Chapter 35
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
ADDISON
The winter festival was one of my favorite times of the year, the reprieve this awful month needed.
It meant we were almost done with this dreadful season that I loved in December but loathed with every fiber of my being by the time March rolled around.
The festival was held no matter the weather, which meant whether it was fifty degrees or five, it went on, regardless.
It had only been canceled once that I could remember—when a nor’easter had torn through, dumping a foot of snow in its wake.
Since the town had been cooped up inside for months, we went all out for this festival. We had live entertainment, ice-sculpture displays and carving contests, food trucks, and—weather permitting—a snow slide for the kids.
Levi had drawn the short straw, so he was my partner for the day shift at the booth before Avery and Aiden took over in the evening. And Levi looked exactly as happy about it as I would’ve expected.
“You’re going to scare off all our potential customers if you keep glaring at everyone,” I said with an eye roll.
He let out a long sigh. “I don’t know what to tell you, Addison. This is just my face.”
“Well, you have the most severe RBF I’ve ever seen.”
“Thanks.”
“It wasn’t a compliment.”
“If it keeps people away, that’s all the compliment I need.”
Since we had a lull in people stopping by, I refilled the bowl full of Beck’s peppermint brownies—a hit every year—as well as the brochures of the resort.
And the display of Aiden’s newest release was almost bare.
I dug under the table for the box I’d stashed there and pulled out the last two books I had with me.
He’d told me to bring only one box because he didn’t think they’d sell.
Luckily, I didn’t listen to a damn word he said and had brought three.
The other two were stored away in my car, but I was definitely going to have to grab them before the night was through.
“Gonna need you to run to my car and get those other boxes of books,” I said. “We’re almost out.”
“Happy to. Realistically, how long can I be gone for before you throw a shit-fit?”
“If it’s more than ten minutes, I’m going to sneak into your apartment and put hot sauce in your body wash again.”
“You’re such a brat.”
“I think you mean she’s such a good prankster,” Mabel called from the neighboring tent. “Before you scoot out of here, Levi, would you mind watching my booth while I take a quick potty break?”
He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose but eventually nodded. No one—not even my grumpiest brother—could say no to the older woman.
“Thank you, honey! I knew you could handle this. If anyone happens by, the items really sell themselves. And I’ll be gone only a minute.
” The items she was referring to were the plethora of sex toys she sold at her pleasure parties—or in broad daylight at any and every Starlight Cove festival.
Mabel wrapped her scarf tighter around her neck and headed toward the bathrooms with a flutter of her fingers in our direction.
Levi sighed. “I’m not getting paid enough for this.”
“You’re not getting paid anything for this.”
“Exactly.” Then, under his breath, he grumbled, “I swear to God, if I have to touch a fake dick today…”
I snorted. “Don’t tell me you’re intimidated by sex toys.”
“I’m not discussing this with you.”
“Fine. But you should know that if you have to give a demonstration, I’ll be getting photographic evidence to share at tomorrow’s morning meeting.”
No sooner were the words out of my mouth than a woman walked up and glanced around at Mabel’s booth covered in glittery pink streamers with penis garland hanging from the top of the tent.
I elbowed him in the side. “That’s your cue.”
“I’ll pay you fifty bucks if you do it for me.”
“Nah, I’m good.” I looked up at him, smile bright. “Better hurry, though. You promised Mabel you’d take care of all her dicks.”
“You’re the fucking worst.” With a sigh that sounded like it was pulled straight from the depths of his soul, he made his way next door.
The woman, probably in her forties, smiled at his approach. “Hi. Is there, like, a special handshake I need to do to see the goods?”
I bit back my laughter, and Levi shot me a glare out of the corner of his eye.
Then, with a heavy sigh, he bent to retrieve the bin o’ dicks, as Mabel called it, from beneath the table before setting it down in front of the woman.
While the town council had agreed that Mabel could still sell her pleasure accoutrements at any and all town festivals, she needed to keep the more…
explicit merchandise out of sight unless asked.
“Wow, that’s a whole lot of dicks.” The woman laughed as she scanned the bin overflowing with silicone toys. “Honestly, it’s kind of overwhelming. Especially when I’m not really sure what I’m looking for.”
In typical Levi fashion, he didn’t say a damn word. Just let her ramble on as she picked up every dildo, butt plug, and vibrator Mabel had to offer. But this woman—bless her heart—was not at all deterred by Levi’s crossed arms or his scowl or his lack of basic customer service skills.
“Hmm…I don’t think I want one with all those gadgets. A little too much, you know? And—wow—that is one thick penis. My God. Would definitely need some assistance with that sucker. I saw something about a free bottle of lube with a purchase, is that right?”
“Whatever you say,” Levi muttered, looking as though he hoped the ground would open up and swallow him whole.
“Still not sure what to get…” She glanced at him, brows raised. “What’s your best seller?”
“Um…” Levi pointed in the general direction of the box, not singling out a damn thing. “That one.”
The woman picked up a bejeweled anal plug and held it out between them, her brows drawn down. “This one is your best seller?”
I had to press my lips together to hold in my laughter, though from the glare Levi shot my way, I hadn’t been successful.
I was so wrapped up in what was happening next door, I didn’t realize anyone had come up to my booth until a deep voice asked, “What the hell’s happening over there?”
Like I’d been caught with my hand in the cookie jar, I jumped and spun around to find Chase standing there.
He looked like sex on a stick with his black beanie pulled down low, a gray hoodie beneath a black winter coat, those crystal-blue eyes focused on me.
And my entire body lit up from the inside out.
When he looked at me like that, his gaze never straying from me, he made me feel like I was the only person in the world.
Except I wasn’t. And drooling over my brother’s best friend while said brother was a couple yards away wasn’t my brightest idea if we wanted to keep this on the down-low.
As much as I didn’t want to, I needed to. At least for now. At least until Chase and I talked about the future. At least until I knew if there even was a future for us…
Shaking my head, I cleared my throat and shot a glance back toward Mabel’s booth. “Levi’s doing his best impression of a statue while he watches the booth for Mabel. Meanwhile, that poor woman just wants to buy a friend for some fun tonight.”
“Hey, you need some help, man?” Chase called, and Levi’s only response was to flip him off.
“If I’m looking for penetration with clit stimulation, what would be my best bet?” she asked without an ounce of shame.
Levi rubbed his thumb and forefinger over his eyes and shook his head. “Look, lady, I’m just watching the booth. If you wait a couple minutes, I’m sure Mabel will be able to tell you all you want to know about these dicks.”
Chase chuckled under his breath, his eyes positively gleaming as he watched Levi suffer.
“I’m in a bit of a rush.” She turned toward me, her gaze questioning. “What about you? Do you have a favorite?”
Levi pointed a finger in my direction. “Don’t you dare.”
“What?” I asked, all faux-innocence. I had absolutely no intention of discussing my sex toy preferences while in my brother’s presence, but he didn’t need to know that. “She just asked what my favorite—”
“Nope!” Levi released the bin like it was on fire, hands held up as if that would keep him from touching any part of this conversation, and walked backward out of the booth. “Absolutely do not want to hear anything about anything. You’re on your own, Addison.”
With that, he spun around and took off like the hounds of hell were nipping at his heels. I tossed my head back in laughter, Chase’s deeper chuckle mixing in with mine.
“Brother?” the woman asked with a giggle.
I grinned. “One of them.”
“I have two myself, and messing with them is the best.” She glanced at Chase and raised a brow. “You one of her brothers, too?”
“God no.”
“Good.” She smiled at me and gestured to the bin. “Now, about that favorite…”