11. Hailey
11
HAILEY
S lurping the final drops of my iced latte with oat milk through the straw, I realize that I haven’t done much today. It’s summer vacation, and while I involve myself in Lake Spark’s summer school two days a week, today is not one of those days. Instead, I’m wallowing in coffee in my living room on a Friday.
It’s been unbearable the last week if I’m being honest. The wedding weekend was draining on my energy level. Keats and Esme got engaged, which is great, but they are my neighbors, and I have front-row seats to their new status. They have this weird obsession of hanging around the mailbox at the end of the driveway. Sometimes arguing, sometimes completely content. And right now, I’m not in the mood to be reminded of how two people come together and plan a long life.
I debate staying on the sofa to binge a show or consider if eating lunch is a bright idea. I hear the door open and get hit with a cheery presence.
“Yoo-hoo, neighbor. I’ve stopped by to check on my favorite tenant.” Esme waits for me to holler back that she is welcome before she walks in and heads straight to my current spot and plops down next to me.
Not only is she my best friend but she’s technically my landlord since she inherited this Victorian house that’s fit for a family. She even uses one of the rooms upstairs for her photoshoots. Just means I pay next to nothing in rent.
“Why the hell are you in here instead of out in the world? It’s great weather today. Are you still bothered about the other day when that little shit Clay in your class threw something at your back? I mean, no wonder his parents sent him to summer school, brats need to be re-educated on manners.”
That makes me crack a smile. “He didn’t throw something at me, per se. He was tossing his ball of paper to the garbage can and missed.”
“Right.” She doesn’t believe me. “Is it the building? I mean the preschool one? I heard the potential buyer backed out.”
That grabs my interest. “Oh yeah? Where did you hear that?”
“The real estate agent was talking to Sara at the coffee shop.”
She wasn’t there when I grabbed my coffee earlier.
“That’s great news, except it’s also not, unless I can fulfil their clauses too. Besides, fate is telling me to let it go.”
Her face floods with understanding and she lifts a shoulder. “Maybe only for now.”
“Anyhow, it’s nice to just relax. Last week was draining. Weddings cost a lot of energy.”
Esme thrums her fingers on the back of the sofa, considering what words she wants to let spill out of her mouth. “ So .” She drags it out. Ah, crap. I just walked right into the topic that I knew was coming. “I know you don’t want to talk about it, but I’ve noticed that you’re not unaffected from last week’s… events.”
Rolling my eyes with a deep sigh, I have to press my lips together to hold back a lack of smile to show all is well.
Everything is okay. Everything is fine. It’s in the past. Repeat it to yourself, Hailey.
“There is nothing to discuss. We had our fun, and we’ll leave it in the past. We can be friends for the sake of my brother. I’m sure we’ll even be normal next time we run into one another on the street.”
She has an odd look on her face as she squints. “I can be honest with you, and I will be… You don’t want that one single bit. You’re also just assuming Oliver wants to return to ‘normal,’” she says, using air quotes.
I shake my head. “He does. He was the most adamant that we had what we did and should leave it there.”
Oliver has his rules, and I get it because I have the same issue. He’s my brother’s friend. Things could go wrong. The loss of their friendship. Awkward neighbor down the street. There’s a list.
“We haven’t spoken or texted all week while he is away for work.”
She offers me a soft smile. “But he’ll be back later today. I heard Keats on the phone. Around dinnertime, in case you’re interested.”
Oh.
“And?”
“Hailey, you’re a funny woman, but that’s also because you’re comfortable around people and that takes confidence. You’re always bubbly, and everyone wants you around. Don’t let Oliver be a reason that you close up into a shell. That’s not you.”
Her observations are on point today.
“I’m still all of those things. Not my fault that I have a nosy neighbor who shows up and insists that I feel something that I don’t,” I say, trying to convince myself.
“But you two at the wedding. Even if I didn’t know, I would have to be blind not to have seen the way you two looked at each other.”
“We’ve always been like that,” I justify and narrow my eyes at her.
She grabs the drink from my hands and attempts to get the last drop through the straw. “Ugh, you added a coconut shot.”
I push her arm playfully and smile. “Don’t criticize my summer coffee choice.”
“Sorry. That took us off track. Anyhow, I’ve said my piece. You’re being ridiculous, and we’re strong women, which means stand up for what you want.”
Rising up, I walk to the window for a change of scenery. “Message received.”
“Good.”
“Why don’t we focus on your upcoming nuptials? Have you thought about it?”
A sound of joy thunders out of her throat. “I’m easygoing. We don’t want to wait long. We’ll keep it not so big and probably over in Lake Spark at the Dizzy Duck Inn since Keats’s sister has connections there. You’ll have to help me pick a dress.”
