Lily gave him a devilish grin and he shook his head.
“In case you’re wondering, Lily works for Ayden. She’s the head of marketing and development.”
I nodded.
“But that wasn’t until after we started dating,” Ayden clarified.
I took a sip and was pleasantly surprised at how tasty it was. There was the right amount of bubbles and very little sweetness. If I needed a pick-me-up, I’d definitely reach for it.
“This is really good,” I said, in between sips. “Really good.”
“Right in our demographic.” Ayden placed a kiss on Lily’s cheek, and she glowed. and part of me wondered if there was more to her glow than people realized.
“Okay. Breakfast is served,” Gabby slid out a tray of croissants. “Ham and cheese croissants ready and waiting.”
Mason’s mom spooned the fluffy scrambled eggs into a bowl and I grabbed all the utensils and plates before following everyone outside. Everything was so easy and effortless. I wasn’t sure if it was because I was on a quasi vacation or because being with this group of people was just the right fit. I decided not to worry which it was and enjoy the company.
Gabby placed the croissants on the table and Mason’s mom put the bowl of eggs next to it. I put the plates down and the napkins next to the stack and anchored them with the plastic forks and knives.
Jason walked up the steps. His hair still messy from the night, but he immediately lit up when he saw Gabby. I took a seat on the end of a couch and watched the two of them.
“My favorite,” he whispered, as he leaned over her to snatch one of the warm croissants.
“Brandy will be so sad she’s missing out,” Gabby sighed.
“Oh, please. She’s getting plenty of croissants and who knows what else in Paris. I do not feel sorry for her,” Lily chuckled. “Not one bit.”
“True. But I have to admit, I’d pick this any day.” Gabby leaned against Jason and he nodded.
“Me too, babe.”
Mason walked onto the patio as Jason placed a kiss on Gabby’s cheek, and I knew there was something special about this group of friends. Maybe this was how friends were meant to be…Available to catch you if your wings break, but there to help you soar the rest of the time. I had that with Bethany, long distance, but it would be nice to experience in the same state.
“You look gorgeous,” Mason said, bending down and swiping a kiss across the top of my head.
“Not so bad yourself.”
He made a plate for each of us and sat next to me. There were little pockets of conversation surrounding us. It was nice to get lost in the mix
“You smell wonderful.” He winked.
“Nothing like a little sunblock to get your juices flowing, huh?”
Mason sat back and balanced his plate on his knee as I took a bite of the croissant. Of course, it was heavenly. Gabby had a real gift.
“You have a great group of friends and your family is beautiful,” I said, my voice low.
Mason’s eyes connected with mine. “They love you, Tori. You fit in so perfectly…”
I took in a deep breath and rested my head against his shoulder. “That’s because you make it easy.”
I finished the last bite of the croissant and glanced over at the lake. The property was beautiful, nestled among woods and positioned perfectly in front of a pristine lake.
“Is it as cold as it looks?” I asked.
He grabbed my empty plate and put it with his before dumping them into the trash bag.
“We like to call it refreshing.” He smiled, standing up, and grabbing my hand. He hauled me to my feet and down the stairs before I could even think about objecting.
“See that tree?” He pointed at a large, cedar tree and I nodded. “That’s where you’ll be launching from.”
“That seems kind of high,” I countered.
“Nah. You need the height to get good air.”
I was only about ten feet from the porch when I heard Lily whisper something to Gabby. My feet almost stopped working, but I didn’t want them to know I heard so I forced one foot in front of the other. Maybe they weren’t talking about us. Lily didn’t say my name specifically and she didn’t call Mason by name. It didn’t matter. Hearing her question brought me right back to my other relationship and reminded me why I couldn’t afford to get myself all wrapped up in a relationship. I needed to focus on fun.
Mason was circling me around to the right of the lake where there was a little bank that bordered the water. I took a deep breath and forced Lily’s words out of my mind. This weekend was fun, not serious.
“Who said I wanted good air?” I joked, trying to push out the feelings of quiet disappointment.
“Everyone wants good air.”
I looked behind me and saw his mom and dad watching us march to the tree that held my fate in its limbs. It shouldn’t be a big deal, but suddenly it seemed like the extra five feet above the lake was a huge deal.
“I’m gonna be like ten feet in the air when it’s all said and done.” I squeezed his hand.
“If all goes how it should, yes.”
We got to the tree and grabbed the rope swing that dangled from a sturdy limb.
And Lily’s question kept looping through my mind, “You don’t think he’ll get bored with her like he has in the past, right?”
“Do you want me to go first?” he asked.
I sucked in my cheek and focused on the task at hand. This thing we had was only fun so it didn’t matter if what she said was about Mason or not.
I really wasn’t good at lying to myself.
“I don’t know. If you go first, I might chicken out. But if you don’t go, I might chicken out.” I shook off my shorts and tugged my shirt over my head and tossed it on the ground.
Mason laughed and circled his arms around me as he brought the swing in front of us. Part of me wished I’d brought the bikini.
“It’s solid, right?” I asked, swallowing the fear that was bubbling.
“You really want to ask the man who built your two-story deck if the rope swing is solid?” His brow arched.
