8. Chapter 8
I can’t sleep. I’m torn between having the best night of my life and being afraid I ruined my friendship with the one woman who truly understands me, and still seems to.
When I was in high school, girls only used me to get to my brothers. The football stars, sports gods of Balsam Ciffs High. I was just the nerd who liked to carve wood, and take care of my parents inn. Living in the Keaton Boys’ shadow when you’re nothing like them doesn’t leave many girls wanting you.
When Violet’s breathing evens out again, and she softly snores next to me, I gently roll her off my arm. I want to have the fire going for her when she wakes up shortly for her day. It’s so refreshing to have someone on the same schedule as me. Someone to enjoy the early morning sunrises with. I can’t wait to have coffee with her on my deck as we watch the sun break over the horizon.
I stack a few logs in the fireplace. Having fireplaces in each room was my favorite thing about the cabins. My grand-dad built gorgeous hearths made of the rocks that would smash around in the ocean before eventually ending up in the cove. The bedrooms have smaller versions, but in the living room, it’s a two-story hearth and chimney that spreads from the floor to the ceiling, visible from the lofts.
I have been working on painstakingly restoring each one of them. When Pops was in charge, he didn’t really focus too much on upkeep. Growing up he had all the boys to help, but as we got older and stopped helping he started letting things go. The fireplaces were the last thing on his list, but the first on mine.
I toss a firestarter under the logs and light it. The fire roars to life. I head out to the kitchen to start some coffee. I get a tray out and put on it two mugs, creamer, sugar, and the coffee pot.
I place the tray on the nightstand next to Violet and sit next to her on the bed. She stirs a little as my weight dips the side. I lean down to kiss her temple.
“Good morning beautiful, time to get up,” I whisper into the shell of her ear.
“Mmm, so comfy. Don’t make me.” She curls into me, tucking her arms and pulling the blanket tighter around her.
“I brought coffee.”
One eye pops open, “Okay, keep talking.”
“And a fire.” I point to the fireplace at the end of the bed .
She sits up in bed, and props against the headboard. A slow smile starts and she sticks her hands out for the coffee mug.
I move the tray to sit on the bed next to her so she can make it how she wants it, and I make sure I pay attention to how she takes it for next time.
If there is a next time.
“If you feel up to it in a few, the sunrise from my deck is amazing. I have an extra Carhartt.”
“Well now you’re talking my language, big bad wolf.”
She leans over and places a kiss on my cheek. She hops out of bed, and grabs her leggings from last night in a hurry.
“You coming?” She looks back at me before she saunters out of the bedroom.
Grabbing my own coffee I follow behind her like a lovesick puppy.
“Wow, this view is… I don’t even have words for it.” She snuggles into the jacket with the fleece lining and wraps her hands around the warm mug.
The orange glow is just starting to halo along where the ocean meets the sky. The clouds look like cotton candy floating above with speckles of stars further up.
But what really makes this the perfect scene, is Violet leaning on the railing, wearing my jacket, and a smile on her face because I get to share with her my favorite part of the day.
“So, tell me. Are you a closet smut reader?” she asks.
I stare at her, confused. I have no idea what the hell she is talking about.
“The books,” she laughs, “they’re smut.”
I continue to stare at her .
“Romance books with…spicy scenes. You know, kind of like what you did to me last night?”
“First of all, that was totally your idea too. And no I’m not a smut reader, I grabbed them off the shelf at the inn’s library. They looked girly.” I shrug my shoulders.
“Well thank you, I’m definitely going to take them with me today. Maybe I can read by the fire while something bakes.”
I walk over to lean on the railing next to her, “I’ll be sure to start one for you. I’ll be at the inn most of the morning checking people in, and showing them around. Emma should be there early too to help me with final walk-throughs before the check-ins.”
“That would be great, thanks.” She knocks her shoulder into mine gently. “I’ll make sure to have all the welcome boxes packaged up and delivered to the rooms.”
The golden sunrise is halfway up by now, and we finish our coffee in silence, watching the sun rise in awe. It’s something that never gets old, especially in the winter with a fresh coat of snow on the ground to reflect the glow.
The ride over to the inn erases any warmth we had from the embers of the fire. The temperatures are close to negative, and the wind stings any skin on our faces that isn’t covered.
We run to the front door and shed our coats in the mudroom. Before going to the kitchen, I stop to start a fire in the living room for guests, and her.
“It’s really interesting how you’re in the same clothes you were in last night.” I turn to see Emma leaning against the door frame of the living room. “And your bed is suspiciously neat for someone who just woke up and got down here and didn’t use all the hot water on me.” She eyes Violet only now .
“Uh, well, you know, breakfast just isn’t going to cook itself.” Violet dashes off to the kitchen leaving me with my sister.
I turn back to the fire and ignore my sister.
“So?” Emma pushes.
“It’s none of your business,” I tell her.
“We’ll see about that. Wait till you get into the kitchen.”
She has the same shit eating grin on her face that she’s always had when she was about to get us in trouble, and I don’t like it.
“What are you planning Emma?”
She turns to face me, her hand comes to her chest, “Me? I’d never plan anything.”
I stare her down.
“Boys! Guess what! Liam had a sleepover with Violet!” She runs off to the dining room and by the symphony of questions I know my brothers are in there.
I scrub my hand over my face and follow her to face the inevitable.
Sighing, I walk into the dining room and go over to grab a cup of coffee for when I start my chores.
“Way to go, man.” Wyatt slaps my shoulder.
“Why are you two here?” Hunter, Wyatt, and Emma are sitting at the table, clearly on their second helping of pastries from Violet.
