Chasing Cheer (Magical Emerald Hollow Book 1) by Heather Schneider

Author:Heather Schneider [Schneider, Heather]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lilac Fables Publishing
Published: 2023-09-22T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Eight

“Hellooo, Lucas,” Sofia said.

Did she have another cider when I wasn’t looking? Or maybe it really was as strong as she’d indicated. Holly gulped, feeling light-headed.

“Sofia,” Lucas said, barely turning to look at her. He was searching the crowded café.

“Looking for Ash?” Sofia asked, planting herself in front of Lucas so he had to look at her.

He smirked. “Just wanted to say hello. The party’s open to the public, right?”

“Not really.” Sofia placed a hand on her hip.

“Then who is this? A new chamber member?”

“Holly is none of your business. She’s here as my guest.”

“I see,” Lucas said, studying Holly more closely. “Emerald Hollow doesn’t get a lot of new young women very often.” When he smiled, a shiver ran up Holly’s spine.

“Yeah, maybe she and your wife can be friends. Can I help you with something?”

Lucas’s eyes darkened, then he gathered himself. “I’m just going to get some cider and make some small talk. Is that okay with you? I think I have a right to be here, seeing as my dad used to own the place.”

Sofia rolled her eyes. “Your dad and Ash’s dad built the place together. Yeah. We all know that. But Ash bought you out, fair and square.”

“Like I said, I’m just here for the cider.”

“All right.” Sofia relented, pivoting out of his way. “But I’m watching you.” She formed a V with two fingers and moved it from her eyes to Lucas’s.

He put his hands up in fake innocence. “Do your best, Short Cake.”

Sofia scowled as he walked toward the drink table.

“Short Cake?” Holly asked, confused and worried about the whole interaction.

“Old nickname.” She shrugged. “I guess I can’t keep him out. Chamber events are technically open to the public. But I should warn Ash he’s here.”

Holly followed Sofia as they waded through the crowded space to find Ash. She felt a strange buzz from her watch and looked down to see that the hand was spinning erratically. She stared at it in confusion. The Cheer level was still full, but the hand was completely out of control.

“Ash!” Sofia burst out in a loud whisper, pulling him from another conversation. “Heads up. Lucas is here.”

Holly looked up from her watch, still confused, in time to see a muscle in Ash’s neck tense.

“Did he say why?” he asked, glancing toward Holly.

“No idea. But it can’t be good.” Sofia seemed to relax a little since she had warned Ash. She swiped some carrots and dip from the table nearby.

“Okay. Thanks for letting me know, Sof. I’ll keep an eye on him.”

Holly wanted to follow up and see if everything was all right, but she was having a hard time concentrating. She trailed Sofia absently to the counter in the window. Her watch hand was still spinning nonstop.

“I feel strange.” Holly took a seat on the barstool behind her.

“Strange how?” Sofia asked. Since she had confronted Lucas, she was blowing off steam by loudly crunching on a carrot.

“My head’s a little fuzzy.” Holly rested her elbow on the countertop and put her head in her hand.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.