17. Lila
SEVENTEEN
LILA
And just like that, I feel human again. All it took was a triple shampoo, a deep conditioning, a vigorous scrub with a loofah, a sheet mask, and slathering myself with my favorite lotion.
Bliss.
Grant dropped me off outside my building after we arranged to meet up for my beloved boba tea tomorrow. It’s strange not to have him somewhere close by. I’m having proximity withdrawals, as if that’s a thing.
The other thing that’s not a thing? After being out in the fresh mountain air for a week, my apartment doesn’t smell as great as I used to think it did. It’s nothing gross like the mildewy communal hallway, it’s just…indoor air. I never thought I would miss the smell of the woods.
My all-brick studio sits above a block of businesses on Maple Street. I get it for a steal, mostly because it’s woefully out of date and more or less unappealing in every way. But it’s super convenient to shops, and the exact same apartment would go for four times as much in Seattle, so really, who’s the winner here ?
My phone buzzes as though it’s saying Not you . It’s barely let up since I turned it back on.
Hope: When can I expect details?
Hope: Don’t make me come find you
Hope: I know where you live
I guess I’d better get this over with.
Lila: On my way down
It takes me about five minutes to walk to my sister’s gift shop, The Painted Daisy. I still haven’t decided whether I’m going to let her in on what’s really going on between Grant and me when I walk through the door.
The truth is a pretty sad scenario: asking a guy I barely know to pretend to date me so I could have a fleeting win against my ex-fiancé. But I’m not sure I can spin the make-believe story much better: I got a fresh new boyfriend within a week of my sister’s engagement party. Both versions reek of desperation.
Inside, I’m comforted by smells I don’t mind at all—a variety of lavender and citrus soaps and lotions, and about six different kinds of pies from the bakery next door. At least my brain hasn’t been altered to dislike every indoor smell.
I focus on Hope beaming at me by the back counter so I don’t get sidetracked by a pair of cozy slippers or the latest set of handcrafted earrings she got in. Spending money here indiscriminately is one of my worst habits at the moment, and I’m trying to rein it in.
Most of the time.
Nobody’s in the small shop, which seems like a crime, considering all of the wonderful handmade goodies in here. But it does mean whatever interrogation she has in store for me will be private.
She’s got her hands spread wide when I reach the counter. “So? Is it true? Or did Mom see you with a man and go overboard?”
“Ha. That would be so wild, wouldn’t it?” Is it a step up or down from what actually happened?
“Totally on-brand for her, though. So which is it?”
“Mom did see me with a man,” I admit. “Two, actually.”
“Grant Somebody and…?”
“Josh is in town.”
That earns a scowl. He’s the villain of many of our conversations. “Wait. Mom caught you with your ex and the new guy?”
I’m a little surprised she left that part out, but I can see how she would have been too excited about my new boyfriend to mention my old one.
“Yup. It was weird.”
“Did she make it even weirder?”
“Naturally. She invited Grant to family dinner within thirty seconds of meeting him.”
“Classic. We’ll come back around to Josh. Tell me everything about the new guy, please.”
“He’s…” I don’t know where to start telling her about Grant. His unfailing kindness about my cluelessness on the trail? His easygoing nature that made me feel like no matter how bad the situation, things were going to be okay? His low-key flirtation? His patience? That freaking dimple?
Hope sighs, but it’s not her usual sound of exasperation with me. More like…a romantic sigh. “You’re really smitten with this guy.”
“What? I didn’t even say anything.”
“That’s the point.” She grins like she just figured out all my secrets. “You’re speechless over him.”
“Are we talking about Lila’s new man?”
Wren Krause pops in from the pass-through that leads to their family’s bakery next door. The easy access is a great feature for shoppers, but less so for anyone wanting to tell their sister something and keep it just between them. Ahem .
“You already told Wren?” We’re all friends, but I’m still disappointed she couldn’t wait half a day to confirm or deny Mom’s stories.
Of course, I haven’t told Hope anything, and I’ve done nothing but confirm, confirm, confirm.
“Your mom told our mom when she grabbed a pie about an hour ago.” Wren’s older sister Tess appears behind her. “She used the word ‘adonis’ to describe him, so it’s fair to say our curiosity has been piqued.”
