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TWENTY-SIX

MICKEY

I pushed the lettuce on my plate around. Normally, a taco salad always hit the spot, but the seasoned carnitas I’d had in the slow cooker all day tasted as enticing as cardboard.

After letting out the most pitiful sigh of my life, I gave up on dinner and set it on my coffee table.

I missed Amos. Dinner tasted better with his company.

It had been just over six weeks since Halloween, and I was already craving dining with someone else instead of enjoying my own company.

It was getting hard to remember what I thought about and how I spent my time before Amos had blown into my life.

Being with Amos didn’t tax me like being around others.

Amos left me feeling recharged—even when we spent hours talking.

I glanced at the time on my phone and saw I still had half an hour before I needed to leave and meet my friends for ice skating.

It would be even more fun with Amos there, but how would I explain inviting him?

Not so much to my friends—they’d been making enough little comments that it was obvious they suspected something—but to the other Maplewoodians there.

Maplewood Matters had commented enough on spotting us around town doing festival work that I didn’t need them speculating about anything more.

“What the hell am I going to do?”

My mind had been spinning since Amos had told me about his job offer and had indicated he might want to stay. What would it look like if he stayed? We would need to come clean not only to our families but to the town. Were we ready for that?

What I needed was to talk to someone. I didn’t want to confide in Bo because I wanted someone to listen, and I knew he wouldn’t be able to help himself from sharing his opinions. And given what he’d said to Amos and me, I already knew what those opinions were.

My D&D group wasn’t an option either. They were all too invested in me joining the happy-in-love club, and I knew none of them would be chill around Amos and me if they knew how deep my feelings were for him. That wouldn’t be a big deal if there weren’t the whole keeping it a secret thing.

I needed to talk to someone who wouldn’t make things awkward in person, but knew enough about our history to understand my dilemma.

“Ethan or Andre. That’s who I need to talk to.” Since they were living out in Seattle for the time being, they had enough distance from it all to be the sounding board I needed.

I picked up my phone and texted our group chat.

Mickey: Are either of you free to chat for a few? I could use some advice.

A minute later, I had a video call from Ethan. I answered and was surprised to see both of them on the call, though from separate devices.

“Hey! I wasn’t expecting a tag team. This is a nice surprise.”

Andre laughed. “Your timing is perfect. We were already chatting.”

“I’m in Pittsburgh for a game tomorrow night,” Ethan said.

They both had a happy, relaxed energy about them.

“What’s up?” Concern laced Andre’s voice.

I stretched out along my couch and tucked my free hand behind my head. “I’m having an issue and my brain keeps going in circles, so I’m phoning a friend. Well, friend s. You two have enough context to either be helpful or dangerous.”

Ethan waggled his eyebrows and grinned. “Guy issues?”

“How’d you know that?”

Both Ethan and Andre looked shifty.

“There’s been some…speculation going on,” Andre hedged.

“You mean our nosy friends who gossip more than that damn blog have kept you updated from afar?”

“Exactly.”

Ethan laughed.

“What’s going on with Amos?” Andre asked.

“Does he still have those blond curls? He was always such a cutie.” Ethan’s lips twitched, betraying his innocent expression.

“Hey!” Andre laughed.

“He does, and they look just as good now as they did back then.” I groaned. “I didn’t expect him to be so…” Kind? Funny? Sexy? “Amazing.”

“So, what’s the problem?” Ethan asked gently.

I held up one finger. “He lives in Boston and is only here because he’s between jobs, though that might not be an issue, which leaves the bigger one.” I held up a second finger. “He’s a Flynn. The diner rivalry is a major issue.”

They didn’t look skeptical, per se, but I could tell they didn’t see it as being as insurmountable as I did.

“Those issues aside, what do you want to happen?” Andre asked.

I stared at a scratch in the ceiling from many, many years ago when Grandma insisted on a specific Christmas tree, but Grandpa said it was too tall. Grandma won, but the tree scratched the ceiling when Dad and Grandpa dragged it in.

“I want more time with him. I want to see where this goes. It’s got promise.” I’d thought the same about past relationships, but it felt different with Amos.

“To make sure you’re compatible?” Andre asked.

“That’s the thing. I know we are, but this compressed timeline before he possibly returns to Boston creates some weird pressure.

Does it feel like we’re compatible because we know we don’t have that much time together, so we’re overlooking obvious issues?

Or is there really something between us, but we won’t have enough time to find out?

” I shook my head. “But it doesn’t matter. He’ll always be part of Sparky’s.”

“You know how much I love you and Red’s,” Ethan said. “But maybe you’re too close to it. I know it’s a big deal, but your happiness is important too. Can’t you just say screw it? It’s your life .”

“I wish it were that easy, but it’s not just my life.

What if people turn on the diners for feeling lied to, or the lack of rivalry makes people less interested in eating here?

It’s so damn hard to keep a restaurant afloat these days, and I’m not sure we could survive any sort of major scandal. It could hurt my dad’s livelihood.”

“The food is delicious, Mickey. People don’t spend their money there because of the rivalry. They do because of the food, the atmosphere, and how much they care about your family. Feud or no feud.”

Andre had been quiet, but I could tell from his expression that he had something to say.

“What aren’t you saying, Andre?”

“Have you thought about leaving Maplewood?”

I frowned at his question. “Leave?”

His tone was gentle. “If things go well with Amos and you want to give it a real chance… Does that have to be in Maplewood? Maybe leaving the diners behind is the best option. For both of you.”

I rubbed my chest like I’d been punched in the sternum.

“Honestly? That hadn’t crossed my mind. We’ve only been on one official date.

” Moving for him? That seemed way too soon.

But is it fair to expect him to move to Maplewood to give us a chance if I wouldn’t even consider doing the same for him?

I had a feeling I wouldn’t get any sleep tonight as I stewed on that.

“I never thought I’d leave Maplewood, but Ethan was worth it.”

Ethan melted. “Aww, baby, I wish I were there.”

“Me too.” Andre made a kissy face.

I let out a harsh breath. “I sure as hell got what I asked for in the advice department, huh?”

My friends wore matching grins.

“Dear Andre and Ethan, advice columnist extraordinaries,” Andre teased.

“Thank you. Seriously. You’ve given me a lot to think about.”

“Hey, you were there for us when we were figuring our shit out. It’s the least we can do to return the favor,” Ethan said sincerely.

“Thanks, guys. I’ll drop off and let you two lovebirds continue catching up. Will I see you at Christmas?”

“If our flights are on time, we should be there for the Christmas Eve dinner,” Ethan said.

“Really? That’s amazing. Thank you.” God, my friends were seriously the best.

“For what it’s worth, Mickey, I’ve been hearing that you’re happier than you have been in a long time. And word on the street is that you told Amos about your cheese.”

“I did.” I cleared my throat. “It was on a burger special at Sparky’s.”

Andre’s and Ethan’s mouths fell open.

“Does Joe know?”

I shook my head. “I asked Dad to put it on a special, but he said we’ll revisit it next year.”

“But Amos made it happen?”

“Yeah.” My heart fluttered. “He did.”

Andre’s big smile told me all I needed to know about what he thought of Amos.

“Don’t give up, okay? Ride this out.” Ethan’s tone was serious.

“I promise. Thanks, guys.”

“Hey, before you sign off, what’s this thing about a Maple Street Prowler?” Andre asked.

I groaned.