Chapter 22
Penny
Monty drops me off at the store with a promise to meet me at Tally’s in an hour.
Standing in the shop—unable to compute what just happened between us—I start to spiral. I just dry humped my best friend, and we both came. Clearly he enjoyed it, but for him, this is all practice and pretend. For me? This feels like getting everything I’ve ever wanted without really having it.
Though, I can at least admit I enjoyed our tryst in the orchard. For a few minutes I wasn’t thinking about what he liked but was chasing my own desire. I’d never done that with a man before and it was so empowering.
I didn’t seek to get him off—if I’m being honest, I didn’t think of it at all.
And maybe that makes me selfish, but after everything that happened with Dick, I deserve to be selfish for once.
Before I commit to another relationship, I want to know what I like, what I want.
With Monty, and our setup, I’m getting to do just that.
So maybe the confusion and inevitable hurt is worth it.
Before running upstairs to shower I go to check the store’s online sales and my affiliate link but groan when I realize my computer won’t turn on.
God, I knew I needed a new one but I can’t afford for this to die on me now.
I stab the power button ten times before accepting that it’s not going to turn on. Fuck.
Fortunately, I can still access everything on my phone. I check my Instagram, which is going wild, then my affiliate links and the online store, jotting down the stock I’ll need to order. It includes one of the books I made Monty read.
I can’t help thinking of him. Of the sounds he made as I rolled my hips against him, the words he rasped as we both came, the hungry look in his eyes and the taste of his lips on mine.
And then without second-guessing myself I text him.
Me: I think we should continue pretending tonight.
***
“Don’t forget the cinnamon!” I hear my sister call out as I enter her bakery an hour later. The sun is just settling above the harbor, causing her entire kitchen to glow. In another hour, outside will be nothing but starlight.
There are ingredients on each of the pink tables that dot the space, complete with little signs detailing what everything is. A crowd has gathered inside and people line up to grab what they need.
“Oh, it’s busy,” I say as I join her behind the counter. I’m guessing everyone wants to get what they need before heading home for dinner.
“Tell me about it,” she replies. “Don’t worry, I kept our ingredients separated in the back, so we’ll have more than enough.”
“Oh, good idea. Mom coming?”
She shakes her head, distracted, as she points to a bag next to her. “Mrs. Summers, the flour is over there!”
The woman she addresses nods her thanks as Tally turns back to face me.
“No. The Liberty Ladies are all cooking at Babs’s house tonight so she went with them.”
“I’m glad she’s out. Though I hate to imagine what those women talk about when they’re alone.”
“Right!” Tally laughs. “I wonder whether they have a Lady Peni for their meetings.”
“I definitely am not asking Mom about that.”
“I am,” Rosie says, materializing from the kitchen. “Bet you it’s even more obnoxious than the alien one.” She taps her red nails against her lip. “Do you think it’s an electric one? That would really do some damage if it hit you, Pen.”
I roll my eyes as Tally erupts in a fit of laughter.
“I hate you both,” I deadpan.
“You’re just jealous because I called dibs on Tally as my baking partner first,” Rosie says.
“Nah.” I shrug. “My boyfriend is going to be my partner.”
“Did she just say boyfriend?” Rosie squeals.
“She totally did,” Tally replies, a goofy smile on her face.
I try hard to not get swept up in their excitement, to contain the giddy smile that threatens to take over my face.
This isn’t real. But for just a second, I imagine what it would be like if Monty really was my boyfriend. A fizzy warmth sweeps through me, and when I spot Monty outside on the sidewalk, heading this way, it hits me just how much I’m enjoying this.
Without overthinking it, I rush through the door and throw my arms around him.
As we stand face-to-face on the cobblestone sidewalk, beneath the indigo sky, I reach up onto my toes and press my lips to his.
Monty sucks in a surprised breath and I’m just about to pull back when he groans against my mouth, wraps his arms around me, and deepens the kiss.
He two-steps us until I’m pressed up against the brick and, only then, after peppering two more long kisses to my lips, his hands go to my cheeks, holding me in place.
He pulls back with a rough breath, and I blink my eyes open.
“What was that for?” he rasps.
“I just wanted to. Is that okay?”
Monty’s eyes fall shut beneath his glasses, which are slightly fogged over, and touches his forehead to mine.
“Yeah, Xuxuzinho, it’s okay. You can kiss me whenever you want.”
