by Piper Rayne
“No. I’m sorry, that’s not it,” Leann says.
Midge stands and pushes her dark-rimmed eyeglasses up her nose. “Sewing.” She smiles, knowing she got it right.
I point, and Leann puts a mark under my name. I’m not sure anyone wants to address the underground strip poker ring going on at Northern Lights Retirement.
“My turn.” Presley walks up to the bucket and plucks out a piece of paper. She purses her lips, thinking about it.
I lean against the table, watching her. I wonder if Presley knows how beautiful she is. It’s not even just that she’s a knockout in the looks department, but the fact that she’s doing charades in front of a bunch of cranky old people and she’s giving it her all. She could’ve just refused to play and dropped off the thread and fabric and patted me on the back. Then again, she didn’t have to put the thread and fabric aside for the retirement center in the first place.
Maybe she is made for small-town life after all. Because that’s what we do here, put others’ needs in front of our own.
She takes off her bandana and wraps it around her neck. Her blonde hair is pulled back into two braided pigtails. “Can I use Cade?” she asks Leann.
“Go ahead,” Leann says.
Presley comes up next to me and shows me the piece of paper. “If you get on all fours and I get on your back, I think they’ll get it.”
I raise my eyebrows. “With these dirty minds, they aren’t going to think this.” I point at the piece of paper.
She shrugs as though she doesn’t have another choice, so I push off the table and get down on my hands and knees.
“Oh, I like this,” a man in the front row says.
Presley swings one leg over my back and sits with her legs hanging off, bouncing up and down as she grabs the collar of my shirt.
“What kind of kinky stuff is your grandson into?” someone asks Grandma.
“Cade, sweetie, what are you doing?” Grandma asks next.
“Is that a sexual position I don’t know?” the man who called out doggie style asks, tipping his glasses down as though he needs an extra good look.
Presley’s laughing so hard, she slips, and I feel her falling to my right. Somehow, I catch Presley before her head hits the floor. Her laughter stops when she realizes she’s under me, and our eyes lock. My gaze falls to her lips and she licks them.
“Cade Greene!” Grandma yells as though I’m five.
And just like Grandma put me in this situation, she drags me out right as things got interesting.
Two weeks after game night at Northern Lights Retirement Center, I still laugh whenever I think about all those elderly people’s dirty minds. Then again, I hope I have one when I’m their age. I haven’t laughed that much in a long time.
A flyer slides through my mail drop and I pick it up off the floor Adam installed for me last week. He’s a hard worker but pretty quiet, which I guess makes sense given that he’s nursing a heavy heartbreak. As for his oldest brother, I’m wondering why he’s suddenly disappeared this week—even though I shouldn’t care what Cade gets up to.
Reading the piece of paper, I’m happy to see that the committee hasn’t selected my company as one of the duos for this month.
Twisted Stem and Fired Up will be teaming up for the duo this next weekend.
Come to Fired Up and paint one of three flowers they’ve designed for the night
and then buy a bouquet of the real flowers.
Sounds like fun.
Clara knocks on the window. I unlock the door and she slides in, folding up what looks like the same flyer I was just reading and sticking it in her purse. “Oh, it looks so good, Presley.” She walks around and takes it all in.
Clara and I have met for coffee a few times and shared one meal at the diner one morning when Adam was painting and she had an evening shift at the library. A friendship has been slowly forming between us. She didn’t want my parents’ money, but I gave her no option other than to take it.
We tend to stay away from family talk because that subject still feels awkward between us. She feels guilty for her parents’ decision, and I feel guilty for popping up and invading her life. It’s a cycle I’m hoping we get through in time.
“I wanted to pop in to see if you wanted to go with me to the duo night?”
“Are you sure?”
She laughs and sits on one of the toadstools I just unwrapped. “I think if people see us together, the gossip might stop. Plus, it’s your first duo night and since I kind of talked you into staying here, I want to see you actually enjoy it.”
I sit on the other stool. “Thank you. I’d love to go.”
“Then it’s a date. Except for one thing.” She clenches her jaw, and I can see that I’m not going to like what she has to say. “Xavier will be with us.” I open my mouth to respond, but she quickly puts up both her hands. “He’s really great, and I made him swear not to mention his family, especially Cade.”
I laugh. “Okay. Should we invite Adam?” I whisper so he doesn’t hear me from the storage room he’s dry walling.
She shoots me a look as if I’m crazy.
I roll my eyes. “Just as a friend. I feel bad for him.”
Clara nods. “I get it. I doubt he’ll even come. Remind me to tell you more about his wife later.”
“Okay, I’ll ask him, and if he says no, at least we tried, right?”
She stands. Her dark hair is in a high ponytail that falls to the side as she tilts her head and fixes her gaze on me for a moment.
“What?”
She shakes her head. “It’s a nice gesture, to invite him.”
“Did you think I was a bitch?” I can’t help but chuckle.
“Not at all. It’s just really nice to think of Adam like that.” She reaches out to touch my arm but stops midway as though she isn’t sure if she should. “Then it’s a date. Oh, I can’t wait to see what you think of it. I always have fun at these things.” She’s more excited than me. “I need to get back to the library. Remind me later that I have some suggestions for the young adult book club.” She waves and walks out the door before I have time to respond.