I peer behind the blond sisters into the bakery. Normally, there’s a line running all the way back to the door over there. Now? Zip. “Does every business on Maple Street shut down at this part of the afternoon to share gossip?”
“Hey, we have gossip to trade back.” Wren bobs her eyebrows, tilting her head toward Tess. “If you give us valuable enough info.”
Tess narrows her eyes on her sister, and I almost expect her to clamp a hand over her mouth. “There’s no we here.”
“That’s right, it’s all you.”
Tess is the sunniest of sunshines, but I think a little steam comes off of her.
“How are you settling into your new apartment?” I ask. She moved out of the family home she shared with her mom and sister, and into a place with just her and her five-year-old son about a week before my trip. She’s been excited about the change, but nervous how he would adjust to it. I was so busy finalizing everything for the Fourth Fest, I didn’t have a chance to ask for an update before I left .
Also, it’s a great time for a deflection.
The smuggest smile plays over Wren’s face. “It all goes together.”
I look from one sister to the other. “The news and the apartment?”
Wren nods slowly, but Tess rolls her eyes.
“I’m so lost.”
Two women walk into The Painted Daisy and start oohing and ahhing over the pretty contents on the shelves. Excellent. I didn’t even have to deflect again.
“Let’s meet at Delish after we close up.” Hope isn’t suggesting. It’s more of a command.
“I don’t know…” My hesitation is based squarely on the fact that I’m bound to tell these women everything if we have zero interruptions. I’m just not completely sure yet which version of everything I’m going to tell them.
“Come on, you must be starved after eating camp meals for so many days.”
My stomach chooses that moment to remind me that yes, in fact, I am famished. “Okay. But only because I need food.”
Wren and Tess agree to the meet up, too, and start to slip back over to their side of the pass-through.
“Wait.” I take a few steps after them. “Does August like the new place?”
Tess’s son is the sweetest little guy ever. He treats everyone he meets like his new best friend, and he’s got a little-kid way of speaking that makes everything he says cuter than cute. He’s well out of the baby zone, but he tends to bring on a case of baby fever whenever I spend time with him.
Her smile loses the strain it held just a minute ago when Wren was goading her. “He loves it. It’s got a big yard, and he spends time almost every day playing with our neighbor’s dog. ”
My heart acts up just imagining him romping with a dog. “I love that for him.”
“Don’t skip out on us,” Hope says when I move back onto her side of the wide doorway.
“I won’t. You had me at Delish.”
“You had a good time though, right?” she prompts.
The trip flashes through my mind like a horror movie montage: the ants, the marmot holes, the camp toilet, the threat of leeches. But a true highlight reel springs up right after: swimming in the lake, the mountain views, gazing at the stars with Grant.
Everything with Grant.
“Yeah,” I say softly.
She grins wide. “I knew it.”
It’s probably not good for my stomach to go from the tasty but sensible meals Mitchell made on the trail to a massive hamburger and fries, but the heart wants what it wants. Next to me, Hope taps out a text to Griffin. I’m not trying to spy, but his answering Have fun! Love you is hard to miss.
Also, apparently, a bacon emoji? I don’t understand these two.
We snagged a booth at Delish along with Wren and Tess, but like most locals, we don’t bother opening the menus. They change it up seasonally, but you’ll hear about their latest offering before you ever see it listed anywhere. I don’t love small town gossip, but when it comes to letting me know fresh strawberry milkshakes are back in season? Bring on the rumor mill.
Amy Ellison wanders over to take our orders looking at us like we’re her favorite customers. “It’s been a while since we’ve seen all of you in here together. Is there a special occasion? ”
“Girls night,” Wren answers.
“Oh.” She makes a face like she knows we’re here to tell secrets. Probably because she and her wife Jodi have served us burgers and shakes since we were in our teens. If we asked her to, she’d sit down and join in the gossip. Amy and Jodi are Sunshine’s honorary cool aunts, and we love them for it.
She takes our orders but pauses next to Tess. “Is everything going all right over at the duplex? Ian’s not giving you a hard time, is he? My nephew’s been prickly lately, but if he’s extending that to you, I’ll talk to him.”
Pink washes over Tess’s cheeks as soon as Amy mentions Ian. Curious. I’m starting to understand the intertwining gossip Wren teased earlier.