That fizzy feeling inside my stomach pops and spreads through my limbs until I feel so light I think I might float away. I lean in and kiss him again, allowing myself to get lost in the taste of him, in the delectable sounds he makes, humming against my lips as if I’m positively delicious.
“Oh no, not you, too!” I hear a little voice say.
Monty chuckles against my lips, pulling back as we both turn in time to spot Quinn covering his eyes as he walks up to the bakery with Billie.
“Why do adults keep kissing everywhere I go?”
Billie laughs. “Sorry, guys! I’ll take this one inside.”
Monty tugs me forward and threads our fingers together. “That’s okay, we’re heading inside, too. Sorry about that, Quinn.”
The little boy rolls his eyes dramatically. “It’s fine, but if Uncle Jesse kisses my girlfriend tonight I’m going to scream.”
“Tally is Uncle Jesse’s girlfriend, bud.” Billie huffs out a laugh. “We’ve been over this.”
I pull Monty close and whisper in his ear, “Quinn developed a little crush on Tally last spring and he’s apparently still holding a flame for her.”
“It’s carrying a torch, Xuxuzinho.” He presses a quick kiss to my cheek. “Just like I am for you.”
My stomach flips once more; fuck, he’s good at this fake dating thing.
“You coming?” he asks, tugging on my hand.
“Yeah,” I reply breathlessly.
We step inside and are greeted with a lot fewer people than before I rushed out. I guide Monty back toward the kitchen where I’ve set out the apples we picked earlier, noticing that Tally has already arranged different stations for every group to work on.
“What are we making?” he asks.
“Hmm, it’s not about how it tastes. It’s about how it looks. Remember, Rayna is judging us on the pictures.”
“Does that mean we get to eat it later?” Monty asks, brows raised.
“Maybe,” I sing-song.
“Then let’s go with an apple pumpkin crisp.”
My mouth waters. “Oh my God.”
“Figured that would make my sweet pumpkin happy.”
I suck my lips into my mouth. Is there such a thing as being too happy? Because, right now, that’s exactly how I feel. Hell, every time I’m with Monty that’s how I feel. This man makes me damn jubilant.
“Oh, look who’s here!” Billie says loudly, and I turn to see Fletcher walking into the kitchen with Henry by his side.
The mayor’s son always wears a baseball cap; I think it’s because of his cochlear implants, though I’ve never asked.
He’s a shy child, but when he spots Quinn, he gives a small smile.
“Didn’t know you were coming,” Rosie says from across the room, and I can almost hear everyone collectively holding their breath.
Fletcher meets her gaze and I swear I can feel the moment their eyes catch.
“Tally invited us,” he says, his attention cutting to my sister. “I hope that’s still okay.”
She smiles back at him. “Of course.”
“Mom, can Tally bake with us?” Quinn asks.
“Sure can,” Rosie cuts in with a grin. “I was just about to ask if Henry wanted to help me.”
My eyes go wide as she kneels down and starts signing to the little boy, whose eyes light up as he tugs on his father’s arm. Although I think Fletcher is still struck by what just happened, he turns to Henry, who is signing animatedly to his dad.
Fletcher signs back and says out loud, “Sure can, bud. I’ll go get the ingredients and you and Rosie can set up.”
Rosie forces a smile to her lips as she nods to Fletcher. I watch as she holds out a hand to Henry and the two start to communicate with each other; Henry’s hand movements are quick—he’s clearly advanced in his signing—and Rosie moves a little slower as she thinks through the gestures.
I smile as Fletcher passes—his expression is somber as he walks toward us, the smile he was forcing in front of Henry all but gone.
“Hey,” I offer.
He nods, but I can tell he doesn’t register me properly.
“I know she’s tough but—”
“That—” He shakes his head before turning back to Rosie and his son, who are still signing to each other. He faces me again. “She can say whatever she wants to me. Truth is, I deserve it.”
I frown. I will never understand these two, but I don’t push. She’ll tell us when she’s ready.
“Eli coming? Walker?” Monty asks from beside me, breaking the tension.
Tally shakes her head. “Walker had some last-minute stuff that needed to be done on the farm. And Eli—” She shrugs. “Actually, I have no idea. I haven’t heard from him in a while. Not even in the town chat.”
Fletcher coughs out a laugh. “I think he broke his phone.”
“Ah, that makes sense,” I say.
“And he’s baking with his sisters tonight,” Fletcher continues.
“Okay, well, as fun as this has been, it’s competition time,” Tally says. “May the best dessert win.”