Chapter 2
Reese warmed up some leftover pasta for dinner, and watched funny videos on Garrett’s tablet to pass the time until she heard the party outside dying down. The occasional roars of laughter from Garrett’s friends made her smile, reminding her of happier times. She missed going out, even for simple things like grocery shopping, or running errands, but more than anything, she missed her art. She picked up one of the science magazines Garrett had given her and started leafing through it for a third time. She loved learning new things, and the articles were a great source of inspiration for future art pieces she was creating in her mind. She didn’t have any of the supplies she needed on hand, but as more days passed since Garrett found her and brought her to his guest house, Reese was starting to think about leaving the property, maybe even getting a place of her own, assuming she could find a job that paid enough to cover rent and other necessities.
It wasn’t that she didn’t like the guest house. On the contrary, she loved it. The walls were painted a light creamy yellow. It had hardwood floors, and a small but open kitchen with wood cabinets and a granite countertop. The ceilings had honey colored wood beams going across, breaking up the white planks, and giving the entire place a very cozy feeling. There was a bedroom just off the living area that was big enough for a double bed, a reading chair, and a small desk. And there was alovely ensuite bathroom with a shower that had amazing water pressure.
Reese’s favorite part of the guest house though was its large picture windows that overlooked the lake. When she wasn’t outside lost in thought on the swing, or puttering in the small area behind the guest house that she affectionately called her ‘secret garden,’ she could spend hours at one of the windows, just watching the ripples on the water, so peaceful and relaxing.
A soft knock on her door startled Reese out of her thoughts, and she nearly dropped the tablet. The knock came again, quiet and steady, as if not wanting to scare her, but coaxing her to open up. It was dark outside now. The only light on was the lamp next to the couch she’d been sitting on for hours now. She reached over and turned it off, casting the room into darkness before getting up to answer the door. This was the only way she could face Garrett. He probably thought she was crazy, but it was the best she could do right now.
She opened the door to find Garrett standing there, backlit by the moon, wearing jeans and a t-shirt that did nothing to hide the gorgeous body she’d gotten a full view of just hours ago. He was holding a long stick with a marshmallow impaled on the end of it. He smiled, and she almost felt her knees go weak. Then he held out the stick to her and asked, “would you like to roast some marshmallows with me before I put out the fire? My friends and I were making s’mores, and I saved some chocolate, graham crackers, and marshmallows for you.”
Reese didn’t know what to say. Of all the invitations she’d ever gotten from a man, this had to be the sweetest one by far. That he had been thinking about her, even while he’d been with his friends, was so nice of him. But being near an open flame would likely emit too much light. She wanted to say yes, but then Garrett would see how awkward she was, and how she nevermade eye contact with him. Who was she kidding? He probably already noticed all her weirdness.
Still, she liked the idea of spending time with him. It was on the tip of her tongue to say ‘yes,’ but then she cast her eyes down to the hollow of his throat, not wanting to see his reaction when she turned him down. “I’m sorry, I can’t.”
He let out a soft chuckle. “Got better plans?”
She smiled sheepishly. “No, I just -” Reese didn’t have a good excuse, and she wasn’t good at lying. But telling him the real reason would freak him out even more. She just needed a little more time, and she’d be out of here. Then they could both go back to their normal lives. The last thing she wanted to do was overstay her welcome. “I’m kind of tired,” she finally mumbled, not even believing it herself. It was barely past nine o’clock and she was a grown woman.
She stood at the door, waiting for Garrett to laugh at her or simply walk away, but when he remained standing in front of her, she couldn’t help but look up. Her gaze never went higher than his nose, because even in this low lighting from the flames in the fire pit, the moonlight, and the few solar lanterns he had placed strategically around the yard, there was a chance looking into his eyes would trigger her gift, and that was the last thing she wanted.
“No worries. I’m pretty beat myself.” He tried to make his words lighthearted, but Reese heard the disappointment in his voice. He’d tried so many times over the last month to get her to come out, either with him or with his friends, and every time she’d turned him down. She wondered if there would come a day when he would simply stop asking. Stop thinking about her.
In a way, Reese had always wanted to disappear, to become one of those people no one noticed, because that would make it so much easier when she avoided making eye contact. But thethought of Garrett Cooper forgetting her or ignoring her created an ache in her chest that she suddenly had the urge to rub away.
Garrett turned and walked away, carrying the stick with the impaled marshmallow on it like a walking stick that had been cut off at the end. Reese sighed, fighting the longing to call him back and tell him she’d changed her mind - that she would love to roast marshmallows with him and make s’mores. Smiling at the thought, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d done something that sounded like so much fun. Maybe as a kid when she went to an overnight camp, but that was years ago.
