Chapter 16
LACEY
The ride to Coastal Eats was an adventure.
Sawyer’s girlfriend, Hallie, jumped into the back so the guys could ride up front. I hadn’t seen her since high school and it was nice to catch up despite how much I’d been hoping to finally get naked with Walker.
It’ll just have to wait.
Hallie told me about being a traveling nurse and how she ended up back in our hometown. She gushed over Sawyer, and I gaped at her when she told me that Sawyer had seriously dated her sister.
Talk about a plot twist.
And that was only the beginning.
Driving through the quiet streets of Starlight Bay felt like something out of a movie, the wind whipping the snow around with not another car in sight. We all laughed at the fact that out of the four of us, Sawyer was the only one who didn’t grow up with New England winters.
He assured us that his Jeep Wrangler had seen more than a few mudding adventures when he lived in Tennessee and he wasn’t worried.
Didn’t stop us from teasing him though.
Sawyer only threatened to kick us out once before we finally pulled into the parking lot near Coastal Eats.
“Did you come down and shovel already?” Walker asks Sawyer, his hand out to steady me as I climb out of the back seat.
“We offloaded the already prepared dishes to some of the elderly residents. A couple of the bigger tourist parties paid but went back home when the storm got bad. I contacted everyone, and the rest is just excess for us.”
“Shit, man, I’m sorry,” Walker says, running a gloved hand over his hair as we walk down the sidewalk toward the shop. I’m hit with a twinge of guilt but startle when Sawyer just laughs.
“You’ve on dish duty tonight so we’re even,” Sawyer drawls as he slips the key into the lock and holds open the door so we can file in.
The blast of warm air is a relief after the pelting snow, my boots already making a puddle on the floor where I’m standing. Careful not to make a bigger mess, we all hang our snow gear by the door as Walker flips on the lights.
The space is simple and clean with Coastal Eats painted across one white wall. The industrial kitchen is impressive, the whole place much different from anything I’d imagined. In Chicago, Walker had a high paying job with a big office and a staff of people working under him.
The contrast is stark.
But I get it.
I can see it.
We’ve only been here a few minutes, but he hasn’t stopped smiling, his body relaxed as he moves around the space.
“It’s so sexy that they cook, right?” Hallie says with a mischievous grin. She’s pulled her dark hair up into a bun, wisps of hair framing her face. “I’m so spoiled. I don’t think I could go back to all my prepackaged food.”
“That wasn’t food,” Sawyer yells from the counter where he’s chopping carrots and celery.
Hallie sighs wistfully. “I don’t even miss the frozen peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches without the crust.”
“That’s because you eat adult food now,” he remarks, and Walker chuffs out a laugh as he hands Hallie and me each a glass of sparkling wine.
“I’m thankful I don’t have to hear about it anymore,” Walker murmurs and Hallie rolls her eyes.
“He’d probably be horrified if he went to my apartment,” I admit. “I think I might have a couple of stir-fries and a frozen pizza. And coffee.”
Sawyer grunts but Walker just shakes his head and presses a kiss to my cheek. “Good thing I like taking care of you.”
The words are quiet, meant only for me, and a little buzz of happiness zips through my veins as he walks back into the kitchen.
It’s a feeling I plan to hold on to as long as I can.
Because as sure as the storm will end, this little bit of holiday magic will too, and we’ll both return to our own lives.
And this will just be a memory.