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Her mom seemed to hear her silent plea. With a gentle clearing of her throat, she picked up her pen and tapped it on the paper.
“I have a few things I need picked up from the store, and then after that, I’ve got to sort everything into boxes.”
“Then how about I go pick up the stuff from the store for you?”
“Sure, if you’re up to it. That would be a really big help. Here, let me get you the list.”
Willow accepted it without a word, grateful that her mom had decided not to ask her anything further about Asher.
“Take as much time as you need.”
Getting up from her chair, Willow threw her mom a quick smile that faded almost instantly. “Thanks. I’ll see you later.”
16
He didn’t expect Willow’s reply to his message.
I agree with what you said to my mom about just being friends. Let’s just pretend this never happened.
“If you don’t get rid of that surly growl, you’ll chase away the rest of the guests!”
“Sorry, Mom. Got a few things on my mind.”Like the text from Willow yesterday where she told me she wants to forget about our amazing kiss and wants to just go back to being friends.
“You’ve been working awful hard, Asher. Maybe you should go take a break.”
“I don’t need a break. I’m fine.”
His mom tilted her head and raised one eyebrow.
“Okay, so I’m not fine, but I’m doing okay. I don’t need a break.”
She chuckled, shaking her head. “I think I’m the better judge of how you are doing right now. For one, did you know that you’ve been staring at that pile of logs for the last ten minutes without moving an inch?”
Asher opened his mouth to say that he had been thinking about how best to chop them, only to see the glint in his mom’s eye.
“Want to tell me what’s going on? It might help.”
Asher shook his head no.
“Suit yourself. But know that I’m ready to listen to you if you need it. I’ve always got some advice for you.”
Asher picked up his axe.Not sure how I explain that I kissed my best friend two days ago and have barely seen her since then.“Thank you.”
“And I think you deserve some time off. Why don’t you go to the festival?”
Grimacing, Asher looked away. “Not really sure. Tomatoes and rhubarb aren’t my thing, Mom. Besides, I’ve been to practically every single one since the year I was born! I don’t think they’ll mind if I miss one year.”Especially because Willow’s going to be there, and I’m not sure I want to see her right now.
“It would be better for you if you went. It might be better for the camp, too. That’s one thing you have to learn if you’re going to run Camp Windy Lake by yourself one day.”
“And what’s that?” Asher asked begrudgingly.She’s not going to let me off the hook until I listen to her.Smiling, his mom walked over toward him and put one hand on his shoulder.
“You have to know when you need to take a break, even when you don’t want to. And youalsohave to know when something is more important than Camp Windy Lake.”
Asher’s shoulders dropped as tension ran out of him.Not that I’m planning on admitting anything about Willow right now, though.
“Thanks for the advice, but I don’t know what you’re talking about. Right now, there’s nothing more important to me than running Camp Windy Lake for the summer season.”
To his surprise, Jean threw her head back and laughed. “Oh, honey, you’re trying so hard to hide the truth from me, but I already know.” Grasping his shoulders with both hands, she looked up into his face, her expression steady but her eyes sparkling with contained laughter. “Did you forget that I was at the party?”
