Oliver gasped, returning the tunic to the rack. “How could you say that in front of him?”
“Oh, it’s a him now?”
“What about this?” Oliver produced a light-gray crewneck sweatshirt with Harvard stitched in burgundy writing across the front. “It reminds me of you.” He held it up to my frame.
“Why? I didn’t go to Harvard,” I said, pushing it away.
He shrugged. “But you’re smart. I bet you could’ve.”
“I appreciate your faith in me, but I highly doubt that.”
“Whatever.” Oliver tossed the sweatshirt over his shoulder and walked over to the table where an older woman was taking payments.
I trailed behind him. “What are you doing?”
“Getting it for you. I like it.”
Another laugh fizzed to the surface. “Fine,” I said, secretly loving the idea that every time I’d wear that sweatshirt, it would make me think of Oliver. He had that way about him. Finding little inside jokes in everyday life.
He finished paying and took the brown bag. “I’ll carry it for you,” he said.
I tugged him over to the next stall that sold candles. I picked one up to smell it. Scents of lavender and vanilla curled around my nose.
“Here.” Oliver pointed to a giant candle on display. It was bigger than my head and I doubted I could lift it. “This is perfect for Mattie and Giles. You should get it for them.”
I rolled my eyes. “You’re not being very helpful.”
“You’re the one getting distracted,” he said. “Aren’t we here to buy stuff to cook dinner?”
“And have fun,” I added. “Who are you to hurry along my window-shopping?”
“Tent-shopping,” he corrected, picking up a pine candle and sniffing it. “There are no windows.”
“Semantics,” I said.
We strolled down the street, my hand in his. I neverimagined it could feel this natural with someone. Affection with Oliver flowed so easily, and I never grew tired of it.
“Do we need this?” he asked, pointing to a green pepper as we stopped by a produce stand.
“I don’t know,” I examined it. “What are we making?”
He shrugged. “Aren’t they in everything?”
I tossed my head back, giggling. “This is like the blind leading the blind.”
He grinned. “I’d let you lead me anywhere.”
We picked out a few things, hoping some sort of tacos would be an idiot-proof enough attempt. We walked through the rest of the tents, Oliver continuing to pick up random item after random item and trying to convince me to purchase it.
After finishing up at the farmers market, we headed straight to Giles and Mattie’s house.
“How was the market?” Mattie asked, peeking around from the dining room to see who was walking in. She slipped off a blazer, signaling she must have just gotten home from working at the lodge.
“Great. We got loads of stuff.” I held up my paper bags in triumph. “You and Giles are in for a treat. Oliver and I are making you dinner.”
“Bon appétit,” Oliver said with a grin.
Mattie’s face fell as she looked between the two of us in concern.
