Wait for Me

I walk right up to him, confident after all we’ve said and done. “See what you think.”

Holding out the spoon, I watch as he slips the bite of peach ice cream between his full lips.

They curl into a smile that reaches all the way to his pretty eyes. “Delicious. Did you dip your little finger in it?”

That makes me laugh, and he catches me around my waist. For the first time in days, I feel light.

“Taron, put me down!”

Digger watches us with a scowl. “What’s that, Noel? Peach ice cream?”

“Yeah.” I give Taron a nudge with my hip and walk to where Digger is standing.

He takes the spoon, dipping it in the pail I’m carrying. “Not bad. You used your momma’s old recipe.” The way he says it, using that know-it-all tone, makes my skin crawl.

I look over my shoulder, and Taron’s frowning as well. “How could you remember that? We were just kids when Momma passed.”

“I remember when you were Princess Peach.” Digger taps me on the nose. “I remember when I took you to your first Peach Festival Ball.”

“You got that wrong. I was never Princess Peach. It was the one time I let my momma down… that I know about.”

“You never let your momma down.” He gives my cheek a little pinch, which irritates me more. I see a light flash in Taron’s eyes, and I know it irritates him. “It’s nice to be with people who know your history and share your values.”

I don’t like his implication. I don’t like his ideas about my place in society. “Just because somebody is from your hometown doesn’t mean that person shares your values.”

“Nonsense. Besides your brothers, nobody knows your history better than I do, Noel.”

“I doubt it.” Does he sit at home at night studying my past?

“You’re so adorably stubborn. Go with me to the peach ball again this year. It’ll be just like old times.”

I’m caught off guard by his invitation, but that doesn’t mean I’m not prepared. “I’m not going to the ball. We’ve got too much to do with Sawyer leaving and needing to prepare and all.”

“Nonsense. You have to go to the ball. It’s tradition. You’re the co-owner of one of the largest peach orchards in town.”

“If it’s a tradition, it’s one I don’t know about.”

“I told you.” He takes my arm in his. “It’s time we re-establish your family’s place in society. This is one of the ways to do it, by going to the ball and showing your interest.”

Reaching back, I pull my arm out of his. “Everybody knows us. I appreciate your invitation, but I’m not in the mood for a ball this year.”

Taron stands up, and Digger releases me.

Digger crosses his arms over his chest, stretching that seersucker blazer. Who wears seersucker to a peach shed? “I’ll talk to Sawyer about it.”

His tone implies my older brother tells me what to do, but instead of letting him get under my skin, I turn on my heel toward the house. I’m not wasting time on Digger Hayes.

“My ice cream is melting.” I trot down the steps and jog up the hill toward the house.

I’ve never been more annoyed in my life. Digger Hayes thinks he’s going to tell me what to do? He’s got another thing coming.

I’m at the door when I realize a tall figure is right behind me. Taron’s large hand covers mine, and I turn as I step into the kitchen. “You startled me.”

“Sorry. I figured I’d better follow you before I did something I’d regret.”

“Regret?” I take down a freezer-safe container and spoon the rest of the ice cream into it.

“Something Sawyer wouldn’t like is more what I meant.” He catches the back of my ponytail, twirling it around his hand. “You really dated that guy?”