Chapter Twenty-Five - Summer
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Summer
Nate’s being doing well, his first week has been wonderful. He picked up the recipes that I’ve been using and even made some of his own that the customers have been loving, and because he’s been doing so well, I’ve awarded myself a day off. The first one in 2 months.
It’s well needed and dare I say, well deserved.
I don’t have a need for him to open up the place, I do live upstairs after all, so I’m able to get the place ready before anyone comes in, it also means I can make myself a good coffee in the morning before anyone else gets here.
Once I’ve set up for the day, coffee in hand in a takeout cup, I go for a walk, leaving the cafe door open. Nate and Lennon should be there in the next half hour anyway.
Its still early for the sun to not be completely risen yet, but its getting there, and the morning chill is making way to what should be a gloriously sunny day. I can’t remember the last time I’ve just enjoyed being out and exploring, not having an agenda for the day.
I walk up the hill, towards Brooks’ house; it really is beautiful.
I think about the one time I was here, saying goodbye to him before he left to go back to Calgary. I didn’t dream that it felt like a goodbye when he left that day, right? To me it felt like the end of this, and I know I was the one to message him that night, but he didn’t have to carry it on, did he? He could’ve ignored me then but he wanted to carry on, wanted to keep this going with me, talk with me everyday, hell he even came to my opening day. That was a declaration if I ever saw one.
So why did he lie in the first place if he liked me like that? His actions don’t make sense.
And Alex and Lennon are right, the only way I’m going to get answers are if I speak to him.
When I get to Brooks’ house, I head off the path and go down the steps at the edge of his property. I can’t imagine ever having this as part of my land, I’d be down here every morning. Though coming back up these stairs would be a hell of a workout.
The beach at the bottom is empty except for one lone jogger with their dog, the suns rays golden on the surface of the ocean.
It’s beautiful and I finally understand why people stay in this town for their whole life. It has it’s cons but it’s pros far outweigh anything wrong with the place. I have no doubt that in the height of summer with all the tourists around, I’d come to a different conclusion, but for now it’s calming, serene.
Once I reach the pier, I get out of the sand, shaking off my sneakers on the stone steps, and head up in the direction of Alex’s studio; she has early morning sessions for people who have to be at work early so I can count on her being there. I want to see if Alex is free anytime today because I want to go into the city to do some shopping, there are a few things that we could do with in the cafe that have cropped up since opening.
I take a sip of my coffee, making a face at the taste. It’s gone cold and stale, I’d been so focused on my thoughts the whole time that I’d forgotten about the coffee. I find a garbage can, throwing the drink away, hoping Alex has her espresso machine hooked up because she hadn’t the last time I got there. Her excuse was “You provide the coffee, I provide the entertainment”.
With the amount of time I spend up on the cliff these days, I don’t get to come to town very often and it really is the heart and soul of the place. It’s not even 7 but there are people milling about everywhere, going about their daily routines, heading to work. It really is a great town.
I turn up the alleyway where I first met Archer and Gaia and it brings me all the way back to when I first got here nearly 3 months ago. It’s crazy to think how much has happened, how much has changed and it makes me feel so stupid holding a grudge against these people when it really wasn’t their fault.
Walking through the park to Alex’s, almost every person I’ve come across has either stopped to say hi, or smiled and waved and I just really can’t believe I ever thought the residents here didn’t think of me as one of their own.
Just as expected, Alex is finishing up a class and I wait outside, though that might not have been the best idea because Gaia comes running to the window, barking, her warm breath creating a mist on the glass.
Grayson comes up behind her, nodding at me, before opening the front door to let Gaia out. She rushes towards me and this is really the best part of my day, she’s happy to see any one, any time of day.
“How you doing?” Grayson asks, coming up next to me.
“I’m good, I finally get a day off.”
“Good,” he says, pushing his hands in his jacket pockets, “You deserve it.”
“Thank you.” Grayson was an unexpected surprise this morning but I think I might take the opportunity while I can, if anyone’s going to know anything about Brooks it’s him.
“Grayson…” I trail off. Making this step shouldn’t be so nerve wracking but it really does feel like this is either make or break.
“Yeah?” He’s bent down, stroking Gaia behind the ears and she’s loving it, a really satisfied look on her little face.
