Page 52 of Whisk Me Away
"Thanks, Peach,” everything in me wanted to pull her close until I could wrap my arms around her, but with the state of my clothes, I resisted.
"Would you like a cup of coffee and a blueberry crumble muffin? I may or may not have saved you one from the batch I baked this morning,” Karis gave me a shy smile.
I chuckled at how well she knew me already. "Nothing could make this day better other than you, some caffeine, and one of your famous blueberry crumble muffins."
CHAPTER 35
KARIS
The weeks have slipped away faster than I could keep track. Brant and I had fallen into this comforting routine that just felt right. He would pop into the bakery every morning with his usual smile, making my heart flutter a bit more with each visit. He grabbed his favorite treats—an Americano and a blueberry crumble muffin—and we exchange a few words before he’d head out, promising to see each other later.
True to his word, he always came back. As the day wound down, he’d return with a smile on his face. Brant insisted on helping me close up shop, locking the door behind us, and then it was our time. Our evenings together have become special, our little tradition.
Most nights, we keep it simple. We’d swing by Sunny's for takeout, our usual spot for comfort food. With our dinners in hand, we head to the gazebo in the town square. The air was alive with the buzz of conversation and laughter, and we settle in on the benches, enjoying the warmth of each other's company amidst the gentle glow of the streetlights.
Sometimes, Brant surprised me and took me back to his place to cook dinner together. His farmhouse is beautiful but definitely a work in progress. The front porch looked remodeled and ready for a big, cozy swing. I could envision slow Saturday mornings sitting on a comfy porch swing sipping coffee together.
The inside of the house was a little dated, but I enjoyed hearing Brant talk about his plans to renovate each room of the house. A few acres of land surround the home, making it the perfect location to raise a family. Part of me longed to be a part of that future I could so clearly see when I was at his place. I knew Brant was determined to see where this thing between us goes, but that didn’t indicate he was ready for any serious commitment. I needed to stop any thoughts about the future until I know where he stood. My heart couldn’t take any more heartache right now.
When we'd go back to his house, we spend our evenings working side by side, cooking. The playful banter came so naturally with him. As we lost ourselves in conversation, time seemed to stand still. It was as if we'd been doing this forever and carved out our own little bubble where nothing else mattered but us. Time spent with Brant felt like coming home, like finding that missing piece of myself I never knew was missing. It's simple and beautiful and everything I never knew I needed.
"We've lost her,” Eden's words brought me out of my daydreaming.
"Who have we lost?" I asked, turning my attention to the women sitting around the table with me.
Mia, Eden, Aspen, and I have been getting together a few times a month to hang out. This evening, we were at Lucky's. When it first opened years ago, it was a pool hall, but it had slowly developed into a place with a variety of entertainment options. There were still a few pool tables, but now Lucky's had a karaoke stage, arcade games, and darts. You could even order little appetizers.
Saturdays at Lucky's were karaoke nights, and we dragged Aspen here for the first time with every intention of making her get up on stage and sing.
"You, Karis. We've lost you,” Mia rolled her eyes with a smile.
I’ve been spacing out more lately, but I blamed Brant for that new development. He’s taken up residence in my mind, and I couldn’t seem to get rid of him. Although, if I was being honest, I didn’t really want to.
”I'm sorry! I promise I'm here. I will be present all night!" I looked at my sister and friends apologetically.
Aspen was still new and too sweet to say anything, so she only laughed, giving me a kind smile.
"I'm going to order some chips and salsa before the karaoke starts,” Eden climbed down from her chair at the high-top table where we sat.
"Y'all ready for karaoke tonight?" I asked, clapping my hands in front of me. I was ready for a night out with these girls where I could forget about the sorrow and just have fun. I knew that's what Mom would want.
Mia's eyes lit up, her grin widening from ear to ear. "Oh, you know it! I've been practicing my go-to song all week. I'm going to rock the mic tonight!”
Aspen chuckled, shaking her head. "I can't carry a tune to save my life, but I'm trusting you girls to keep me from embarrassing myself.”
I couldn't help but laugh at Aspen's self-deprecating humor. "Hey, it's not about how well you sing. It's about having fun! Besides, we'll cheer you on no matter what.”
Mia nudged me playfully. "Speaking of songs, what are you going to sing tonight, K? Do you have any surprises up your sleeve?”
I grinned mischievously, keeping my choice under wraps for now. "Oh, you'll just have to wait and see. But I promise it'll be a performance to remember!”
Eden ambled back to our table with her hands full of chips and salsa. "What'd I miss?”
Mia was practically bouncing in her seat. "We convinced Aspen to sing tonight!"
Eden's face lit up with a smile as she looked to Aspen for confirmation. Aspen laughed and shrugs her shoulders, drawing a round of laughter from all of us.
We munched on chips and salsa while watching the performers take turns on stage. The atmosphere was electric, with the air buzzing with anticipation and excitement. Each singer brought their own unique flair to their chosen songs, some hitting every note with precision while others added their own improvised twists and turns.