Chapter 47
LANEY
I t was so hot that the tendrils of hair that kept escaping from my bun stuck to the back of my neck. Droplets of sweat rolled down my spine every so often and the air was heavy with the sweet scent of funnel cakes, kettle corn, and fresh lemonade.
So far, it’d been a beautiful day and the weather was playing along perfectly. In the back of my mind, I’d been wondering all day if some freak thunderstorm for this time of year was going to sweep through and cancel our opening night for us.
Everything else had gone to hell in a handbasket yesterday, so I’d really tried to prepare myself for the possibility that this was going to turn into a complete disaster as well, but nope.
If anything, the weather itself was cheerful and supportive—and if the businesses around me didn’t need this to go as well as we all did, I would have thought it sucked.
On the inside, I was all doom and gloom.
My chest was still tight and aching, my energy levels still near depleted, but I was doing my best to keep my mind on the practical things, like making sure the sign was centered, that the booths had enough change for petty cash, and checking the schedule taped to the inside of Baby Blossom’s door for the hundredth time.
Anything to keep my thoughts from drifting to Sterling.
Maybe if I just kept putting one foot in front of the other, I’d forget all about him. It seemed unlikely, but a girl could hope.
Anna and Luella worked beside me, moving quickly and efficiently, their voices rising and falling with laughter and nerves. This morning, they’d exchanged a glance as soon as they’d seen me and I knew they’d wanted to ask if I was okay.
I’d looked like crap after a night of barely sleeping and weeping quietly into Jack’s soft fur.
The giant fluff ball hadn’t offered much comfort, but also, in his own way, he really had.
While I would’ve understood if my employees had asked, I’d been monstrously relieved when they’d seemed to come to a silent understanding to simply leave it be.
We’d been planning this block party for months, but this year, it really did feel different. It felt bigger. Almost like a small carnival. According to Luella, the internet was expecting thousands of people to come out tonight.
I would’ve loved to take the credit, but I couldn’t because I knew it was because of him . He’d helped me get here, and if this party turned out to be anywhere near as big as Luella was expecting, it would be because of the effort he’d put in right along with us.
The sun dipped lower. I groaned, knowing I needed to get moving again, but the impending sunset was washing the streets in gold and it was so beautiful it brought tears to my eyes. Mostly because he wasn’t here to share this moment with me.
This gorgeous, magical, hard-won moment somehow just didn’t mean as much without him. Because I couldn’t just freaking stop loving him, even after everything. No matter how hard I tried.
Blinking back tears, I sighed and turned to take in the scene on the street, knowing I’d regret it later if I didn’t. It was horrible not having Sterling here with me, but ultimately, this was my thing and I’d worked damn hard too.
Might as well try to enjoy it. It wouldn’t work, but at least I’d be able to tell myself that I’d really tried.
Music crackled from speakers supplied by the recording studio down the block and kids squealed from the bounce house we’d begged the fire department around the corner to supervise. People were suddenly milling between the booths and lines were starting to form outside the food trucks.
Just like that, it seemed like the block party had begun with a bang—and Sterling still wasn’t here to see it.
Another deep groan rattled out of me. God, I’m pathetic. Get it together, Laney.
Nodding in my agreement with my snarky, no-nonsense inner voice, I marched up to a booth and stationed myself behind it, smiling for customers I even barely saw until I spotted Sadie walking my way, her hair already coming undone from its neat ponytail.
“Need a hand?” she asked, not waiting for an answer before ducking behind the table and starting to stack Baby Blossom tote bags in neat rows. “What kind of swag have you got in these?”
I blinked hard, trying to focus on the question she’d asked. It wasn’t a hard one, but I’d barely spoken all day because I’d hardly been able to hold a conversation. I was grateful for her help though, and maybe more so for the distraction. “Just some goodies from the store.”
She giggled and arched both eyebrows at me. “Are you okay? Have you got a fever or something? Obviously, it’s goodies from the store, but what kinds of goodies?”
“Oh, uh, there’s a diaper rash cream we mix ourselves and some samples of organic skincare products.
Dr. Joyce sponsored copies of a short, easy-to-follow guide she wrote about common childhood diseases and how to treat them at home.
She’s also got some tips for introducing solid foods and Luella printed some flyers with our social media links on them. ”
“That’s cool.” She nodded slowly, working methodically to stack the bags as she glanced at me. “How’s Jack doing? I heard Sterling’s got him on some super fancy, specially formulated diet food?”
I shrugged. “Jack is fine. He likes the food.”
Sadie’s eyes softened and she leaned closer, lowering her voice so Anna wouldn’t overhear her. “Do you want to talk about it? I also heard that you ran out of the castle last night?”