“Well…” I wiggled my brow. “I’m selling the house.”
Mason held the rope as steady as he could and I lifted one leg over the seat of the swing, which was only a wooden circle. I clenched the rope with my fingers and lifted my body the rest of the way onto the seat.
“Have you done this before?” he asked.
“I’ve swung on tree swings, but I haven’t jumped off into water.”
“That explains it. Are you ready?” he asked.
I shook my head, “Yep.”
“Well, I’m going with the yep.” He grabbed the rope that dangled underneath the seat and began walking backwards. “If you chicken out and the swing’s on the way back to the bank, don’t jump. That’s a really important rule.”
“I can see the logic in that.”
He was walking me swiftly backward, and I realized just how long the rope was the higher I went. Before I had time to object to this whole idea, he let go of the rope and I swung forward into the air. The breeze scuttled across my skin, sending goose bumps over my entire body. The lake came in view, and within an instant, I unwrapped my legs from the seat and let go of the rope. I clenched my eyes and reminded myself for the last time, this weekend was only for fun, and my body sliced through the cold lake water. And after the shock of it all, the liquid was quite refreshing. I quickly kicked my legs and swooshed my arms through the water, shooting into the air. I looked up toward the bank and saw Mason grinning, thrilled that he helped to check off an item on my bucket list.
“You’re definitely the most beautiful woman to ever have graced this swing.”
I smiled, dog paddling in place. “Now it’s your turn.”
Mason laughed and shook his head. “Are you crazy? It’s way too cold for that in the morning.”
The weekend had been amazing and with the whirlwind of new friends and Mason’s fami
ly, I felt slightly off center starting my workweek. For the first time in a long time, I wasn’t quite ready for Monday. Mason was starting the kitchen remodel at the house, and I decided to treat myself to a bouquet of flowers for school and a latte. The roses Mason gave me over the weekend sat on my bedroom dresser, filling the tiny space with a wonderful fragrance. I’d thought about bringing the arrangement to school, but I’d learned long ago, whether it was kindergarten or twelfth grade, students loved to bring up a teacher’s love life or lack thereof. So that was not going to happen. Not to mention I was in desperate need of caffeine, and I’d heard the florist happened to make killer espresso.
I began the drive down to town, enjoying every second of it. I would definitely miss this part of living on the island. Bright pink fireweed speckled the side of the road as it curved and weaved along the hill. Banners and hanging baskets filled with red petunias alternated on the bright blue lampposts that spotted the sidewalk once I hit town.
I found a parking spot in front of the florist and parallel parked. I gripped the steering wheel and sat in the seat for a few minutes while my mind whirled at a million miles a minute. There were only a few more weeks left of summer school. Only a few more weeks before I headed back to New York. Things with Mason were great—beyond great—they were fabulous, but part of me figured that had a lot to do with neither of us looking for more than what we had. Not that I was sure what that was.
I checked the mirror and not surprisingly no cars were on the road. Hopping out of my car, I made my way to the sidewalk and stopped to check out the beautiful floral arrangements wrapped in brown paper.
The door swung open and a shrill sound echoed through the air. I almost jumped out of my skin until I turned and saw Natalie Jennings.
“You really are here,” she gushed, her arms opening up wide. The rudest thing a person could do was not hug a person who had their arms flapping in the wind so I gave Natalie a quick hug.
“You look amazing.” Her brunette hair was in two loose braids, and she wore a pair of leggings and an oversized long-sleeve shirt, but covering it all was a bright red apron with a pair of scissors in the pocket. “I had no idea you worked here.”
Natalie and I had gone to school together, but we’d never hung out.
“I actually own the shop.”
“Really?” I asked. The last person who owned it had been pretty up there in age when I’d left town. It would make sense that someone new would’ve stepped into her spot. “For how long?”
“Six years. Can you believe it?”
“Wow. Time really does fly by.” I shook my head.
Natalie nodded and reached out, slightly brushing my arm. “How are you holding up?”
The dreaded question.
“I’m doing pretty good. Coming back to the island has been different than I thought, but it certainly has been like going down memory lane…”
“Well, that can be a good thing or a bad thing,” She flashed a lopsided grin and I immediately felt a connection with her.
“Yeah. I’d say both, but I’m planning on heading back to New York when I’m finished teaching for the summer.”
“Oh? The city?” she asked.
I shook my head. “No. I wouldn’t want to live in Manhattan. I live in a small town called Skaneateles.”
“Sounds cute.”
I nodded. “It is.”
“Well, come on inside. You’ve missed the commuter rush. I’m guessing you’re here for coffee and not flowers.”
“Actually, I’d love to pick up some flowers to brighten up my classroom since we’re into the homestretch. The students’ moods are enough to make even the cheeriest person reconsider life’s meaning.”
“Brave woman,” Natalie laughed. “I remember what I was like at that school. I can only imagine what the kids are up to now.”
I chuckled. “Believe it or not, pretty much the same thing. There was a lavender and white bouquet I’d love that was out there, but I don’t have a vase.”
