Friends to Lovers (Heart of Hope 6)

“Perhaps you get a room,” I said, walking in to get the cupcakes.

They both blushed but didn’t seem too embarrassed. Of course, I’d walked in on them making out all the time when they first got together nearly a decade ago.

“We’ll get there eventually,” Jude said, with a little pat on April’s ass.

“Sooner, rather than later, I hope.” April responded.

I rolled my eyes. “You two are really disgustingly sweet sometimes. Speaking of sweet, I miss seeing Maya. You need to bring her by. I have some new cupcake ideas I want her to help me with.”

“Oh, she’d love that,” April said, putting my cupcake on a tray shaped like a pumpkin.

“I’m going to check on the keg,” Jude said.

When he left, I smiled at April. “You guys look good. I’m so happy that it all turned out.”

She smiled at the doorway Jude had just left. “Me too.”

“How’s things with August? I don’t see you enough anymore either to know what’s going on.”

She shrugged as she licked some frosting off her fingers. “It will take time. Or maybe there will always be a wall.”

“What August did is pretty unforgivable,” I said, rearranging the cupcakes to look like a flower. That way they’d know it was Petal’s Cakes.

“I know. It’s hard for Jude but it’s a testament to his love for me and Maya, and Bertie that he supports August being in our lives.”

“He’s a good man. The best. I think you must have taken the best man in town.”

She leaned against the counter and crossed her arms. “What’s with Cyrus, speaking of men.”

“I don’t know. I don’t think he likes parties.”

“Maybe he doesn’t like men looking at you.”

I waved that away. “He knows me. He’s comfortable around me.”

“What about Lyle and Jacob?”

I laughed. “They’re goobers. I think they’re hilarious, but if you’re talking about dating material, it’s not them. Maybe Conner though,” I said. “Would that be weird since he works for you?”

“Well, I’d have to have Cyrus kill him if he hurt you.”

I laughed. “Not Jude?”

“I don’t want Jude to go to jail.”

“Good looking out for me and you.” I picked up the tray of cupcakes and brought them back to the main party room. I’d remembered coming here as a teen when April would have sleepovers or parties. Her parents would come in and tell us it was late and we needed to quiet down. It wasn’t easy for April and August when they died, but April at least had her life on track and was happy. I made a mental note to call my parents, who moved to Florida last year to escape the bitter winters in North Dakota. I wanted to make sure I always appreciated them and stayed in touch. April’s situation was proof that loved ones could disappear in an instant.

For a moment, I looked around the room, happy to see life in the house again.

“Hey Petal.” Lyle stepped up to me, invading my space.

I took a step back, hitting the wall behind me.

“Like a pretty flower.” His eyes were glassy and his words slurred. I was glad that Jude had arranged for Uber drivers to take people home.

“Hey Lyle. Having fun?”

His gaze settled on the swells of my breasts. He leaned in toward me and his hot, alcohol-laden breath made me wince. I wanted men to think I was attractive, but this was too much.