“Of course,” I promise.
Esme hops up. “Perfect. Don’t make me toss the bouquet at you. Or cause me to send an invite for a plus-one as a guest.”
I wave her off, exhausted yet smiling, entertained. “Leave me be.”
“I’m going to run upstairs to grab something from my studio then leave. I’ll be quick.”
“No worries. I need to head to the grocery store then maybe grade some papers.”
Her face screws up. “Eeek, that’s a boring Friday. Normally, you insist on going for a drink or you’re planning a dinner party. Get it together, I need you back to conquering Everhope with me.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” I shake my head.
Walking down the cereal aisle, I smile politely in greeting when I see a familiar face. “Sheriff Carter.”
He tries to suppress his amusement as we cross paths. “Why does everyone insist on adding Sheriff to my name even when I’m off duty?”
“Because you make us all feel a teensy-weensy bit in trouble.” I stop my cart and lean against the handle.
He tosses his box of bran and raisins into the cart which causes me to laugh. “Hmm, not exactly a riveting choice there, huh?”
“It’s a solid cereal option.”
“True that.”
“Hey, how was your brother’s wedding?”
The mention of last week triggers a spark inside of me. And you know what, in a good kind of way. That’s what it is.
I smile. “It was special, and my brother is happy.”
“Happy to hear. I haven’t had a chance to catch up with Oliver after the wedding but that might be a good thing.”
“Why is that?”
He amusingly smirks to himself. “I would have to tell him that for the next family dinner, my parents have invited someone’s granddaughter. He hates when our parents do that.”
My chin juts up from his comment and jealousy whispers into my ear. “Nobody wants family meddling in their relationships, right?”
“Most of the population would agree with that. It’s my fault, though. They have faith that Oliver will find a wife and stay married. I have an ex-wife and have yet to find someone to settle down with.” Sometimes I wonder if he still has feelings for Rosie. For someone who is divorced, in general he brings up that fact a lot the times that I’ve spoken with him.
“Sorry, I consider her a friend. Even if we don’t see one another so much anymore.” He lifts his brows and shrugs as if it’s nothing. I laugh to myself as I recall a tidbit. “Wait, didn’t you also once get set up with the wife of the owner of the Spinners?”
His jaw flexes side to side with an awkward grin. “Violet wasn’t his wife yet.”
I bring my hand to my heart. “I hope that one day you find Mrs. Sheriff again.”
Carter rolls his eyes. “She’ll be my deputy.” Even he realizes how cheesy his joke is, and we both laugh. “Anyhow, I need to head out. See ya around, and if you see my brother before me, then warn him not to answer if our mom calls.”
I give him a little salute. “Of course.”
My smile drops like an anchor as soon as he doesn’t see me anymore. Can’t I have a few hours when I don’t think of Oliver? Everything around me reminds me of him.
But it’s not a coincidence or the fact that Everhope is a small town. It’s because of what I feel for him.
I could try and bury it, but it’s been one week and my mind is exactly where it was when I last saw Oliver. My entire body still seems to be consumed by him.
It’s because I’ve always wanted more with him. We’ve been in orbit around one another that I don’t think will ever end.
Then I got a taste of what it would be like. And going along with what we think we should do no longer feels like the road I want to take.
There was only one thing I ever wanted when it comes to Oliver, and I’m no longer choosing to ignore it.
Which is exactly why I speed my cart forward, more determined now than ever.
Sitting on the steps of Oliver’s house, I wrap my arms around my body as there is a small breeze. The light from the street and Oliver’s porch is enough for anyone to see that I’ve been waiting for a while for him to return home.
I’m confident with my choice.
Honesty is the best policy, right?
When I see a car slowing in front of the house, it’s obvious that it’s Oliver in a taxi. The patter in my chest rockets to record speed as I watch him thank the driver and grab his suitcase.
Oliver notices me right away and stalls for a second as the car drives away, adjusting his carrier bag on his shoulder. He lifts his chin, and the streetlight catches the smolder in his eyes.
I propel myself up from the steps and wait for him to walk closer.
“I wasn’t expecting you,” he says in that voice that lacks surprise because he’s unreadable for my spontaneous visit, but he doesn’t seem to mind if I get any hint of where his mind might be.
I stand there in our face-off, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous, but when he slowly begins to walk my way, it all vanishes.
“I was waiting because…” My eyes dip down then flick right back up. “I don’t want last weekend to end.”
He slows his walk with his eyes staking my own. When he stops in front of me, it feels as though I’m about to jump off a cliff because I just revealed my wishes. It’s in his hands to make it come true or not.
“Hailey…”