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Bandit comes in from Stan’s office and curls up in his dog bed behind the counter. It starts to rain harder and I have a feeling that we won’t be getting a lot of tourists today.

“What did you do yesterday?” Sutton asks me as she takes a break from the accounting.

“Hudson and I went over to Maple Bend and checked out the fudge festival.”

“How was it?”

“Good… and kind of nauseating. I ate way too many sweets,” I say with a laugh.

Sutton laughs too, bending down to scratch Bandit’s ears when he barks, wanting to join in on the fun.

“Did you save me any fudge?”

“Yeah, I have two boxes for girl’s night on Thursday,” I tell her and she cheers.

“Peanut butter?” she asks and I nod.

“Of course. I got a bit of peanut butter, cookies and cream, and then a whole box of chocolate.”

“Have I told you lately that you’re the best?” she asks and I laugh.

“Not today.”

“Well, you are. Now I can’t wait until girl’s night. I’ve been craving something sweet.”

“Glad I could help,” I tell her as I grab the last shirt from the box.

We work in silence for another few minutes and then I break it.

“He invited me to the Honey Festival up in Honey Peak in two weeks. I guess some of his chef friends are coming into town and he wants me to meet them.”

“That’s great! That’s a big step, right?” she asks and I shrug.

“I don’t know. I thought the next big step was meeting family or something.”

Sutton thinks about that. I know that neither of us really has much experience with relationships, so I’m not sure that we’re the ones we should be asking about it.

“Well still, that’s exciting. I think it’s a good sign that he wants to introduce you to people in his life.”

My phone buzzes again and I pull it out.

Hudson:Do you really want a roast tonight?

Lyla: I was just teasing. Whatever you make is fine.

Hudson: I’m aiming to please here, baby.

Lyla: Alright, then yeah, a roast with all of the fixings pretty please.

Hudson: Done.

My phone goes off againbefore I can put it away and I expect it to be Hudson again, maybe asking me what I want for dessert. I have a witty retort ready to go. Maybe that’s why I’m so disappointed to see my mom’s name on the screen instead.

I don’t want to deal with her today. This whole weekend was great and I want to continue that streak into this week, so that means ignoring my mother.

I already know what she’s going to want to talk to me about. Heidi’s wedding. It’s all she ever wants to talk about lately and seeing as how I still haven’t decided whether I’m going to make that trip yet, there’s really nothing new for us to talk about.

I know that if I answer, she’ll only try to pressure me into promising that I’m coming or worse, she’ll just pretend that it’s already a done deal. I don’t want to deal with her steamrolling over me and not giving a shit what I want. She probably won’t even ask how I’m doing. Come to think of it, I don’t think that she even knows where I am right now. I never actually told her about my trip.