Once she’s gone, I venture into the back and find Adam on a chair, staring at the wall, his earbuds in his hand.
“Hey, Adam,” I say.
He doesn’t look at me.
Then I hear music coming from his earbuds. I pick up one and hear a love song. Oh boy.
“You ever hear that song that just takes you back?” he asks, never looking at me.
“Can I have your phone?” I ask, looking around for it and not seeing it. This situation is starting to warrant an intervention.
“I lost my virginity to this song.”
“Okay, TMI. I don’t need to know that. And I don’t need the reminder when I hear that song too.”
“Lucy was so scared. I made this whole romantic scene that night above my dad’s garage. He never knew and we lied to our parents…”
Can I please stick my fingers in my ears? I grab the earbuds out of his hand. “Adam, I know it’s hard.”
He looks at me squatting next to him.
“Heartbreak is never easy, but you gotta get out there,” I say. “Go through the motions at least until time works its magic. Clara was just here, and she asked me to go to duo night. Want to come with us?”
He sits up straighter and nods. “Okay.”
“Really?” I ask, surprised I didn’t have to talk him into it.
“Yeah, I know you’re right. It’s just facing the damn townspeople…” He shakes his head. “They give me these looks like I’m ready to shatter.”
I sit on the floor, bringing my knees to my chest. “Can I be honest?”
He nods.
“They might look at you like that because it looks like it’s true.”
He sighs and runs his hand through his hair. “I hate how much I miss her.”
I put my hand on his knee and run my palm in circles. “She was really important to y
ou, I get it. You have to mourn the end of your relationship.”
He huffs. “First my mom and now Lucy. I barely remember mourning my mom. I was too young.”
“You guys were all so young,” I say.
“Not Cade. He was twelve and I think he still mourns her every day in his own way.”
Not wanting to get into the conversation about his mom, since I have no experience in it, I hand him back the earbuds. “I think from here on out, you need to listen to a different kind of music. Something that won’t trigger memories.”
“Yeah, I guess I should listen to Motown or some shit,” he says and puts his earbuds back in, standing to finish the wall.
Saturday comes and I’m at the store, stocking the small amount of books that have arrived already. I understand now why Hank Greene came so highly recommended—he’s done amazingly fast work. It helps that Adam has been at my disposal when he’s not working as a forest ranger. I’m still waiting on the majority of my books, the round tables, and some decorative pieces. But I’m confident I can set the opening date for three to four weeks from now.
Adam, Xavier, and Clara knock on the window before entering.
“Hey, Presley.” Clara walks in and glances in the box. “All great choices.”
“I’m glad to see they meet the librarian’s approval,” I say, standing to greet them.
Xavier holds out his hand. “We’ve never officially met. I’m Xavier Greene.”
I shake it. Being this close to him, I notice the differences between him and Cade. He’s a big guy, just as tall as Cade but much broader. And fairer. Not quite blond, more of a dark blond or really light brown.
“Xavier plays for the Rebels,” Clara says with pride.
“Football,” Adam adds.
“I know who the Rebels are,” I lie because I don’t, but kudos to Xavier for making it pro.
“We all played, but this guy got the best arm.” Adam thumbs toward his older brother.
“I like to say I had the better work ethic.” Xavier winks, and Clara pats his stomach.
“You should’ve seen this guy last season. He threw three thousand yards and only one interception.” She holds up her finger with a proud smile.
Xavier swings his arm around her shoulders and kisses the top of her head. I’d think they were a couple if I hadn’t been told differently. “She’s my biggest fan.”
Adam rolls his eyes. “Goal is to get zero interceptions.”
Xavier unlocks himself from Clara and puts Adam in a headlock. They circle around the room, Xavier at the advantage.
After a few seconds, Clara says, “Come on, you two. I don’t want to wait forever.”
We walk out of the store and I lock up as Clara tells me what we need to do to experience a business duo night. “First, coffee at The Grind. Either that or grab a beer at Truth or Dare.”
We all look at the line at the brewery, and I spot Jed and Cade at the bar through the window. There are so many people in there that I’m shocked.
“Do people come here from other towns?” I ask.
Adam shrugs. “Sometimes. But honestly, Sunrise Bay is larger than it seems. People just don’t always congregate in town because they like to hate on the tourists who keep our community thriving.” He rolls his eyes.
We grab a coffee from The Grind first. Although I would’ve preferred a beer, I’m not sure I’m ready for another interaction with Cade. Then we wait in line at Fired Up to paint our pottery and I learn more about how long Xavier and Clara have been friends from Adam, who is pretty chatty for a guy who, up until a few days ago, I thought could give a monk a run for his money on the quiet game.
Finally, we get a table for four. Four white ceramic flowers have been laid beside a bouquet of real flowers. A fancy card advertises Twisted Stem.
“They’re so cute,” I say, and Clara nods. “I call lily.” I snag it from the middle of the table.
“I’ll take the daisy,” Clara says.
“So we’re left with roses? Why are the two men painting roses?” Xavier asks.
