hanging from both ears. Shrugging, I focus on getting breakfast ready—heart shaped pancakes. Danny used to make them for Ainsley and her mother all the time. Sometimes, on rare occasions, he made them for me.
“Everyone needs a little love on Valentine’s Day,” he’d tell me.
I let out a tiny breath and force the memory away. Smiling at the heart in the pan, I carefully flip it and silently wonder if I even have the same toppings Danny did. Chocolate chips, strawberries, whipped cream in a can.
“What is that supposed to be?” I laugh, staring at the melted chocolate that I think it supposed to resemble a happy face. “It looks like a slightly less deranged version of the Joker.”
Danny had fixed it by piling whipped cream over the top, but I always knew the failed attempt at a smiley face. It was our secret though. Ainsley never even knew.
Grabbing chocolate chips from the cabinet above my head, I cut it open and carefully place the chips in the cooking batter, watching them bake in as I flip it. The sweet smell has me nibbling a few of the chips as I make more, only burning two in the process that I’ll give myself… And cover them with whipped cream.
It’s after Ainsley is buckled in my car with her backpack sitting beside her booster seat when East strolls up the walkway. Peeling out his earbuds, he stops beside me, sweat drenching his entire front. His already black hair looks more so from the dampness, causing my brows to go up.
“Good run?” I guess. He’s never gone so long, but I don’t tell him I know that.
“Heading out for the day?” he returns.
I just nod.
His chin dips. “Happy Valentine’s Day, by the way.” Clearing his throat, he wipes his forehead off with his bicep before gripping his empty protein bottle and frowning.
“Thanks. You too.” I rub my arm for friction once the cold air picks up. “I don’t know if you want any, but there are pancakes in the microwave for you. A couple are plain, the others have chocolate chips.”
“Thanks.”
Another nod. “Well, I should go.”
He backs toward the house. “See you later.” His eyes go to the open back door, where he waves at Ainsley. “Have a good day, dudette.”
I blink, closing the door and getting in the front the same time he disappears into the house. When I look into the rearview at Ainsley, I slowly ask, “Did he just call you dudette?”
All I get is a tiny little smile.
Nothing special happens throughout the day except my second class being cancelled giving me time to hit up the Coffee Cottage until my third one begins. There’s still a long line of people waiting in front of me when I arrive, so I pull out my phone and text Jenna to see how her day’s been since we haven’t spoken as much as we usually do.
“Long line this morning,” someone says from behind me.
My attention is still plastered to my phone screen as I scan through my emails in wait for my best friend to reply. The amount of realtor junk I’m spammed with still makes me regret ever searching for houses online before reaching out to local agencies who represent the market in the area.
“Piper?” Spine straightening, I turn to see Carter standing behind me in his usual attire—his white shirt, black tie, and black pant combo makes him look more professional than usual.
Blowing out a breath, I wave the hand with my phone in it at him. “Sorry, I’m a bit distracted.”
His smile makes my own grow slightly as his focus flicks to the line in front of us. “How’s your day been?”
Simple conversation. I can handle that. “I only have two classes. I’m normally doing a check in with my professor who handles student teaching since my schedule is different than my other classmates. She’s out today.”
“You’d be surprised at the amount of people who take today off,” he muses, moving up the same time I do as the line shifts.
I make a face. “For Valentine’s Day?”
One of his shoulders goes up.
“Huh.” I never considered the holiday anything but a commercial one to get people to spend money on pointless stuff. Then again, I love the chocolates they sell and am guilty of buying myself some. It makes me giggle before I can stop myself.
Carter cocks his head. “What’s so funny?”
Cheeks heating, I wave my hand. “It’s stupid. I was just thinking about the box of chocolates I’d