Eric let out a sigh, a faint, tired smile pulling at his lips.

“I don’t think you understand at all.”

Hadley blinked, confused. What did he mean by that?

“Mr. Scott, Miss Pearson.” Before he could answer, Xander appeared.

“Mr. Flynn is asking for you both.”

“Alright.”

Eric gave a brief nod, then looked at Hadley and offered his arm.

“Shall we?”

“Oh. Okay.” She placed her hand on his arm, and they walked together toward Ernest.

From a distance, Ellis watched them through the shifting crowd. Then he turned away, pulled out his phone, and opened a photo. It was Hadley. In the picture, her long hair was braided in two loose pigtails that draped across her chest. She was smiling—bright, unguarded, and carefree.

A faint smile touched Ellis’s lips. He tapped the screen and set the photo as his wallpaper.

At eleven, Hadley prepared to leave. She had responsibilities waiting—an elder and two children to look after. She couldn’t stay up late with Ernest and Eric.

“I’ll take you back.”

Eric had made time to see her off himself. During the ride, he said nothing. Hadley wondered if he was still quietly stewing over what she’d done. If so—fine. He had every right to be mad. She had indeed crossed a line.

When they arrived, Eric walked her to the door but didn’t follow her inside.

“Go on in. Get some rest.” He paused, and then added, “And tell Joy I’ll be back for lunch tomorrow.”

“Okay.” Hadley nodded and turned toward the door.

“Hadley!” She paused and looked back. Eric stood a few steps away.

“Hadley…” he repeated.

“Is it all right if I call you that? I used to, didn’t I?”

A bit surprised, she nodded.

“Of course you can.”

“All right then. Hadley.” He lowered his head slightly and reached into his pocket. Then he held something out to her.

“What’s this?”

“Take it,” he said.

“It’s for you.”

She took it from his hand—a small glass jar. She looked inside. Her eyes then widened. She looked up at him, startled.

Eric cleared his throat, looking a little uneasy.

“It’s… pine nuts,” he said, his voice quieter now. His cheeks were faintly red.

“Same ones from the event’s snack trays this morning. You said they were good, so I… shelled some more for you.”

The day had been chaotic. Between the event and the unexpected meeting with Megan, he’d almost forgotten to give them to her.

Pine nuts weren’t new to Hadley. But him shelling them—by hand—caught her off guard.

“You did this yourself?”

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