Sporting (Unleashed Romance #3) - Kylie Gilmore Page 0,41

lunch.” I turn to Audrey. “Who’s watching my table?”

“I called Cecilia.” That’s my assistant, who was working at the shop. If she’s at my tent now, then that means my shop is closed.

“I’m okay. I’ll go back to the shop and reopen it.”

“We’ll go with you,” Dad says. “Just to be sure you’re okay.”

It’s because of you I’m not okay!

I get off the stretcher and grab Audrey’s shoulder to steady myself. “No, Dad. This is not a good time.”

“When is a good time?” Mom asks. “Just tell us and we’ll be there.”

How about never?

“I need to get to work.”

Audrey puts a protective arm around my waist, bless her, even though she’s eight inches shorter than me. It’s more a show of solidarity than physical support as we walk down the lane to my shop.

“What the hell is going on with your parents?” she whispers. “Back together after Armageddon? They nearly destroyed each other and you.”

“Right? The last thing I remember before I passed out is they said they’re getting remarried.”

“Get out!” She looks over her shoulder at them. “They’re watching us walk away. Geez, I would’ve passed out too. You lost your sister and your dog, and you might as well have lost your dad for the few times you saw him because they couldn’t get their shit together, and now this? It’s wrong, wrong, wrong.”

“I know.” It’s all I can manage with the tightness in my throat, but I feel vindicated. I’m not overreacting. Audrey knows. There’s something seriously off here.

We get back to my shop, and I go behind the counter, already starting to feel better. It’s cool in the shop, I’m surrounded by my favorite scents and kitchen tools, and there’s a counter barrier if I need it.

Audrey guides me to the stool behind the counter. “You should sit while you’re here. I’m sure you’re not going to have a ton of people passing through with the festival going on.”

“I have to be open just in case.” I take a seat. “Anyway, don’t worry, I’m not going to pass out again. I’m fine now. It was just the shock, and I haven’t been sleeping much, so I’m not my usual energetic self.”

“Because of Eli?” she asks gently.

I nod. I told her what happened. She was the only one who knew I’d been seeing him at all.

She strokes my hair. “I don’t think you should do the dance-athon later. When the festival winds down, you should have a nice relaxing dinner at home. I’ll bring some wine, and we can chill.”

“Aud, it’s a fundraiser, and I know you signed up for it too. I’ll just take a quick nap after I close, and I’ll be good to go. You’ll be with me there, so will Sydney and Kayla, and it’s not like my parents are going to participate. They’re too old.”

Her brows knit together. “They’re not that old. Forty-something, right?”

I stand, grab a rag, and clean the already clean counter. “Whatever. They only came here to tell me their big news. Now that they told me, there’s nothing more to talk about.”

“You have to face them sometime.”

I scrub harder. “I don’t want any part of this couple thing, and I’m certainly not going to their wedding. There’s really no point in even talking about it. As far as I’m concerned, this whole thing never happened.”

“Denial won’t help,” she says under her breath.

I toss the rag down. “We all do what we have to do.” I flash my teeth in an approximation of a smile.

Audrey gestures for me to sit down again. I huff but I comply. She leans down and kisses my forehead. “I’m here for you no matter what.”

I blink back tears and nod.

“Are you going to be okay here alone? I can call—”

Just then Sydney bursts in. “Your parents are certifiable! I want to dump ice water on their heads and kick their asses on their way out of town.”

I smile for real this time. “Yeah, Aud, I’ll be okay. Sydney’s going to do the dirty work for me.”

Audrey grins and heads out the door, giving Sydney’s shoulder a squeeze on her way out. Audrey has to run the book sale, which is a fundraiser for the library.

Sydney joins me behind the counter, jamming her hands on her hips. “And to just show up here, springing it on you like that!”

“Actually, I ran into them in Clover Park last weekend, where it looked like they were on a date. They’ve been calling me ever since. I’ve