“Stop being so gender-biased.” Clara elbows him, and he fakes an injury.
We get all the paint on our pallets and study the real flowers in the middle of the table.
“This is relaxing,” I say, painting my ceramic flower and listening to the overhead music. Hopefully none of the songs send Adam into a tizzy.
We’re halfway through and Xavier and Adam are telling me the story of when Marla and Hank got together when a big body sits down on a stool next to me.
I look over. “Cade! Are you painting?”
His gaze scours the table, but I go back to my project, dipping my brush into the yellow.
“Sure.” He snatches a lily from a nearby table and grabs a paintbrush.
“Thought you were tending bar?” Adam asks.
“I’m done. Saw you four and figured I’d join in.”
“Where’s Jed?” Xavier asks.
“He’s still at the bar. You know anything artsy isn’t his thing.”
They all nod in agreement.
“Why not?” I ask.
Cade groans. “He’s stubborn. Just doesn’t do shit he doesn’t want to.”
“Oh, that’s sad. I mean, I think you learn a lot from doing shit you wouldn’t otherwise do.” They all laugh. “What?”
“You swore. You look like the type who wouldn’t swear.” Clara giggles again.
“Do you guys think I’m some goody-two-shoes?” I guess that’s better than bitch though.
“We don’t know much about you. Why don’t you tell us some stuff?” Xavier asks.
Cade’s eyes flash to mine, as though he wants information on me too. I guess it’s true that I already know so much about him and he knows nothing about me.
“Not a lot to say. I’m from Connecticut. I graduated from Boston University with a business degree. My dad is an investor and my mom stayed at home. I have no sib—”
Clara and I look at one another.
“I didn’t grow up with a sibling, although I have a sister now.” I smile at Clara and she returns it.
“I heard she’s awesome,” Xavier says, and Clara’s cheeks grow pink.
“That’s about it,” I say with a shrug.
“All the bullet points,” Cade says. There’s something in his voice I’m not sure I understand.
“Yeah,” I say in a low voice, concentrating on painting.
Xavier and Clara go up to hand their pieces to Theo, who runs Fired Up, and get sidetracked talking to someone. Adam gets up a few minutes later. I have no idea how they finished so fast.
Cade puts down his pottery piece and my stomach churns since I know he’s going to say something to me. “I had a lot of fun the other week, at Northern Lights.”
“Yeah? You like hanging out with the older crowd?” I laugh in an attempt to appear like I’m not concerned about what he might say.
“Can you answer a question?” His voice is tight for some reason.
“Depends.” I continue to work on my ceramic, not wanting to meet the intensity of his eyes.
“Why are you on a date with my brother?”
I glance over, blinking. Surely he’s not jealous of his brother who is technically still married to a woman he’s clearly still in love with? Not to mention—why would Cade be jealous of anyone?
“I’m not on a date. I asked Adam along to get him out of the house and interacting with people. He seemed like he could use it.”
Cade stares at me for a moment then eyes my piece of pottery. I continue painting, self-conscious since he’s staring at me so intently. I put my paintbrush in the water and hold my ceramic to the real flower to see if it resembles it at all, and I imagine Cade takes the lily from my hand, then grabs my free hand and tugs me up from the chair.
“What are you doing?” I ask as he leads us over to where you hand in your work to be fired in the kiln.
“Theo, this is Presley from The Story Shop,” Cade says to the m
an with a beard.
“I meant to introduce myself earlier—” He holds out his hand, but Cade pulls me away.
“Later, Theo.”
“What about Adam?” I ask.
“He’s a big boy.”
Cade walks us past the crowds of people talking and drinking. A few women have flowers in their hair, holding bags labeled Fired Up. They must’ve purchased some of the already made items. The next thing I know, we’re in a parking lot and I’m pressed up against a truck. Cade unlocks it and opens the passenger door for me to get in.
“I’m a little scared. Are you kidnapping me?”
“No, but I want to be somewhere I know people aren’t listening.”
“Why?” I ask, but he nudges me in and shuts the door.
One second I hear a click of the door and the next his lips are on mine, my face cradled between his hands, and I sink into something I’ve wanted longer than I care to admit.
“Presley? Presley?” I say again. Is she purposely dodging my question by pretending to concentrate on painting? I wave my hand in front of her face. She blinks.
“Sorry,” she whispers, looking at me with lust in her eyes.
I like that look way too much. “Where did you go there?”
Her face reddens, but she dodges the question. “What were you saying?”
“I was asking whether you wanted to go for a walk around town?”
She continues to inspect her ceramic flower. “You mean with everyone? I’d hate to leave Adam.”
I search the area and find Adam talking to Tanya Gregory from high school. “He’s good.”
She follows my line of vision. “Okay, let me just turn this in.”
She stands, and I follow her over to Theo. He’s marking each piece to make sure he’ll give it back to the right person.
“Hey, Theo, this is Presley from the new business moving in next to us, The Story Shop.”
Presley glances back at me as though she’s surprised I’m introducing her.
“I meant to make my way over there. Welcome.” Theo holds out his hand and Presley shakes it.