Sporting (Unleashed Romance #3) - Kylie Gilmore Page 0,40

affected by the custody tug-of-war and the fallout. She was forced to visit with Mom and remained cool to her. My family is so messed up.

A familiar deep voice sounds from nearby. “Girls, out of the tree. We don’t want anyone getting hurt.”

My heart lurches. Eli stands a short distance away in his crisp blue uniform, watching as two girls obediently climb down from a young oak tree. I open my mouth to call out to him, but he turns away, continuing his walk through the festival, keeping an eye on things.

I let out a breath, my body suddenly so heavy I sink down onto a metal folding chair.

A trio of girls run up to the table, clutching cash. “Can we have some cookies?” they chorus.

I nod at them, and they check out all the offerings, chattering to each other about what to get. They’re probably nine years old, wearing sparkly barrettes in their hair.

I stand and get back to helping my customers. Keeping busy is the best distraction.

I spend hours serving up cookies, cupcakes, and brownies as I watch the goings-on at the festival. I spot Eli a few times, always with his back to me. Audrey’s across the street at the library, where she’s set out several long tables for a book sale, mostly from donations and worn library books. Doing a brisk business over there. A bunch of kids are jumping in a bouncy house and then running to an inflatable slide. The games are popular with families with young kids. There’s fishing for a magnetic fish in a kiddy pool, swirling sand art, and a lollipop game where they get to choose a lollipop from a large wooden board to win a prize based on a number taped to the stick. It seems everyone leaves that game with a lollipop.

I remember playing these same games as a kid, holding hands with my little sister, and then later running around with Sydney, Audrey, and Harper. Summerdale is a great place to grow up, a great place to raise kids. Low crime, high quality of life. Bike paths wind through the community, around the lake, and on each street. As long as you don’t venture onto busy Route 15, a kid can pretty much go anywhere.

I wave at Sydney across the way, helping to serve up food for The Horseman. She’s too busy to notice me.

A group of six teenaged boys crowds the front of my table, laughing and jabbing each other in the ribs. I recognize Chris. He’s a busboy at The Horseman. Good kid.

I smile at them. “Hi, Chris and friends, what can I get you?”

A redheaded boy speaks up. “You’re the big working man, Chris. This should be on you.”

“I told you I’m saving for a car,” Chris says. “One double fudge cookie, please, and a bottled water.”

I serve them up, take his hard-earned cash, and then help his friends in a flurry of orders. They buy a lot of cookies. I’m going to have to go back to my shop to refill on the chocolate chip after this line dies down. I look up at my next customer and freeze.

The tall boys had blocked the view of my parents. They’re holding hands, apparently waiting in line to see me.

I hold up a palm. “Whatever this is, no. I’m busy.”

“We tried calling you, but you don’t return our calls,” Mom says.

I try for a deep breath but can’t manage it, my heartbeat’s roaring in my ears. “I’m not on board with this. I don’t want to hear about you two being together, and I definitely don’t want to see it.”

“But, Jenna, we’re getting remarried,” Dad says.

A high-pitched ringing in my ears drowns out the rest. Mom’s mouth is moving, but I can’t hear a thing. The world swims in front of my eyes, and then everything goes black.

I slowly come to, lying down somewhere shady. I hear Audrey’s gentle voice.

“Wake up, Jenna. Come on, sweetie.”

I focus on her kind blue eyes. “What happened?”

“You had a shock,” Mom says from my other side.

“You fainted,” Audrey says.

Dad’s standing by my feet, staring at me with a concerned expression. I’m on a stretcher in the shade by the ambulance.

Mike, one of our EMTs, approaches, and Mom joins Dad to give Mike room. I keep my focus on Mike as he asks me a series of medical questions. I can feel my parents staring at me.

I sit up. “I’m fine. Thanks for the concern. I just forgot to eat