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This was my home. Other than the years my family had moved to Durango to escape the whispers and threats, I’d lived in Aster Valley my entire life. I loved it. It was where I felt most myself, and I wished with all my heart I could live freely and happily here.
Enough time had passed now that most people had stopped thinking much about why the ski resort had closed down and how it had crushed the local economy for a while. Aster Valley had found a new normal somewhere along the way, and most residents seemed happy with the way it was here now. Even the people who still missed the resort or the tourists and jobs it had brought with it didn’t seem to still blame my then five-year-old self for single-handedly ruining anyone’s lives.
Except the Stanners.
“Maybe you’re right,” I said, deciding to mind my own business as usual. I forced a smile on my face. “I’ll stay out of it. Mikey and Tiller can help him.”
Barney nodded. “Precisely. You have enough to worry about without adding one more thing to your plate.” He reached out and pulled off my antennae headband. “Hopefully you have a change of clothes here,” he muttered. “This is ridiculous.”
I felt my cheeks go slack as my smile dropped. He knew how much I loved costumes. I had an entire shed full of them at home. I’d bought or made most of them to entertain the kids at the library when I volunteered there for story hour. They loved my costumes, so it was disappointing that the librarian himself didn’t. “Why is it ridiculous to want to make someone smile? Why is it ridiculous to want to make myself smile?”
He didn’t roll his eyes, but that was only because the gesture was considered beneath him. “Don’t put words in my mouth. But I do feel that you would be taken a bit more seriously if you behaved more like a grown-up.”
Maybe he was right. But I wasn’t sure it was worth the trade-off. During the years I’d spent growing up in Durango, my parents had made it clear life was less about having fun and more about working hard. It was my aunt who’d taught me otherwise.
Every summer when my parents had snuck me back into Aster Valley to help Aunt Berry on her farm during growing season, I got to escape their severity and learn a different way of life. Berry was a free spirit who believed in the power of the earth, positive thinking, and loving one another. She wore bright yellow stripes and dark purple paisley. Everyone in town came to Berry, not only for home remedies, but also for a kind word, gentle reassurance, and sometimes—if she deemed you special enough—a tarot reading, psychic prophesy, or love potion.
Aunt Berry had shown me that growing up didn’t have to mean a life of drudgery. Was she taken seriously? I wasn’t so sure about that. Plenty of people thought she was weird or quirky. But she was happy and successful.
“Speaking of behaving like a grown-up,” I said, reaching around for the zipper on my costume. “I need to get to work. I have several orders due out today.”
Barney sighed and reached over to yank down the zipper. I mumbled a thanks and made my way to the back room where I had extra clothes stashed. I peeled off the big fuzzy suit and stood there in nothing but yellow tights when I heard Barney’s voice behind me.
“I shouldn’t have complained about the costume,” he murmured.
I gasped and turned around, holding the fuzzy suit in front of me like a shield. Barney’s eyes were hungry in a way that made my stomach hurt. “D-did you need something?”
“I wouldn’t mind a kiss or two,” he said with a smile, stepping closer. “You sure are tempting me this morning, Truman.”
I stepped back until I felt the worktable behind me. “No time,” I swallowed. “I have to get these packages out before the scheduled pickup.”
It was a lie. They were going out in the mail which meant I could drop them off at the post office anytime before closing.
“You keep putting me off, Truman,” he said. “I thought we talked about this. We’ve been dating for months now.”
“No we haven’t,” I said. “I told you in the very beginning I wasn’t ready for a commitment or label, and then I told you I only wanted to be friends. I don’t want a relationship right now.”
He gave me a disappointed look. “And I told you to trust me. I know what’s best for you, don’t I? I can take care of you. Keep you out of trouble and whatnot. All I ask in return is for a little affection.”
I shook my head and tried to remember Greta’s words. “I’m not comfortable with that. I would like for us to be just friends.”
