Today's Reading
By next year, she hoped Get Lost Lodge would be the go-to place to host events in Smile, Northern Michigan, and surrounding islands.
"You want anything else?" the waitress asked, appearing like a pie-wielding ninja.
"I'm good," Jilly said, glancing up.
There were only a couple of other people in the shop but the waitress hesitated, staring at Jill, not delivering her orders.
Jill waited, wondering if the teen was okay, if maybe she needed something. Her nose scrunched up, making her nose ring look uncomfortable.
"Everything okay?" Jilly asked.
"You have pie in your hair," the waitress said, then walked past.
Jilly closed her eyes and sighed. Time to go home.
* * *
Leaving the three partially eaten pieces of pie in the fridge of her parents' home, where she'd been living temporarily for about four years now, she got ready for bed and crawled in beside a softly snoring Ollie.
Inhaling deeply, she caught the scent of vanilla bath wash and bubble-gum-scented shampoo. Ollie stirred, rolled, and nearly whapped Jilly in the nose with her hand.
Jilly caught her fingers, tucked them close to her body.
"Mom?" Ollie whispered.
"Yeah?"
"Just making sure it's you." Ollie snuggled closer.
Jilly huffed out a soft laugh. "It's my bed, honey. Of course it's me."
"I need cupcakes for tomorrow for my whole class," she whispered even as she fell back asleep, practically snoring out the last word.
Jilly sighed into the darkness. Lainey might think she was lonely, or worry about her happiness, but Jillian Keller had everything she needed, right here beside her. Except cupcakes. And she could grab those in the morning.
CHAPTER THREE
Levi Bright had missed a lot of things about Smile, Michigan: the water, the view of the mountains and the Mackinac Bridge, his mom, and even his dad. But what he'd truly missed, more than he'd realized, was the quirkiness of the people who lived here. Unique personalities created one hell of a fun vibe in a small town. Something big cities couldn't compete with.
He'd already been ready to come home for good when his mom called saying his dad had to have surgery. Nothing major, according to her—routine gallbladder removal—but it was the final push that cemented his decision.
Leaving home at seventeen to attend culinary school in New Hampshire was a huge adventure and he'd had a lot of fun. Freedom, working toward his dream of being a chef—what more could he have asked for?
He'd performed well enough to get some prestigious offers from big-name restaurants in different cities. He'd chosen to settle into the Vermont restaurant scene with a few of his culinary school buddies. What he saw of Burlington, when he wasn't in the kitchen working his way up, was great. But it wasn't home.
He stared at the community chalkboard that took up a wall in the back of the General Store, his lips twitching at the messages, some scrawled, some printed with fine precision.
I need a dog sitter this weekend. Tipper has
some bladder issues & can't handle the long car
ride. Anyone? Message me: 947-555-0091
Forgot my umbrella at the park. If you found it, please
return it here. Shelley.
Should Beckett propose to Presley in public?
Yes No
|||| |||| |||| |||| Mind your own business
|||| |||| |||| ||| -Beckett
Beckett, of the chalkboard poll, had been one of his best friends growing up. Levi definitely missed him and his brother Grayson. And of course, Jillian Keller. Their sister. If he was honest with himself, he'd only said yes to pitching in at the reunion last night—their caterer had canceled—in hopes of seeing Jillian.
This excerpt ends on page 16 of the paperback edition.
Monday we begin the book The Lady Sparks a Flame by Elizabeth Everett.
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