese to put on my burger.
I tease Gabriel about his blue cheese choice.
He thinks my mayo selection is disgusting.
And I give him a lecture about mustard. The next station is sides.
Potato chips and French onion dip for him, Tostitos and guacamole for me.
As we near the dessert station, Gabriel leans in. “This isn’t on your bucket list, but it should be,” he says. He gestures at small round pancakes. “Virginia ham biscuits.”
My eyes widen. “You had me at biscuit.”
We balance our plates as we navigate through the crowd, but I barely make it two steps before I’m stopped—again.
And again. After the fifth photo and third handshake, Gabe grabs my plate to help.
“Mayo and crushed chips on your dress is not a good look,” he says.
Finally, we escape to an empty bench under a tree, away from the crowd.
I sit on our bench, suddenly self-conscious about the two of us being alone.
My sister is talking it up with some other kids near the lemonade.
She’s waving her arms around and I know she’s telling another one of her wild stories.
Nessa is nearby. I spot Shaw about twenty feet away from us, standing under a tree.
Gabe is wolfing down his burger. He appears completely oblivious about being alone with me. I guess I’m the only one having feels at the moment.
I take a bite of my burger and enjoy the smoky taste. But my appetite is low. “Great barbecue,” I say.
Gabe puts his plate down and wipes his mouth with a napkin. “Yeah, Marge knows how to throw a party.”
“Does she?”
“She leads the committee that hosts the town’s annual Founder’s Day Dance.”
“Oh,” I say brightly. “I remember seeing the flyer for that dance. It’s soon, right?”
Gabriel nods. “Yep. Mystic Hollow may be small, but we sure like to throw a bunch of parties.” He sighs.
“Locals go all out: string lights everywhere, live bands, food trucks…that’s why it’s hard for us to be asking for help with our jubilee.
Most businesses try to sponsor one major thing during the year. My family has the Fourth.”
I fiddle with my napkin, somehow nervous to ask him my next question. “Are you going to the dance? I mean, are you volunteering?”
He arches a brow. “I don’t know. I do recall something about dancing on your bucket list,” he teases.
“Oh. Yeah, I totally forgot about that.” I throw in a nervous laugh. Dancing under the stars is on my list.
A familiar voice calls Gabe’s name. It’s Ruby.
She and Marge are motioning for us to come back to the barbecue tables.
She wants Gabe to set up a group photo. The man I saw earlier with the barbecue apron shakes my hand and introduces himself as Mayor Lee—he’s quieter and the opposite of Marge, which I kind of like for her.
Bonus, Mayor Lee is friendly and casual.
Most officials see meeting me as an opportunity to give my mom a message.
His welcome is another bonus for Mystic Hollow.
After Gabe sets up his camera with a timer, Marge moves him to stand next to me.
After pictures, Ruby pulls us aside, a grin stretched across her face.
“Great job, you two. Marge has said she and Mayor Lee and the rest of the Main Street Makers Business Council are going to be key sponsors. We’re going to meet on Monday to discuss.
” She claps a hand on her son’s shoulder, positively radiating excitement.
“We just heard that Grand Meadows won’t be able to host the Independence Day fireworks show.
” My brows furrow, recalling the equestrian center hosts the region’s evening fireworks show, while Gabe’s inn hosts the daytime activities.
Gabe grimaces. “Do you mean their fireworks show is canceled?”
Ruby shakes her head, a smile on her face. “Grand Meadows already paid for the pyrotechnicians; they just need a new location. I’m thinking the inn.”
Gabe’s brows lift. “If we host the fireworks, we’ll draw a huge crowd.”
Ruby winks. “That’s right. That could solve a lot of problems for us. I’m talking with the business council and mayor about switching the fireworks to our location, and so far they sound on board.” She wraps an arm around my shoulders. “You girls are my Fourth of July good luck charms.”
I smile. “We’re trying.”
“And they’re modest,” she says, placing her hands over her heart.
I’ve been so distracted by our conversation with Gabriel’s family, it’s only now that I finally notice the crowd that has gathered around Elle and me.
No one is being rude or anything, but there are a lot of phones pointed in our direction. I notice Shaw creeping forward.
I plaster on one of my First Daughter smiles. Elle does the same. “We should go, Abby. Tita Karra is taking me to get my nails done.” She grins. “You don’t have to join us. I know you don’t have the patience, especially when I get neon orange on my toes.” She smirks, her eyes in Gabe’s direction.
I roll my eyes at my sister just as Gabriel leans in with that dashing smile. “Want to get out of here?”
“Y-yes,” I stammer. As I’m staring into those copper eyes of his, my hand finds his and I follow him out of the crowd. He drops my hand once I’m clear, but I can’t help the tingle in my fingers, wishing they were still intertwined with his.