Chapter 15
I’m sitting in my room drying my hair when I hear a knock on the suite’s front door.
It must be Ruby, who very thoughtfully offered to bring me hot tea after the incident at Kyle’s lake house.
Gabe’s mom must’ve felt bad for me. Instead of me glowing with triumph from my first real summer party, I arrived back at the inn sopping wet and red with embarrassment like I’d done a belly flop gone wrong.
I pad barefoot into the sitting room, and aside from Elle’s Doritos bags dominating the coffee table, I appreciate the calming vibe of the room as the afternoon sunlight pours through the windows.
If not for my silly bucket list, I would’ve stayed here curled up with a book.
That version of Abigail would be dry and cozy. I fling open the door.
My hand flies involuntarily to my chest when I find Gabe at the doorway, looking like guilt, regret, and sadness are all fighting for space on his face. I run a hand through my damp hair, feeling self-conscious in my worn tank top and shorts.
“Room service,” he says.
Before I can respond, he rolls a cart to my door. Atop the cart is a teapot, a white paper bag, and a waffle cone with chocolate chip ice cream.
“I remember someone saying ice cream makes everything better,” he says.
It feels like a whole minute before I register what’s happening and step back to let him into my suite. As Gabe sets the items on the coffee table, I notice the Pat’s Famous Ice Cream logo on the bag, the telltale signs of grease, and the smell of fried goodness.
A light bulb clicks in my head. “Is that the Pike Special?”
“Yeah. Since our first attempt was a bust,” he says, lips quirked.
I let out a soft, breathy gasp recalling how we got caught by my agents before we could try the special treat. It was an unfortunate loss, but it eventually led me to convincing Gabriel and his mom to let me help with their Fourth of July festival.
Gabe pulls out a box of hot, salty, delicious fries. I salivate at the sight. Ceremoniously, he takes a golden fry and dips it into his ice cream. My eyes widen. “You dip your fries in ice cream?”
He holds up the fry box and motions me to grab one. “Here’s to checking off ‘broaden culinary palate’ on your bucket list.”
I bite my lip. Literally a minute ago I was ready to trash that list, but as I watch his eyes close as he chews, I’m reconsidering that decision.
“Come on, Abby,” Gabe says in between bites. “You know these golden fries are calling your name.”
I laugh and take my own bite. I relish the crunch of the fry and moan as the hot salt and sweet ice cream mix. “Soooo good. Who knew two opposite sides of the food spectrum could work so well together?”
“The Pike Special is a national treasure, right?” He grabs another fry.
We sit silently side by side as we wolf down the food. Gabriel is the first to finally talk. “I’ve never heard you so quiet.”
“I know.” I lick some ice cream off the side of my mouth and notice he’s still in his swim trunks. Ashamed, I realize Gabe must’ve gone straight to Pat’s instead of coming home and taking a hot shower like me. “I feel bad. You ran out to get this treat for me and I ruined Kyle’s party.”
Gabriel throws his head back and laughs. “No way. I’ll take any excuse to get the Pike. And second, you pretty much made Mystic Hollow High School’s best party ever.”
“But in a bad way,” I say.
“Abby. I promise everyone is having the best day ever. Kyle’s probably mad because he can’t report it in the paper.”
He runs a hand through his hair. “I’m the one who should apologize. I should’ve remembered Kyle’s stupid game. I let him have it after the party—I told him how important it was for you to have a fun and relaxing summer for once.”
I freeze. “Wait, you didn’t mention my bucket list, right? Because I don’t want people to know about that.”
“I didn’t.” He pauses. “But if I did, would it be that bad? I think it shows you’re kind of normal. Isn’t that what you want?”
“Does it say I’m normal? Or how sad I am? And how everything on my list makes it look like I’m a spoiled brat? Or a sheltered kid?” I put my head in my hands. “And I don’t want people’s pity.”
I realize I’m babbling, but I can’t help myself. I’m a mess.
