I didn’t even know that was possible.
“Did something happen at the festival?” I ask. Amanda reported that everything from the day went well.
“Yes. Me, smiling at everyone who came by, marketing the crap out of Gold’s, and getting you a good number of new customers.”
I lean against the brick wall of the hospital, sweat drawing a line down my back in the oppressive nighttime air. Fuck, I miss the sea breeze. And the woman who comes with it. “I don’t understand how this equates to failure.”
“Well, they’re all going to be expecting my friendly face when they pick up orders or come for a tour, which means they’ll be awfully disappointed when they get stuck with yours.”
I shouldn’t be capable of smiling, but she pulls one out of me. “How long did you spend brainstormingthat whole thing?”
“The entire drive back to the farm. It was either that, or pay attention to Kenny’s rendition of a Red Hot Chili Peppers album.”
“Guess that means you were thinking about me today.”
“I’ve been thinking about you a lot, Grayson.”
There’s no hesitation.
No tinge of amusement.
No follow-up joke.
No resignation or reluctance either, from what I can tell. Unless this Ohio phone service is warping her voice, it sounds an awful lot like she’s…happy.
I was honest and raw with her on our call yesterday, not even trying to restrain myself. Because, yeah, I’m all-fucking-in. I was already sliding down the slope when I took her into my home. I picked up a shit-ton of speed when she said there’s a chance she’ll stay in Garnet Shores. And sometime in the last three days, I’ve fallen completely, incapable of climbing back up.
And I don’twantto climb back up.
I wanther.
Even if she goes back to Boston, I’ll try to make things work. Start my days earlier so I can drive up and take her to dinner. Hire another hand so I have more wiggle room on the weekends. Work around her, give her what she needs, and help keep her going.
It’s obvious she feels something for me, too. But still, save for her calling mespecialyesterday, she’s been holding back.
Until now.
She might as well have injected dopamine right into mybloodstream. Crazy how one of my worst fucking days in recent memories can have a moment as good as this.
“I’ve been thinking about you, too,” I say right back.
There’s a dainty little exhale. The kind that comes with a shy smile.
“Dave’s eying me. I think he feels left out.”
“Well, we can’t have that. Give him a kiss for me, will you?”
“I’d like to keep my face in one piece.”
“Don’t worry. Dave knows how much I like your face.”
“Do you tell him all your secrets?”
“Baby, if I wanted it to be a secret, I wouldn’t be sharing it with you,” I drawl.
She’s quiet for a second, and I indulge myself, imagining her blush. She’s hard to fluster, which makes it that much more satisfying when I manage it.
And IknowI’ve flustered her, because when she finally talks, it’s a complete topic change. “How’s your brother?”