“Do you know if Brooks…” My voice fades again and he looks at me expectantly. I take a deep breath and start again, “Do you know if Brooks has any time off soon?” I rush out.
He lets Gaia go standing up straight, much to her disappointment which lasts only 2 seconds before she’s distracted with something in the park.
He places his hands on his hips, “Why?” he asks, scrutinizing me.
I shrug, “I just need to know why. I told him a lot about me, my past and I can’t begin… I can’t understand why he would keep something like that from me knowing all that. I can’t link the him that I know, to the him that would keep this from me.”
Gray nods, thinking. “He only has two games next week, he should have some free time. I don’t know his schedule other than that though.”
“Okay, sure. Thanks.”
I don’t want to interrupt Brooks’ schedule and I would rather have his full attention, so I make a mental note to call him next week; I’ll look at the NHL game schedule, figure out when would be best.
People start filtering out of the studio now, the session over and Gaia notices, rushing back, slipping back through the door as someone comes out.
“You coming in?” I ask Grayson, making my own way to the front door.
Gray shakes his head, looking back at Alex through the window, a small smile making a probably unintended appearance. “I have something to do,” he says, absentmindedly.
I don’t question it. “Okay, well have a good day, Gray.”
He nods and walks away, hands shoved back into his pockets.
“Summer, what are you doing here so early?” Alex asks as soon as I step through the door.
“Is it so bad I wanted to ask my best friend to come shopping with me today on my first day off in months?” I joke.
Her hair hasn’t changed since the last time she dyed it, it’s still yellow and red but it’s faded now, the roots growing out to the point I can see her natural colour and she’s braiding it in two braids as we speak. Her work clothes usually always match her hair of choice and today is no different, her top is a pale yellow with sunflowers printed in white all over paired with red leggings.
“Well, I have one more class this morning and then I’m done. I was going to do admin today, but I can hold off to do some shopping.”
“I’ve decided to talk to Brooks.” I blurt out,
Alex doesn’t drive so we take my car into the city and we’ve been listening to Taylor Swift the whole car ride but the lyrics got to me and I couldn’t not tell her.
“Really? Without sounding pushy, I really do think that is the best option. What made you change your mind?” she asks, moving her body to face me.
I focus on the road and turning off the highway before answering. Driving on the opposite side of the road is something I’ve not entirely got used to yet.
“I took a long walk on the beach, and since I found out, I’ve had time to think about it logically and I need answers… even if it is just for closure.”
She’s silent for a minute and a chance a glance at her out the corner of my eye.
“Do you still like him? Like how we spoke about before?”
I laugh. “I bet you’ve been dying to ask me that.”
“Yeah, well you’re a lot more agreeable today.” she says blandly, and it’s like I can feel the attitude with us in the car.
“Hey, I had a right—”
“I know, I know… but seriously.”
I sigh. “I know and I don’t know how I feel about him right now. I just need to know what he was thinking, why he hid this from me. And it’s not even like I’m upset about what he hid, more so why he did it.”
Alex hums. “I get that, it’s understandable to want to know. Has he still been calling and texting you?” she asks.
“He has.”
“And you keep ignoring him.”
“Yeah… I just think I need to initiate the conversation when I’ve psyched myself up for it. Answering a call when I’m not ready… I’ll just say something I don’t want to and I won’t be thinking straight.”
Once we get to the mall, we head straight to get something to eat; as much as I love the town, it really doesn’t have a great selection of places to get food and Alex and I have been talking about how much we’ve been craving sushi.
We grab our food and take a seat.
“How are you and Gray doing?” I ask, raising my eyebrows.
Alex blushes and it’s cute to see the usually so confident and sure of herself girl, turn into someone so shy.
“We’re good, we’re still not technically a ‘thing’, though,” she says with a crease in her brow.
“Does that bother you?” I ask. The way they were acting I thought for sure they were together, they definitely act like it.
She waves me off, shaking her head, “I know Grayson has his reservations, I don’t blame him after what he’s been through and I read my cards this morning and they basically said the same thing so I can’t be too bummed out about it, you know. Fate has it’s plans so whatever happens, happens.” She shrugs.
“Well, that’s a healthy way to look at it, but if it helps any, I hope that someone looks at me the way Gray looks at you.”
“ Someone does, but thank you Summer. Now finish up, we have shopping to do.”