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“Don’t expect me to talk.”
“That’s my favorite side of you.”
I opened my mouth, but she grabbed the front of my flannel and dragged me toward the people.
“What are you doing?”
“Making you do what you hate.”
Jackie was waiting across the street, her eyebrows nearly at her hairline. “Hi!” Mollie greeted, letting me go. “I’m sorry to steal Cain, but I need to torture him. Can you believe I’ve been here for weeks and didn’t know about the farmers market?”
“That’s ... He hates them anyway.”
“Exactly,” she said with a wink.
I groaned.
“Mind if I tag along?” Jackie asked. “I’ve already shopped, but I can show you all the good places.”
“Absolutely,” she said. “Come, Cain.”
“I’m not a dog.”
“Until you learn manners you are.”
Jackie laughed but covered her mouth.
I cleared my throat and looked at Eric, then back at Jackie.
But Eric was laughing too. “It’s like watching a funny show.”
“And you get a front row seat every day. I’ll have to come over more.”
Jackie told Mollie about the baker, and she made a beeline for the booth. I was forced to look at the same woman I’d awkwardly smiled at while she talked about her process of bread making. I was many things, but a baker was not one of them.
“I’m getting two,” Mollie said, pulling out her card.
“What are you even gonna do with that much bread?”
“Smother garlic and butter on it, of course.”
“Yes!” Eric cheered.
“Oh, that sounds so good.” The vendor clapped her hands together. “Especially with a homemade sauce.”
“He may not look like much, but Mister Grump here”—she pointed to me— “makes an amazing homemade sauce.”
The vendor laughed, but I shook my head. “What do I look like, then?”
“Like you’d burn water.”
Now Jackie and Eric joined the laughter.
“You definitely know that’s not true.”
“You two aresocute together,” the vendor said.
Both of us froze. Together? Us?