My Cone and Only (King Family #1) - Susannah Nix Page 0,126

shoulder all the blame for my choices. “I might not have given you enough credit.”

Josh eyed me shrewdly. “Maybe you didn’t give yourself enough credit. I told you all that negative self-talk was trouble.”

I squinted at him. “Does this mean we’re good? Do Andie and I have your blessing?”

The smile faded from his face as he winced. “It’s not my place to hand out my blessing to anyone. As all the women in my life have made abundantly clear, Andie gets to make up her own mind about who’s worthy of her.” His eyes met mine, softening into sincerity. “But I’m happy for you that you found someone to love. And if it’s my sister…then I guess I’m happy for both of you.”

I blew out a breath. “Thanks.” Breaking into a grin, I charged at him and gave him a hug. “I’m glad we’re good.”

“Me too.” He choked off a laugh as I banded my arms around him like I was going to pick him up the way I used to when we were kids. “I’m still not sorry for punching you though.”

I let go of him and gave him a friendly shove. “It was a weak-ass punch anyway.”

“That’s because I pulled it. The next time you make Andie cry I won’t be so generous.”

“You made up!” Mia bounded over and smacked an approving kiss on Josh’s cheek before turning to give me a hug. “I’m so glad.”

“Me too.” I gave her an extra-hard squeeze to show how grateful I was for her intervention on my behalf.

“Anyway.” Andie appeared at my side and latched onto my arm. “This has been fun, but we’re gonna go now.”

“Where’d Birdie get to?” Josh asked as Andie started hauling me in the direction of the park exit.

“She went off with Wyatt’s uncle to ride the Ferris wheel,” Mia answered. “She said he’d take her home.”

Andie and I stopped in our tracks. Moving as a unit, we spun around to goggle at Mia.

“What?” she hesitated at our surprised expressions. “That’s okay, right? He seemed nice.”

“Which uncle?” I asked carefully.

“He had a mustache. Randy, I think?”

I blinked as this unexpected information sank in. My gaze snapped to the Ferris wheel in the distance as I turned the idea over in my head, trying to decide how I felt about it. Were they up there right now? The two of them squeezed into one of those two-seat passenger cars, giggling like schoolchildren. Or even holding hands like teenagers on a date. It was difficult to imagine, but I didn’t necessarily find the idea disagreeable. My favorite uncle and my mom’s best friend. There was a certain kind of harmony to it.

Andie turned to Josh with a frown. “Did you know about this?”

He shrugged and slipped his arm around Mia’s waist. “I no longer have opinions about anyone’s love life but mine.”

Mia swiveled her head to look at him, her eyes widening. “Love life?” she repeated as if she hadn’t considered the possibility before. “You mean Birdie and Wyatt’s uncle…?” She looked at Andie, then at me. “Do you think—I mean, are they…?”

Andie shook her head. “I don’t know. I can’t think about it right now.”

It was hard to make out if she was upset or not. I hoped not. I certainly had worse uncles Birdie could have chosen.

She looked at me. “Shall we get out of here?”

“We shall.” I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and steered her away.

As she fell into step with me and tucked her body against mine, a sense of rightness shimmered through me. The two of us, together, moving through the world as one.

“How does it feel?” she asked as we navigated through the park on our way to the employee exit.

“What?” I asked, wondering if she could read my mind.

“Everyone knowing about us.” She gestured at the people around us, some of whom were staring or shooting us knowing smiles. Word of my Sheriff Scoopy performance seemed to have spread.

I stopped and pulled Andie against me, clasping my hands behind her back. “It feels like finally getting everything I’ve ever wanted.” My expression and tone were equally solemn so she’d know I meant it. “You’re my wish come true.”

The way she smiled made me feel like I could fly. But it was nothing compared to the way she kissed me. Like I belonged to her. And she belonged to me.

Someone let out a wolf whistle, and our lips broke apart, both of us hazy-eyed and laughing but still holding on to