“Castle?” I shook my head, blinking back the sting building in my eyes again. “Not now, but who’s telling you all these things?”
“Callum,” she said easily, respecting my wishes not to talk about any of the rest of it.
Weirdly, that made me want to spill my guts to her, but of course, I didn’t. If I started now, I wouldn’t stop until I was a sobbing ball of misery on the ground and I could hardly afford that right then.
The crowd was picking up, more and more people packing the street every time I looked up. Sadie stacked a few more bags before she turned to me, once again keeping her voice down to make sure what we said stayed between us.
“You should know that he’s not a gossip,” she said.
“Callum, I mean. He texted this morning to find out if I’d be here because he was worried about you.
I doubt he’s said anything to anyone else.
It sounded like he just knows we’ve become friends and he was wondering if I’d check in on you.
I don’t think he felt you would take it well coming from any of them. ”
I felt heat gathering on my eyelids, a sob rising from deep within. “Thanks, but you can tell him I’m okay.”
Her gaze lingered on mine, those blue eyes so knowing and intelligent that I knew she didn’t believe me, but she nodded and let it go. As she turned to keep stacking more bags, I blurted out the first thing that came it mind.
It was something I’d been curious about since literally the night I’d met her, but I hadn’t wanted to pry. I didn’t really want to do it now either. I’d actually meant to ask about her work with the charities since CC had mentioned doing that benefit together, but that wasn’t what came out.
“Why don’t you ever talk to Jameson? You seem close to the rest of them.”
Her smile went brittle and she shrugged. “We had a falling out when we were teenagers and let’s just say that I don’t care to be his friend again.”
I frowned. “That’s it? I mean, it just seems like there’s something more.”
Something I couldn’t quite get a read on flickered in her eyes. “Nah, that’s it. I prefer to spend my time being a friend to people who actually want my friendship.”
Well, that’s not cryptic. I opened my mouth to ask what she meant.
It had sure seemed at CC’s party like Jameson wanted to be at least her friend.
He’d looked at her like he’d been stunned speechless, which I had a feeling didn’t happen to the guy often, but before I could get another word out, Gwen waved her over from across the block.
Sadie smiled and squeezed my arm. “We’ll catch up some more later, okay? Maybe we can get a drink or something?”
“That sounds good.” Resolving that I’d be a better friend to her from now on myself, I watched her jog away in the buzz of music, carnival lights, and laughter.
The party was getting into full swing now. The music grew louder as the sky started darkening. In the time I’d been talking to Sadie, the street had gotten so packed that I doubted we’d be able to fit even one more person in here, but at least everyone seemed to be having a good time.
As my gaze swept across the crowd, I suddenly saw him. Sterling. People moved out of his way like he was a hot knife slicing through melted butter and he materialized more than he actually had to fight his way through the masses.
Everything seemed to stop as our gazes connected.
My heartbeat, the music, the sights and sounds of people all around me.
He was wearing a suit, but he didn’t look anything like he usually did.
For starters, he seemed to have lost his jacket and his tie was hanging so loose around his neck that the knot was down to the second button.
The setting sun caught on his dark hair, which was tousled and messy in a way I’d only ever seen it when it had only been him and me. As far as I could tell, he wasn’t even wearing cufflinks. Gosh, he must really be having a day.
I swallowed hard, unable to fight the surge of hope barreling through me that he was having a tough day for the same reason I was. That somehow, all those looks, touches, and words hadn’t been a lie and that the lie had been what he told Jameson last night.
God, maybe I really am naive.
With his eyes on me the way they were right then, though, I couldn’t think clearly.
His gaze was steady and piercing, those blue eyes radiating with so many emotions that seemed to be coming from someplace so deep that the cold, unfeeling robot from last night couldn’t possibly be all there was to him.
All of this couldn’t be a front. It just couldn’t be. My chest squeezed so tight I couldn’t breathe, but I felt a nudge against my elbow and when I finally tore my eyes away from his I saw Anna standing at my side.
“Go,” she said gently. “We’ve got this covered. Go enjoy all your hard work and we’ll see you tomorrow.”
Her words barely registered as I turned back to him, not entirely sure what I wanted to do. Sterling was getting closer and the urge to run, either to him or far, far away, was tugging at me with undeniable force.
Still, I moved out from behind the booth, knowing that whatever I decided and whatever happened next, I didn’t want my employees overhearing it. He caught up to me moments later, coming to stand so close that I could feel the heat of him, but he wasn’t touching me.
“Laney,” he said in a voice I’d never heard from him before. A voice that was scratchy and rough, low but real. “Can we talk?”
All I could do was nod—and pray that I wasn’t making yet another gigantic mistake.