But instead of calling his name or drawing his attention back to her, Reese quietly shut the door, turned the deadbolt, and retreated into the bedroom, taking the science magazine with her. She placed it on the bed, and went into the bathroom. The day had been warm and she yearned for a shower to cool off before climbing under the covers to try and get some sleep. She took her time under the stream of warm water, washing her hair, scrubbing her body, all the while thinking of what Garrett was doing now. He’d been outside most of the day, so he was also probably showering and getting ready for bed. Tomorrow was Monday. He’d go back to work, and she’d have the property to herself until he returned in the late afternoon or evening.
After her shower, she put on a long t-shirt, combed through her wavy brown hair, scrunching it with her fingers to give it a little bit more bounce, then climbed into bed, nearly moaning at the pleasure of the soft mattress and cool sheets.
She was almost half way through the magazine, having read every single word and studied each photograph and graphic with the utmost attention, when she could’ve sworn she heard another knock on her door.
The only person who ever came to the guest house was Garrett, and she was sure he’d turned in for the night. He’d always assured her that no one could get on his property withouthim knowing about it, so who else could it be? She shook her head, certain she’d just been hearing things, but there was another knock. That time she knew someone was at her door.
She got out of bed and padded her way across the living area, but stopped just short of turning the deadbolt. If it was Garrett, she had nothing to fear, but it could be anyone. “Hello?” She called out, almost too softly to be heard through the door.
“Reese, it’s Garrett.” His voice had all her muscles relaxing, and now she felt silly. Of course, it was Garrett. She unlocked the deadbolt and opened the door. With her eyes cast down, the first thing she saw was a plate filled with s’mores. Her jaw went slack as she lifted her eyes, not to meet his, but just up to the tip of his nose. “For me?”
Garrett smiled and extended the plate. “All for you, Reese. I hope you like sugar and chocolate.”
Reese smiled shyly. “I don’t know what to say. Thank you. This was totally unnecessary, but thank you so much.”
“You’re very welcome. Enjoy. I’ll come by tomorrow to pick up the plate.” And with that, Garrett turned and walked away.
“Good night,” she whispered under her breath. It probably wasn’t loud enough for him to hear, but as soon as the words left her mouth, he glanced over his shoulder as if he had heard her, then disappeared through the back door of his house.
Reese stood in the open doorway of the guest house holding the plate of s’mores, just staring out at the vast darkness. The sky was clear with thousands of stars and a full moon that lit up most of Garrett’s backyard, casting a soft glow over the lake and making the water glisten in the night.
She put the plate on the kitchen table, and went back to the bedroom where she pulled on a pair of shorts before taking a s’more off the plate and heading outside. As soon her feet touched the walkway, she inhaled the fresh air and sighed in contentment. Most people feared the dark and loved the light.But as an artist who often got her best inspirations well past midnight, and as someone who avoided eye contact at all costs, the darkness was her shield from the world. It was a safe and comfortable place where others left her alone, and she could just be herself.
Reese walked across the vast property to the dock. She slipped off her shoes, and sat, letting her feet dangle off the edge, her toes skimming the surface of the water. She gasped softly at the coldness of it, then bit into her s’more, moaning from the pleasure of its ooey gooey sweetness. A light flicked on behind her and she turned to see that it was coming from Garrett’s bedroom. She’d never been in his house, but she assumed that’s what it was since he always seemed to go there right before all his lights went out for the night.
She wondered what the last thing he did before going to bed was. Did he read, watch television? Did he have a girlfriend he talked to? He hadn’t mentioned having someone special in his life and from what she’d seen during her time here, he didn’t seem to be with any of the women who usually came to his barbecues. But that didn’t mean there wasn’t a special someone in his life. She could be out of town, or maybe it was a long distance relationship.
Reese pushed the thought from her mind and focused on the beautiful nighttime scenery around her. The fireflies were out, flitting around her and over the water, giving her quite the light show. She swung her legs in small circles, her toes brushing against the surface of the cool water that didn’t feel nearly as cold anymore.
A part of her wanted to turn around and see Garrett joining her, but she hadn’t heard his footsteps, and she fought the need to turn around and assure herself he wasn’t there. Mostly because she knew it would be followed by disappointment, much like the kind he must’ve felt when she’d turned downhis invitation tonight. It just couldn’t be helped though. Garrett was… well, she just wasn’t sure she could trust him yet.
