Page 49 of One Small Spark (Love in Sunshine #4)

THIRTY-FOUR

SHEPHERD

“This is the only way to spend Thanksgiving.” Wren’s voice is already a little sleepy. I love how relaxed she is, even if I selfishly hope we’re not going to nap the afternoon away.

We’re lying on my couch, her head on my chest, our legs tangled together.

I’ve got a wood fire going in the stove, the occasional snaps and crackles the only background noise.

I was going to show her that I finished her bike, but she threw herself into my arms as soon as I opened the door, and I got distracted. The bike can wait.

I subtly pinch myself to be sure this really is my life.

“I have plenty of leftovers if you get hungry.” My mom sends me home with even more food than Ada does.

Wren groans. “I ate enough mashed potatoes to cover a small planet.”

“What about a slice of chocolate-bourbon-pretzel pie?”

She snuggles closer against me. “Maybe just one small-to-medium piece. In a little while.”

I still can’t believe she made a pie flavor for me. It’s added to that molten spot in the center of my heart where she lives, melting everything she touches .

She moves her fingers in tiny circles over my stomach. “Are you ready for next week?”

She doesn’t have to specify. The town hall meeting hangs over my head like a guillotine glinting in the sun.

“As ready as I can be.” I know the presentation backward and forward. I’ve repeated every line until my voice went hoarse. I know what Lila’s going to say to introduce me, and where to click through for each slide.

But it’s still a dark smudge in my mind, like a grease spot I can’t clear away.

“Just look at me when you need to focus.”

I run my hands over her fleece-covered arm. Her Thanksgiving attire is a pink hoodie that says, Exhausted by Existence.

“Looking at you will ruin my focus in entirely different ways.”

“Did you at least tell your family?”

I make a negative sound in the back of my throat, which earns an angry little growl from her.

“Shepherd.”

I should not enjoy her scolding me so much.

“This is so important for you,” she adds, driving her point home with a gentle poke to my stomach.

“It’s just a technicality in the approval process. It’s not an awards ceremony or something.” And honestly, Lila could give the entire presentation if she wasn’t so determined it should be me.

“But it’s a big deal for you to overcome your anxiety to do it.”

I suppose. Doesn’t make it more of a win in my book.

“Would you want them to be there if they didn’t have that dumb gala?”

I try to imagine my parents and Charlie showing up for me at the meeting. Cheering me on the way Grandpa always did. Showing me in tangible ways that what’s important to me is important to them. “Yes. I would want them there.”

She lifts up onto her elbow so she can glare at me. “See?”

“But I’m not going to ask them to choose between me and their event at the lodge. That’s just putting unnecessary pressure on everybody.”

She lies back down, grumbling. “I guess. I still disagree with you.”

I crane my neck to kiss the crown of her head. “I like that you’re so upset in my defense, but I promise you, it’s fine.”

“Then I’ll just have to be your rock. You’re going to be awesome and convince everybody how great your trails idea is, and Sunshine will become a big tourist trap for bike nerds.”

“Aww. You know what I like to hear.”

She pinches my side. “And if some of your customers wander next door for a slice of pie, I won’t complain.”

“I always tell new customers to visit your bakery.”

She pops up again. “You do?”

I push a lock of hair behind her ear. “Of course.”

“So all this time, you’ve been advertising my business and defending me and pining for me, and I never knew?”

“Pretty much.”

She leans forward to kiss me. “That’s the saddest thing I’ve ever heard.”

I can’t help my laugh. “Thank you.”

She snuggles back in again. “Just so you know, my mom and sister are going to the gala. Everybody’s so excited to see a fancy barn. Ooh la la. ‘We’re getting married where animals used to live.’ What’s the big deal?”

She’s trying to sound bitter, but I’ve learned a few things about Wren’s deflection methods.

“Do you want to see it?”

“Yes.” She laughs against me. “There’s so much hype around it. I have to know what it looks like.”

“Want to go over there and check it out right now?”

She rolls on top of me, her face almost pressed against mine. “Really?”

“Sure. Charlie and Leo headed back after dinner to get some last-minute preparations ready. They’re probably still there.”

Wren scrunches her nose. I love how her face paints a vivid picture of what’s going on in her head. “On Thanksgiving?”

“Charlie’s a workaholic. I’m sure Leo would rather watch the game, but that’s probably why she thought she could escape to the barn.”

“Let’s do it.” Wren slides off me and holds a hand out to help me up. I stand but don’t let her go.

“What do you say to riding our bikes there? It’s only three-quarters of a mile to the lodge.”

She groans. “You keep getting me to do things.”

I lean down to kiss her. “I want to do all the things with you.”

She smiles against my mouth, proving she doesn’t hate doing things as much as she lets on.

She pulls back as if she’s been stung. “Wait. Do you mean my bike? Are you finished already?”

“It’s out in the garage.”

“I thought it was going to take you weeks.”

“I’ve had time to kill.” Thinking about her, but that’s obvious.

We bundle up in coats, and I find a pair of gloves for her to wear. The dusting of snow we had this morning is gone now, but the bite in the air isn’t. Just to be safe, I tug one of my knit beanies over her head.

“Happy now?” she asks, smirking up at me .

“I’d be happier if you were dressed head to toe in my clothes. Or better yet?—”

She puts her hand over my mouth. “Please stop being sexy when I’m five minutes away from crashing my bike.”

