Chapter 11
Unexpected Jealousy
Clara Bennett had never thought of herself as a jealous person. She liked to think of her heart as calm and steady, her life carefully ordered. But that afternoon, as she arranged a bouquet of daisies, she realized something new — a twinge of unease gnawed at her chest.
Oliver had invited a couple of friends from the city to check out his pop-up restaurant. Clara hadn’t planned to attend, but curiosity got the better of her, and she found herself walking down Willow Street toward the tiny outdoor setup.
She arrived just in time to see Oliver laughing with one of his friends, a lively, stylish woman with a bright smile. Her laughter rang through the air, effortless and captivating. Clara’s stomach sank unexpectedly.
He glanced over and waved when he noticed her, his grin warm and inviting, but the sight of him interacting so easily with someone else sent a strange, unfamiliar flutter through her heart.
“Why does that bother me?” Clara muttered under her breath, adjusting a strand of hair nervously.
She stayed on the edge of the gathering, watching as Oliver effortlessly charmed everyone with his humor and stories. His friend complimented his cooking, and he responded with a playful wink. Clara’s chest tightened.
It’s just… conversation, she told herself. Nothing to worry about.
But when he glanced at her again and smiled — that smile that had made her heart leap so many times — she realized it wasn’t just conversation she was jealous of. It was him.
Later, as the crowd thinned and the golden sunset bathed the street in warm light, Oliver noticed her lingering by a flower stand. “Clara!” he called, jogging over. “You okay?”
She forced a small smile. “Yeah… I’m fine.”
“You sure? You’ve been quiet all evening.”
Clara hesitated, then shook her head. “I… I guess I just didn’t expect to feel… this,” she admitted, gesturing vaguely toward the space between them. “Jealous, maybe. Or… nervous.”
Oliver’s expression softened, and he reached out to lightly brush her hand. “Clara,” he said gently, “you don’t have to worry. There’s only one thing I want this summer, and it’s you. That’s it.”
Her heart fluttered, her earlier discomfort melting away at the sincerity in his voice. She realized that her feelings for him weren’t just playful affection anymore. She cared. Deeply. Intensely.
“I… I think I’m starting to realize that too,” she whispered, meeting his gaze.
Oliver smiled, a slow, reassuring grin that made her stomach flip. “Good,” he said softly. “Because I have a feeling this summer is going to be full of surprises. And I want you in all of them.”
Clara nodded, feeling a warmth in her chest that had nothing to do with the sun or flowers. She was ready to admit — at least to herself — that Oliver Hayes had become more than just a chaotic neighbor. He had become someone who mattered.
And for the first time, she wasn’t afraid to feel it.