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“So, you ready?” Alivia asked, turning her attention to Linley.
“Yes,” Linley said, almost bouncing with excitement.
Today we were checking out the options for table decorations for the reception that would be held outside under a tent. The ceremony would be on the front deck that looked over the ocean, with all the guests sitting in chairs on the lawn.
“So, these are the three options,” Alivia said to Linley as we entered the dining room and saw three tables set up with flowers and place settings.
Linley had picked rose gold, light blue, and dark green as her wedding colors, which I thought was so soft and pretty for a summer wedding. Alivia moved around the tables, pointing out each detail and answering Linley’s questions.
I couldn’t stop staring at her, and I wasn’t attempting to try.
What was she doing here, in Castleton? What was she doing managing this inn? How long had she been in Castleton? How hadn’t I seen her before? You’d think I would have at least run into her at the grocery store or the bank or something.
There had been an influx of new people moving to Castleton and a bunch of new construction, including a bunch of new shops just outside of the downtown area, but still. I think I would have seen her before.
Her hair was different, and it just made her more attractive, with the sides shaved and faded and the top slicked back to reveal that jawline that had so captured me at the pub initially.
“Charli?” Linley asked, and I realized my cousin had asked me a question.
“What?” I said, a little too loud.
“Which one do you like?”
I hadn’t even looked at the tables, so I did a quick scan and pretended to really consider.
“This one,” I said, pointing to the setting with the rose-gold trimmed plates, light-blue napkins, and spray of pink flowers in a green glass vase. The flowers weren’t so intense that people wouldn’t be blocked from speaking to each other across the table.
“I agree,” Linley said. “It’s more simple than the others.”
Alivia nodded and made notes on the phone she’d pulled out of her jacket pocket.
“Okay, great. Was there anything you wanted to add?” she asked Linley while I stared at the way her shoulders filled out the jacket and remember what they’d felt like under my fingers.
Linley shook her head. “Nope, it’s perfect. I think Gray will like it too.”
Gray, Linley’s fiancé, was honestly one of my favorite people. He treated my cousin like the treasure she was. When it came to wedding planning, his only stipulation was that he wanted to carve the wedding cake toppers, and that Linley could have whatever she wanted. “I’m just so happy I get to marry you,” he’d said, and my heart had pretty much melted in my chest.
They were relationship goals. Honestly, one of the reasons I’d had to stop living with them was that I couldn’t handle seeing their healthy relationship in my face all the time.
It wasn’t their fault that my ex had fucked me over and completely destroyed my heart.
Hey, I’m at the store, do you need anything?
The text came in from Natalie, my roommate. The timing for me needing to move out from living with Linley and Gray, and her timing for needing to move out from her parent’s house had coincided in the best way last year, and we’d been living with each other ever since.
Can you grab me some more caramel creamer? I asked.
I was going to stop at the store myself, but if Natalie was already going, then I wouldn’t have to.
You got it she sent back.
Linley and Alivia were still chatting when the front desk person came over to ask Alivia something in a hushed voice.
“I’m so sorry to cut this short, but I have to go handle something. Linley, let me know if you need anything, or have any questions. You’re more than welcome to stay for dinner, on the house,” she said, and she looked right at me.
A warm shiver went down my spine as my eyes met hers.
“That’s not necessary, but thank you so much,” Linley said, looking up from her phone. “We’ll get out of your hair.”