“He was a little prickly at the beginning, but I think we’re getting along now.” Tess smiles sweetly, but oh, she does not want to talk about this. She’s wearing a customer service smile that doesn’t go all the way down. “Thank you again for renting us the apartment.”
Amy waves off her thanks. “It’s our pleasure to have you there. I’ll go get your orders in.”
As soon as she walks away, the rest of us lean toward Tess.
“I feel like we need to hear more about your neighbor,” Hope says.
“The guy with the dog?” I ask.
“The hot guy with the dog.” In case her naughty tone wasn’t enough, Wren bobs her eyebrows.
Tess raises both hands. “I just stopped thinking of him as a growly hermit two days ago.”
“Her exact words were ‘plundering Viking.’” Wren’s little sister sing-song voice is as good as Hope’s.
Tess’s glare could melt metal. “We’ve known each other for two weeks. Could we please not jump straight into the deep end here? ”
“Okay, but he did come into the bakery the other day, and sparks were flying all over the place.”
“Loads of people come into the bakery.” Tess’s defense feels like a borderline confession even to me.
“Yeah, but nobody else who looks at you like you’re the only thing he wants in the whole store.”
Tess does a quick scan of the diner, probably checking for her neighbor. It is a small town, after all. “Even if he does—and I’m not saying he does!—I haven’t been on a date since before August came along. I don’t know how to do any of this anymore. I don’t know what he expects, or what I’m willing to give.”
That reminder tones down our teasing. She doesn’t bring it up a lot, but Tess hasn’t had an easy time as a single mom. I’m nervous enough to think about dating again after a six month break—Tess is looking at ending a six year break.
“If he’s the right man for you, he’ll be understanding about all of that.” I don’t know where I’m getting this advice, but I have to believe it’s true. “He’ll want you just as you are right now. And if he can’t be patient while you sort things out, then he’s not the guy. But someone else will be.”
Tess’s cautious expression lifts. “Thank you.”
Hope takes a sip of water. “Wow. Out in the woods for a week, and she comes back a guru.”
I jab my elbow into her side. “Why did I agree to come to dinner with you?”
“Starvation.”
“Okay.” Wren aims double-barreled finger guns at me. “It’s your turn. You went into the woods single and came out with a boyfriend who looks like a Greek god. How does one recreate that? If one were to go into the woods looking for a Greek god?”
“First, Grant looks like a normal man.”
She drops her chin into her hand. “Funny. That is exactly what Tess said about Ian. ”
I lock eyes with Tess. Her “I’m sorry” smile isn’t all that comforting.
“And Ian’s a total smoke show.” Wren’s only too happy to drop that bomb.
“Second,” I say, carrying on, despite her detour. “Boyfriend’s kind of a strong word after only a few days together. Isn’t it?”
I need an answer here, people.
“I would run with it,” Hope says. “Mom was about to invite that single pediatric dentist to the engagement party to keep you company. If you walk it back to friendship, she might change her mind and dump him on you anyway.”
“Does she realize I could have a good time at your party without a date?”
“Obviously not. When she said you had a boyfriend, I thought you were just trying to get her off your back. But she said she saw him, so he can’t be made up.”
My laugh comes out a little too high-pitched. “How sad would that be? Pretending to have a boyfriend just to save face at your engagement party.”
So pathetically sad.
Jodi brings out platters of burgers and fries, and Amy delivers our shakes before they leave us to it. I take my first bite of burger, and all my hike-shriveled cells cheer in celebration.
“Mmm,” I groan. “Real food.”
Wren wipes her mouth after a particularly big bite of fries. “Okay, but you haven’t said anything about the adonis yet, except that he’s not an adonis, which I’m not buying for a second.”
How to explain? I can’t tell them none of it’s real, not now. After Josh’s cheating, losing everything in Seattle, and scrambling to get by here in Sunshine, I need something to feel like a win. Being with Grant, even just for a little while? That’s the biggest win around.
I think through our five days together, and land on the part I know my friends will find most impressive.
“He read to me at night in his tent.”
The booth fills with swoony, romantic sounds.
“That’s all I need to know,” Wren says. “He’s a keeper.”
The thing is, I’m starting to wish he could be.