Either way, this plan is working. Helping her design her bookstore and find the perfect place to host it is bringing back the creative spark I hadn’t realized I'd lost.
The one thing this plan hasn’t helped with is taking my mind off Theo. I’m still struggling with my parents' words about not being able to plan for love. Sometimes, I don’t think they realize that the type of love they found with each other is one in a million.
Then again, it doesn’t matter what I do. I can’t get Theo off my mind. I wake up thinking I’ll find him in bed next to me, my heart sinking when I find my bed cold and empty. The trees outside remind me of his emerald-green eyes. The smell of grass brings me back to our night together under the stars. Any cheeseburger I see reminds me of the fun I had with the brothers, watching Alex and Leo fight over the best way to cook a burger patty. I don’t just miss Theo, I miss the feeling of being part of a larger family.
As if that’s not bad enough, I still haven’t been able to bring myself to unpack my suitcase. It’s only been a few weeks since I left the lake house. I’m still in the throes of summer, and reality just hasn’t hit yet. That’s all this is. That’s all it can be.
Theo himself agreed with me that what we had was all in good fun. He agreed that it was all a mistake. He let me go.
“You ready to go?” Beth stands in the doorway of my bedroom, bag in hand. We have another full day of real estate hunting, and I’m grateful for the reprieve from my room as I started to feel the walls closing in on me.
Grabbing my bag, I head out the door with Beth, excited to spend another day helping my friend. Besides, even if I did love Theo, and I’m not saying I do, but even if I did, he made it clear that he certainly does not love me back.
37
SIENNA
Beth and I arrive at what looks to be an old coffee shop. Standing by her car, we take in the building. It’s empty now, the windows covered so we can’t see inside, but the exterior has a certain charm that perfectly suits Beth. The detailed trim around the grand windows that stand tall on either side of the doorway is already painted in Beth’s favorite shade of green. Not to mention, since it’s just outside of downtown, there’s a full parking lot. Upon finding a spot, we immediately added it to our pros list for this location.
The only con is that it shares walls with two other buildings. The one to the right, I’m not sure houses an operating business, as it looks just as run-down as the one standing before us. To the left is some sort of gym. It’s hard to say what kind, considering it isn’t open yet.
“Oh, this place is actually super cute,” Beth says beside me.
“I agree, but I thought that’s why you wanted to check this place out, because it had the exterior youwere looking for.” I’m a bit confused by her comment. She had originally told me she drove by this place randomly one day. After getting in touch with the owner, she set up this meeting. So I’m not sure why she’s speaking as though she’s seeing this for the first time.
“Right. Well, shall we?” I respond to her question with a gesture to the front door, prompting her to lead the way.
I’m too busy admiring the trim work around the front door up close to notice a man stands just inside the empty building. When my eyes lock onto pools of forest green, illuminated by the light filtering through the open front door, my heart stops.
“Theo…” His name leaves my lips in a gasp.
“Sienna.” My name on his lips sounds like a beautiful melody has touched my ears. I want to run to him, to hug him, to feel his lips on mine again. But my feet don’t move an inch.
Seeing him again throws me back to this summer and the words he spoke to me.
…blue is a perfect color on you, Angel. But I must admit, that bikini would look better on the floor.
You gave us a piece of our mom back…They’re perfect. Just like you, Angel.
Well, at least we had fun…good luck with your job search, then.
“What is he doing here?” I snap at Beth, putting my guard back in its rightful place. She stares at me, guilt written on her face. I can’t help but steal a glance at Theo as I wait for her response. Damn, he looks better than I remember.
Another reminder that he’s not taking this separation between the two of you as hard as you’re taking it, Sienna.
“Just hear him out, please. I think he can help,” Beth says in a hushed tone that only I can hear. Louder, she says, “I’ll wait outside while you two talk.”
Beth exits, and I contemplate the ways to get back at her for this. I was beginning to make progress on getting Theo off my mind. Then she tricks me into coming here. Unbelievable. Now I’ll have to start the process of forgetting those forest-green eyes all over again.
“Don’t blame her.” Reluctantly, I make eye contact with Theo, who now stands in front of me, closer than he was before. When his familiar scent overshadows the stale, musty smell of our surroundings, I take a small step back, inching closer to the front door.
“Then who should I blame for this meetup?” I brush a stray curl out of my eye. The least Beth could’ve done is ensure I wasn’t wearing a sweatshirt, with my hair loosely tossed on top of my head. My look is reminiscent of the time we met in the diner before he came crashing into my life, tearing apart my plan.
“Blame me, this was my idea. I reached out to Beth and convinced her to set up a meeting with us.” He hesitates, and I wait for him to continue. “I didn’t think you’d exactly be up for the idea of meeting with me.”
“Mmm…” I sigh, my guard slipping the slightest. “What did she mean when she said you wanted to help?”
Theo pulls out a piece of paper from his pocket and hands it to me, “I’ve set up interviews for you all over town. They all take place next week.”
