Chapter Fourteen
Liam
The last few weeks have flown by in a blur.
Uncle Stanley makes an appearance at the store or job sites atleastthree times a week. The man is bored, and still a partial owner, so I leave him be. Aunt Willa can be the one to wrangle the old man back into the house because she’s the only one he’d listen to anyway.
No one is expecting him to wake up tomorrow and feel thirty years younger, as much as I wish it were possible. The lack of stress and more time off has been good for him though. He looks more alive, brighter. The light is back in his familiar blue eyes, which were dulled during our first meeting a few months ago. There’s more color in his complexion, and he doesn’t look as sallow anymore. The evidence of his age, and a life well-lived, are still apparent in his deep wrinkles and the silver streaks through his blonde hair. It’s a start.
Plus, he doesn’t bother anyone when he’s checking in. Stanley doesn’t try to dictate the projects or undermine my instructions. He’s quick to agree with my suggestions, and always asks my opinion before making any decisions with the crew members. If anything, he’s there to help me, andthe staff, better adjust to each other. It’s been a small saving grace since we started work on Pippa’s studio.
After finalizing the renovation plans Calypso helped me with, the presentation and contract signing went smoothly with Pippa. Not only that, she’s excited for the plans I’ve incorporated to push the studio into a more economical business. There are a few adjustments that need to be made to fit her budget, like fewer solar panels to start in favor of upgrading the entire heating and cooling system.
The goal is to cut her costs where we can. Even though twenty panels can’t generate enough energy for the whole building, it will save her thousands of dollars each year. In the future, she ideally won’t need to go so long in between repairs.
Pippa has applied for a loan and a few grants that help small businesses take a more sustainable approach. She’s already been approved by one of them, and three other proposals are pending, so the budget could grow over the next month or two.
If there’s anything new I can bring to Maddon Construction and Hardware, it would be helping the company and Amada Beach move toward a more energy-efficient standard.
Calypso was surprised by that fact, which opened up a whole new conversation about how easily people judge others. Even us. Like when I assumed she wouldn’t have gone to Warped Tour because she was in ballet.
I’ve gotten a closer look into who she is, though we haven’t dived into anything particularly deep either.
She still doesn’t know I was engaged only a year and a half ago, and I have no idea what caused her divorce.
Stefan’s personality is more than enough, but what was the straw that broke the camel’s back? It’s easy to come up with hundreds of scenarios, each worse than the last. To Stefan’s very little credit, I think there are a few lines he wouldn’t cross. At least I hope so.
I haven’t asked Calypso—that’s something she needs to tell me on her own time.
He’s been aggravating as fuck over the last couple of weeks, though.
As I suspected he would, he called Calypso again a week after dress shopping. She didn’t answer, and he didn’t leave a message this time. I am surprised it took him that long considering how rumors are flying around town about us. Other than a few flirty touches here and there, we don’t do anything other than spend time together. It’s somehow enough.
Ithasfelt a little stagnant between us since the movies, but that was probably to be expected. Calypso always looks a little uncomfortable when wedding conversations come up; I figured she would need a distraction after an afternoon of dress shopping. I never expected her toadmitthat to me.
Things aren’t going backwards, so I’m taking it day by day.
There’s still alotwe don’t know about each other, or what either of us is actually open to at this time.
We haven’t made any moves to take things further—we haven’t even kissed since we started “dating.” A part of me thinks it is the biggest barrier between us but the thought could be coming from my dick. I try not to give it much merit.
Today, we’re making our weekly couple appearance at the Summer Bash Farmer’s Market. According to Calypso, it’s the biggest summer event in Amada Beach. I remember the Fourth of July Block Party being the event to come out for, but that hasn’t been the case for a few years, I guess.
There are even more vendors out than the previous weeks. It spreads down to The Loop, the lot where local food trucks line up and have seating areas. There’s live music at the end of the pier as well as at The Loop.
Calypso and I have been walking around for two hours and haven’t even made it halfway through the market.
We’re meeting up with her siblings, Lucas, and the rest of the group later.
The group.
Having new friendships, outside of her and my cousins, has been great. I have a lot less free time than I did at the beginning of summer, and that feels more normal for me. It makes me feel like a schoolboy going into a new class but I’m rolling with it. Just like everything else that involves the fiery siren next to me.
“There you two are!” Miss Willow waves us over.
With a hand on Calypso’s lower back, I follow her toward the older woman. She’s been the friendliest to me, and I now know she’s Pippa’s mom.
The small town charm is hard to ignore.