“We came to help you, little bro,” Hunter answers before shoving almost an entire muffin in his mouth.
“Can I make anyone breakfast?” Violet comes out of the kitchen to ask us.
“Hell yeah,” Wyatt answers .
At the same time, I answer, “No! They’re leaving.”
“But we aren’t. We’re staying and helping you with your chores. So shut up, and take the help.” Hunter raises his eyebrow at me, daring me to argue.
I grunt in response and put the lid on my cup before leaving to start my chores. Apparently with help and without a kiss from my girl.
I need a break from my brothers.
I used to think I wanted them here with me to help me, but now I can, with one hundred percent certainty, say that I don’t want that. Ever.
There was a book left behind in the last cabin I cleaned that I know Violet would love.
I head straight to the inn to steal a cookie and give her the book. Maybe I can invite her to read again by the fire in my living room. Or the bedroom.
Today has been one of the longest days in a while. We are a packed house this weekend and it took all my energy to clean and set up, plus manage the check-ins, and carry all the luggage. Somehow my ever so helpful brothers were never around when it came to lugging all that upstairs.
I pull the book out of my coat pocket and leave my coat on the hooks by the door before going to the kitchen.
“... so Liam is nothing like the other guys I’ve ever dated.” I hear Violet talking to someone, probably Emma. “I mean he’s the nerd of the bunch really. His version of the perfect date is dinner by the fire, followed by books and reading. I just…don’t know what’s going on between us.”
I can’t listen to anymore from her. I open the kitchen door, slap the book on the counter and stalk out.
The look of surprise on their faces was just about equal to the hurt I feel at hearing Violet point out everything I’m insecure about. No one wants the nerdy guy who reads. They all want the jocks. The guys like my brothers.
Old wounds flash to the front of my mind of high school. Girls using me to get to my brothers. Girls using me after a bad breakup because I’m the nice guy. I am always just a stepping stone.
“Liam, wait!” Emma follows me out to the coat room.
“For what?” I growl out.
“It’s really not what you’re thinking, Lee.” She places an arm on my shoulder but I shrug her off.
“I don’t care what it was, or wasn’t. I’m outta here. You got the night shift. I’m going to Rebels.”
I stomp out the door. Fuck, a beer sounds good tonight.
I hop in my truck and peel out. I don’t bother going home to change, or shower. I’m not going to make friends. Per usual.
Blissfully the parking lot at Rebels isn’t full yet. I can have a beer, and dinner and get the hell out before people pile in.
I take my favorite table in the corner, purposely facing the wall to avoid anyone.
“Hey, Liam, what can I get ya?” Roman comes over with a menu.
“I just want a beer and whatever the special is.” I stop him from handing the menu over .
“Oookay. That kind of night I take it? Rumor has it you had a sleepover last night, I thought maybe you’d be in a better mood than you seem to be.”
“Just get me my food.” I open my phone, effectively ending the conversation he seems hell bent on having.
He walks away thankfully. Taking the hint to leave me the fuck alone. I scowl into my phone, scrolling some mindless social media app.
How was I so damn wrong about Violet? I guess she isn’t the girl I remember, or I was just holding on to some unattainable dream.
Roman sends one of the other servers to deliver my beer and food, and they must have been instructed to drop and run based on the fact there was no attempt at conversation.
Sometimes I feel like I’m destined to be the town’s grumpy recluse. A fact that gives me solace and fear. I don’t want to end up alone and grumpy. But today just proved that maybe that’s all I’ll get and I should just learn to be okay with it.
“Liam Keaton? Is that you?” A busty blonde approaches my table.
“Hey, Tiff.”
“Is Wyatt meeting you here tonight?” she asks.
Wyatt had a casual fling with Tiff until she started to get a little clingy for his liking. Now she tries to get to him through any member of the Keaton family since he won’t answer her calls anymore.
“Nope. Just me.”
She slides into the booth, resting her cleavage on the edge of the table .
“I don’t understand why he won’t return my calls,” her whine grates on my already frayed nerves.
“He broke up with you. If you can call it that,” I scoff.
Ignoring her presence at my table, I start eating my dinner. The chicken pot pie Clark made tonight doesn’t disappoint at least.
“We’re meant for each other.” She narrows her eyes at me.
I see Tiff’s eyes drift over my shoulder.
“Well. Guess it doesn’t take you long to move on.” Violet’s familiar voice floats over me. “Or maybe I was just a fun thing while you have your main piece over here.”
“Pretty easy when you don’t know what’s going on between us, and I’m just the nerd of the family,” I retort.
“Mmm I can see that. You totally are.” Tiff scrutinizes me like she’s trying to decide if I look like one too. I know I don’t but her gaze makes me uncomfortable.
“Seriously?” I roll my eyes at her. I wish like hell she’d disappear.
“Could you give Liam and I a moment?” Violet asks Tiff.
“I was here talking to Liam about something very important.” Tiff crosses her arms over her chest, drawing Violet’s eyes to her bust before she gives me an are you serious? look.
“Listen, I don’t want either one of you here. So, you can both go.” I stare at them until they leave.
Violet looks over her shoulder back at me, sadness in her emerald eyes. It’s the one I saw every time she had to leave at the end of summer. I give her one more glance before turning back to my beer and my food. I need to get the hell out of here.
I finish my dinner in peace and toss some cash on the table .
When I go to leave though, I see Violet sitting at the bar. She’s talking and laughing with Roman. Only affirming that she isn’t looking for the nerd like me.
Roman is like my brothers. He played semi-pro rugby after college so he’s the athletic, jock superstar who now owns a cool brewery. How can someone like me compete?
I slink out, ignoring the pit in my stomach watching her with him.