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Chapter Twenty-Two
Tessa
I look down at my watch and realize I’m twenty minutes late to meet Dylan for lunch. I grab my phone from my pocket and send him a text letting him know I’m on my way over. We’re meeting at Apple Jacks today and of course it’s the restaurant that’s the farthest from the job site.
It’s my own fault that I’m late. I usually set an alarm to remind me, and I totally forgot. I was so wrapped up in reviewing tile samples with one of the designers, I lost track of time. And to be honest, I’ve been on cloud nine ever since last night, and this morning. Things with Dylan are going so well and it feels like there’s been a shift in our relationship. This time around there’s no denying that we are a couple and the intensity we feel toward each other is mutual and real. I can’t believe how quickly we’ve both adjusted to relationship life.
I’m smiling like an idiot as I walk through the vineyard, cutting through the Somerville property and ducking under the fence that divides it from the apple orchard. I take in the beauty of everything around me. The trees are covered in blossoms, and everything smells so fresh; it’s like walking in a dream. The bees from the hives set up toward the back of the orchard are buzzing softly and I swear if I told people this is where I work, they’d think I was lying. It’s literally perfection.
I’m starting to think that maybe instead of adding onto the restaurants, Lauren and Jack should consider adding a few cottages to the property and doing a little boutique hotel type thing. Nothing over the top because that would ruin the atmosphere and take away from the secluded loveliness of it all. But just some small cottages, spread out, allowing people to experience all that Somerville’s has to offer.
Or maybe it’s just me trying to find a way to continue working here. I know I’m going to be sad when it all comes to an end.
Not that I think what’s going on with Dylan and I will end too. I’m glad we’ve developed a relationship outside of work and it feels like it’s only going to get stronger since we’ve finally opened up to each other.
I make my way into the restaurant and to the back where we usually sit, grabbing a menu along the way and smiling at the waitstaff. We come in here so often now that they know both of us well. I’m sure Leo is waiting for our order.
But when I reach the table we usually sit at, the one reserved for staff, Dylan’s not there. I check the time again on both my watch and my phone just to make sure I didn’t miss something, but I am definitely late.
“Hey Michelle,” I call to one of the waitresses.
“Hey Tessa, I’ll be right there,” she replies, thinking I’m trying to get her attention so I can place an order.
“No, no rush. I was just wondering if you’ve seen Dylan. I’m supposed to meet him for lunch.”
“Haven’t seen him. Check the back. Maybe he’s talking with Leo,” she replies, shrugging as she moves off to take an order.
I wander into the kitchen area, cautiously opening the swinging door to make sure no one’s coming, and I peek around the corner. Leo and the other staff are moving about, the kitchen smells of apples and cinnamon, and it makes my stomach growl.
Where the hell is Dylan? I’m starving!
“Hey Tessa,” Leo calls out, greeting me with a smile as he moves about. “Here for lunch? What’ll it be? The usual?” he now asks, kindly putting me ahead of all the waiting customers. He knows the staff only gets a short time for lunch and he’s always so accommodating. Even if I’m not part of the staff, he still treats me like one.
“I’m looking for Dylan. Have you seen him?”
“Nope. Hasn’t been in here,” Leo replies, and I let out a sigh.
“Okay thanks. I’m just going to have a sandwich today. The apple, turkey and cheese one, please.” I smile at Leo, grateful for his kindness and his ability to whip up my lunch without making me wait.
“Chips or fruit?”
“Fruit, please.”
I return to the table, hoping to find Dylan waiting for me, but again, he’s not there. I’m beginning to wonder if he got tired of waiting for me and left.
I take my phone out, checking back to make sure I didn’t miss anything from him, but there’s nothing. I text him again, letting him know I’m here in case he got stuck working on something and lost track of time. It happens, obviously. It’s what I did just a few minutes ago.
I let the time pass for a little while, giving him some leeway in the hopes that he’s just working on something and can’t get away. I check through some emails, answering a few and scheduling inspections for the house. I then set up a time to meet with Jack and Lauren to discuss flooring and tile choices and also a meeting with Ellen and Lauren about the possible restaurant expansion. And by the time my food arrives, Dylan is still missing.
I call him this time and it goes to voicemail after four rings, and I’m now getting a little concerned that he might be avoiding me. Holy shit, I hope I wasn’t stupid enough to think things between us had changed. Oh, wait, I was.
Fuck my life.
Is this payback for me ghosting him all those months ago? I don’t see Dylan as the vindictive type, but we did finally sleep together. Maybe that’s really all he ever wanted?
I need to slow my thoughts down. Less than an hour ago I was living in a dream and happy with Dylan, thinking about how our relationship has progressed and now I’m worried he’s avoiding me.
I’m just going to eat my lunch, take a little stroll around the property and see if I can find him, if not, I’ll go back to work and distract myself from my stupidly anxious self.
