Facade of Love

Chapter 306 The Warmth of Ordinary Life

For someone stuck in a hospital room, the idea of getting out for a walk was something to really look forward to.

As for taking Charlie out to eat, I could not think of anywhere special off the top of my head, so I picked a place I liked to go on any given day.

Charlie had insisted on ditching Inch and the bodyguard for the day inside the restaurant, so we snagged a table by the window. The view was killer–Polaris River sliced right through Lake City, with people kayaking and the sidewalks bustling with life under the bright lights.

As we browsed the menu, Charlie finally tore his eyes away from the scene and asked, “Do you like this?”

I nodded, watching the street vendors and the chill crowd wandering by. “It’s so lively,” I said.

He flashed a quick grin and agreed, “Yeah, it’s got that special buzz.”

Mid–conversation, Charlie’s attention drifted to a mom and her kid at the cotton candy stand below. The little guy, who was maybe five or six, was totally spellbound by the rainbow of sugary fluff and glued to the spot.

“That stuff will glue your teeth together. We’ll have something way better at home,” the mom probably said, trying to pry her kid away, thinking about the impending sugar rush.

The kid, however, was having none of it, his eyes glued to the cotton candy. He begged, “It won’t stick. Let’s just get one!”

bad, and mom was not budging. She tried to haul him off, yet the kid must have tapped into some superhero strength

loud crash, the table

pair who had been on the fence about the

of his wits, the little boy plopped down on

him,

cotton candy costs two bucks a stick, and I can’t sell the ones you guys knocked to the floor now. Pay me what they cost, and since

away from the drama and checked out the dishes on the table. Before we could dig in, this ear–splitting yell came from downstairs, “Fifteen? Are you kidding me? Do you think you can scam over a few

did not even wait for the boss to respond. She just grabbed the kid sitting

guard, tripping and tumbling as he tried to keep up with her.

on, lady, you’re not making any sense. I’m trying to be reasonable here, but you’re not listening. Do I need to call the

haven’t even reported you for selling bad food, which is me being nice. Now you

report me. But you’ll wait here while

his phone,

started wailing like her heart was being torn out, accusing the

stop and gather around. With more

all sorts of delicious dishes, and I slid