“Here,” she said, placing a mason jar in front of me. “We’ll tie some twine around it and that should work. It’ll match the country look of the bouquet. It’s not a huge arrangement. Will that work for you?”
“Totally. Thanks.”
“And what would you like for a drink?”
I examined the menu and realized Starbucks had nothing on Natalie’s coffee selection.
“I’ll take a red-velvet latte. It sounds incredible.”
“That’s one of my favorites,” Natalie agreed.
Quickly working away on the drink, she looked up. “We miss your dad around here. He was a wonderful man and added so much to our town. I don’t know if you know this or not, but years ago, the mayor named a section of the park, “Aickens Corner”. Your dad was instrumental in getting several local artists to donate a few bronze sculptures to the overlook, and he gathered volunteers to keep the area planted and tidy. I don’t know who’s gonna take over that duty now.”
“I had no idea,” I mumbled, my voice hoarse. My mouth went dry as I realized how little I knew about my dad’s life back on Fireweed once I left. He was always so busy asking about my life that very seldom did we slow down enough to talk about his. The guilt slammed into me with a force that was almost unbearable.
“It’s a beautiful place. If you’re ever free, I’d love to take you over there.” Natalie handed me the drink and went to her cooler, pulling out another arrangement similar to the one on the sidewalk. “This will last longer.” She placed the mason jar in a brown paper sack, along with the bouquet.
In a haze, I began fishing out my wallet and she stopped me, reaching over the counter and tapping my hand.
“First visit is on me.” She smiled. “Just promise you’ll come back so we can catch up.”
“That’s too nice of you,” I whispered, shaking my head.
“Not at all. Remember, if you’d like to see Aickens Corner before you leave, I’d love to show you.”
I nodded, swallowing down my tears and kicking myself in the butt for letting my emotions get the better of me in public. I looped the twine handles of the paper bag over my wrist and held my drink tightly as I wandered out of her shop, completely in a daze and feeling like the worst daughter in the world.
By the time I arrived on campus, I’d gotten my act together slightly. I reminded myself that I tried to come back home several times, my dad talking me out of it each time, partly because of his drinking. He hated when I reprimanded him over the phone, and he probably figured it would be worse in person.
He was probably right.
Regardless, this morning’s encounter completely zapped my energy.
I was here to work on my dad’s estate, not smother myself in remorse or involve myself with a man who maybe wasn’t up for the challenge of me. After all, Mason and I went into the summer knowing it was only for fun. Not to mention Lily’s words kept eating at me. Was staying committed a problem for Mason? I certainly couldn’t handle the heartache of that again, but he’d always seemed so genuine. It was hard to imagine him misleading me or anyone for that matter, but who else would Lily and Gabby be talking about? I shook the worries aside and walked into the school building. Now was not the moment.
I strolled into my classroom and placed the bag with the flowers poking out of it on my desk. I went into the hall to fill up the jar and ran into Delilah at the water fountain. She was filling up her water bottle.
“How was your weekend?” I asked.
“Amazing.”
“Wow. That’s a good adjective for a weekend.”
She beamed and nodded. “I could think of many more.”
I didn’t need to ask why. I already knew and he was probably working away at the marina today.
“See ya in class,” I said, as she tightened the cap on her bottle.
The expression in her eyes was brilliant as she daydreamed about her latest crush. I chuckled, recognizing the symptoms. Anytime I thought of Mason, an immed
iate smile would surface and my insides warmed as if he was in the room with me until I thought about what Lily said.
I wandered back into the classroom and set my jar down, arranging the flowers and sipping my latte until the students came trundling in. I was grateful for the interruption because my mind was literally spinning into nothing good.
Delilah skipped into the classroom and walked right past Brendan and sat across the room from where she usually sat. Brendan’s gaze darted away from her the moment she took a seat and connected with mine. His expression was quizzical as it slowly occurred to him that he wasn’t her world. It was really satisfying to watch the realization dawn on him.
My cell buzzed and I looked down at the screen. It was Mason and my heart pounded in my chest as I read his text.
I’ve been thinking and after the weekend, we need to talk. I want us to be on the same page, and I don’t think we are.
I slid the phone off and placed it in my purse, dread slowly spreading through my body. We’d done a really good job of keeping things light. He might slide a comment in here or there about his intentions, but it wasn’t anything that I couldn’t equate to the heat of the moment and now wasn’t the time to be distracted. My students would be able to sniff it out a million miles away.
After every student turned in their written proposal, we started class off going over the reading material from the weekend. There weren’t too many questions. Mostly the students kept bringing back the conversations to their final projects. Each student was required to give a two-minute presentation about what his or her final project was going to be. Once the first student started, I knew it was going to be a fun way to make the time go by and not let my mind slip back to Mason.
But that didn’t work and when the bell rang, I was extremely apprehensive that class had ended. I wasn’t sure I was ready for the conversation that awaited me at home.
It was late afternoon and Mason was standing on the ladder changing a light bulb on the side of the house. My nerves were shot, but I was trying so hard not to let Mason know anything was worrying me because he hadn’t brought up our need to talk yet, and I was hoping he’d forget about it.
Finding Love in Forgotten Cove (Island County Series Book 1) Page 17