I take her hand. “You’re not going to crash.”

I lead her outside to my detached garage. It’s more of a workshop, since my old truck can’t fit in there. It’s bitter cold out, but that hasn’t been much of a problem while I’ve worked on her bike. Being in the cold plunge twenty-four-seven wouldn’t kill the fire she’s lit inside me.

“You will eat your words when I’m in the back of an ambulance with life-threatening injuries after ten minutes of cycling.”

My anxiety can’t get very worked up about that ominous imagery when I cleared and smoothed the path to the lodge myself.

Her reminder about the presentation, on the other hand…

It doesn’t matter that I’m committed and there’s no backing out. Running away from my responsibilities sounds like a great idea. Except, of course, I can’t let down everyone who’s counting on me to get this project approved.

And Lila would murder me in my sleep.

I let Wren into the garage. Instead of the delighted gasp I was anticipating, she laughs.

“How many bikes do you own?” She stares at the vertical bike rack on one wall.

“Four.” Plus some junkers I tinker with, but those don’t count.

She tries to cover up a snort but can’t manage it. “Why?”

“Different purposes for different bikes.” I gently take her by the shoulders and direct her to the main attraction. Now I’m rewarded with her delighted gasp.

“I can’t believe you did this.” She moves to where I left her bike in the center of the workshop and lightly runs her hands over the frame and seat. She pulls her fingers through the black-and-pink streamers I added and tests the new handlebar grips. “It’s like brand-new.”

“With a few extras.” I point at the black device I attached to the handlebar.

“Is this…” She hovers a finger over the button next to one of the grips. “Is this the loudest bike horn in the world?”

“Seemed appropriate.”

Her devious grin makes my stomach flip. “Can I?”

“Knock yourself out.”

She presses the button, and a sound like a high-pitched car horn fills the workshop. Wren cackles and pushes it again. “You’re going to regret your generosity.”

“Never.”

Before I can blink, she’s got her arms around me, rising up on tiptoes to kiss me. “Thank you. This is the coolest thing. But don’t expect me to ride it all the time.”

“I have very low expectations.” She’s always enough, whatever she does.

I grab my mountain bike off the rack, and we walk them outside. She sits on her bike, bouncing a couple of times on the new seat as if she’s gearing up for our short ride.

“You’re going to do fine,” I tell her.

“It’s been ten years.” She looks at the dirt path ahead of us like there’s a root canal waiting for her at the end of it.

“I’ll make you a deal. If this doesn’t work out, I’ll get one of those baby trailers to pull you around in.”

Her mouth drops open, and an indignant sound croaks out of her. “Eat my dust, Callahan.”

I am madly, deeply in love with this woman.

She starts pedaling, and her worries must evaporate with every turn of the wheels. Not a wobble in sight. I trail behind, enjoying the view of Wren on a bike, streamers flowing in the breeze. When I pull up alongside her, the grin on her face makes my heart kick.

“Shut up,” she says, rolling her eyes. “It’s not a big deal.”

“It is to me, goddess.”

We pass my parents’ house and the smaller cabins where Charlie and Leo live.

“Okay, those cabins are really cute,” she says. “You guys all lived so close together.”

“You can see why I needed more space.”

“Relatable. I told my family about the apartment today. Among other things.”

“What other things?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?”

I very much would. Wren’s not big on PDA or revealing her feelings, so I know getting her to claim our relationship publicly will take time. Doesn’t mean I’m not secretly hoping.

She slows when the path merges onto lodge property. The guest cabins are spread out and surrounded by trees for maximum privacy, but the main lodge and outbuildings are impossible to miss. I take the lead, coasting down to the old barn.

Charlie had its white paint refreshed, but otherwise, it looks the same from the outside. I dismount and lean my bike carefully against the building. If I damage the paint, Charlie will send me a bill.

“Did you play Barbies out here with Charlie when you were little?” Wren asks.

“Her Barbies never wanted to play with Darth Vader, so no.”

“But that would make the perfect morally gray love interest situation.”

I pull open the side door, and Wren and I both stare inside. I am only marginally aware of the changes—the refinished hardwood floor, the new paneling that makes the interior look rustic yet sleek, the miles of bright string lights overhead. A different change is center stage.

In the middle of the room, Charlie’s kissing Leo.

I don’t usually pay attention to other people kissing, but they are really into it. So much that they don’t even notice us in the doorway. A meteor could probably rip through the barn’s ceiling, and they still wouldn’t come up for air.

Wren takes my hand off the door, letting it silently swing shut again.

“I’m glad you brought me out here,” she says. “This was really illuminating.”

I groan out a laugh. I can’t tell if I want to punch my best friend or bleach my eyeballs. Both work.

“The parts I saw of the venue look really nice,” she goes on. “And it’s obviously a romantic spot.”

“Too soon.”

Wren’s still holding my hand and shakes it. “Okay there, Callahan?”

“Yeah. I guess this is happening.” I’m fine with it. I am. I just didn’t expect to find out quite like that.

“Looks like it. You know what will cheer you up?”

I finally focus on her. “Finding our own romantic spot?”

“You wish.” She drops my hand and hops on her bike, popping up the kickstand. “Trying to catch me!”

She pedals back up the path, blasting the loudest bike horn in the world as she goes.

That will do plenty to cheer me up. I’ll catch her—right after I send my sister a text.

Shepherd: CLCRH (Charlie & Leo Caught Red-Handed)