I had to remain focused.
“What are these?” I mumbled, half in a daze as I pointed at the new shelves on my wall.
Easton protested as his friend stood and approached me. “I, uh…” Rhett cleared his throat. “I figured those might come in handy. For decorations, plants—” He paused and rubbed his arm. “Maybe some of your pots,” he added, his voice dipping low.
My heart slammed against my chest. I could’ve sworn the floor tilted beneath my feet. “For my pots?” I echoed in a whisper.
Rhett nodded, boots crunching against the paper-covered floor as he strode to the wall. “You could just display them—with some… flowers?” His brows drew together with apparent hesitation. “But I think you should sell them.”
All at once, I was practically overcome with the urge to kiss him.
ThenI remembered why I came.
The cold wave of reality washing over my shoulders like the end of a dream, I swallowed and smiled. “Thank you,” I said, focusing on keeping my voice steady. “That’s really thoughtful.”
An unmistakable pink tinge spread across his cheeks. “That’s my job.”
Of course—it was his job. That was all.
He pointed at the paper now partially wrinkled in my grasp. “What’s that?”
“Well, I’m having a meeting here tonight. I probably should have checked to make sure it’s ready for guests, but…” I glanced from the newly patched wall and ceiling to the remarkably tidy floor. “Kinda looks like it is.”
“I was going to have it all cleaned up for you tomorrow—” Rhett took a few steps toward me. “Wait,whatmeeting?”
I shoved a sign into his hands, finding myself unable to form the words.
“Save the Summer’s End Festival…” he muttered under his breath as he read. His jaw tensed, and he looked up. “I thought everyone agreed on the gala?”
“No. Well—” I squeezed my eyes shut and tried again. “They did, sort of. But I think people just don’t realize there’s another option.”
Rhett sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He started to say something, but I hurried to cut him off.
“And I’m sorry. I know you’re the one that asked her to come out here, and she’s already done all this work. But I think this is what’s good for the town,” I rambled. “I mean, we’ll see. I have no idea if anyone will even show up—”
“Georgie.”
“Well, that’s not true. Mrs. Henderson has beensurprisinglysupportive—”
Before I could continue, he crossed toward me and placed a rough finger on my lips. For a heartbeat, I forgot every word I’d ever known.
“What did I tell you about apologizing so much?” Rhett murmured, eyes dancing across my face before his hand dropped. “I didn’t ask Claire to come. My parents—” He sighed and stepped away, the spell broken. “They were…upsetwhen I ended things between us. So, they told her where I was. When I said I’d be staying to help, she offered to help too.”
A long silence settled between us.
“I saw how stressed you were about everything and I— I only wanted to help you. I thought it would make it better.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Now I see that it’s only made everything worse.”
I put my hand on his arm as if it was the most natural thing I’d ever done. “This isn’t your fault, okay? In a way, it was good that she came.”
When our eyes met, he looked desperate. “Really?”
“Yes.” I smiled. “She showed me whatnotto do.”
“Great,” he groaned.
“No, I mean… I was focused on the wrong things. Claire helped me see what really matters, y’know?”
Rhett crossed his arms, and I retrieved my hand. “The thing is, I don’t think she’s just going to give up,” he said.