Gabriel squeezes my arm. He looks into my eyes and holds my gaze. “Abby, it’s going to be okay.” He inhales deeply and encourages me to do the same.
I stare at his shoulders and suddenly wish I could lean my head there. We’re so close on the couch. If I just moved…
“Speaking of your list,” Gabriel says, suddenly making me jump. “Do you want to tick off another item?”
I frown. “I think I’ve officially hit my bucket list limit for today.”
He nudges my shoulder. “Come on, Pineapple Princess. Meet me after sunset.” His grin is impossible to read—equal parts mystery and mischief. “You won’t regret it.”
It’s a beautiful evening outside, with a crescent moon and grass fluttering in the breeze.
Though honestly, most of my attention is on the boy in a green T-shirt, khakis, and a black backpack as I follow him out the back door of the inn.
“I wouldn’t normally do a shot like this so close to the inn, but since it gets your babysitters off our tail, it’s worth it,” Gabriel says.
He walks purposefully and I follow briskly to keep up with him. My heart is hammering in my head being alone with him at night, though I’m sure Shaw and Nessa are nearby, keeping tabs. My shadows always following me.
I stare above. “I can see so many more stars here than in DC.”
Gabriel nods at the sky. “Exactly. I’ve been practicing my astrophotography, and this night sky is perfect.”
“Astro what?”
His laugh is soft. “I’ll explain when we get there.”
“There” turns out to be the small building behind the inn. I tilt my head to study the cute structure. Of course, I’ve noticed it before, but didn’t think much of it after Tita explained it was a guesthouse that was being renovated. “What is this place?”
Gabriel opens the door of the building and ushers me in. “It’s our Honeymoon Cottage.”
I stop at the door as he says this. Glad it’s dark or he could see my bright red cheeks. “Honeymoon?”
He guffaws. “Oh no, we’re not hanging in the honeymoon suite. Just up there.” He points at the ceiling.
“Sorry?”
He flicks on a small lamp, illuminating a tidy construction zone with a bunch of lumber and tiles on the floor. He goes to the back of the cottage and from the ceiling pulls down a door, revealing a ladder.
I point at the ladder with a shaky finger. “You want me to climb that to the roof?”
“None of your dad’s astronaut stuff rubbed off on you, huh?”
I narrow my eyes at him and grab the ladder’s rails with a huff. Regular Abigail would take a pass. Summertime Abby is up to the challenge. Minutes later we’re standing on the roof of the Honeymoon Cottage.
After a few questionable shingles move about loosely, I laugh at how light and free I feel being up here. The moon’s light and stars twinkle in greeting. “I’m king of the world,” I shout.
“Okay, Leonardo. Maybe not too close to the edge,” Gabriel warns.
I frown. I’m practically standing on the middle of the roof. “Not too close to the edge,” I say, mimicking Gabe’s raspy voice.
Gabe’s laugh is infectious. “Really, I sound like Batman underwater?”
I laugh. “You want me to do Batman underwater?” I do my best to imitate a low growl but making it bubbly-sounding.
He laughs. “You’re brilliant.”
I grin ear to ear. It’s nice to be appreciated for a hidden talent I’ve only ever shared with Elle.
Gabe gets to work setting up a tarp for us to sit on and unpacking his bag. Dark Knight he is not, but he has his fair share of gadgets. He points one of the lenses toward the moon.
“Are you taking photos of the sky?” I ask.
He nods. “I’m photographing the stars. Astrophotography, get it.”
I look up. “I don’t know much about photography, but taking photos at night is super difficult, right?”
“One of the hardest fields of photography,” he murmurs, doing something with his camera lens.
“So why?”
He pauses and looks up. The moonlight is reflected in his eyes as his gaze holds mine. “Guess I like a challenge.”
Again, I’m grateful for the dark to hide my blush.
Gabriel continues. “It’s for my art school portfolio. I want to show them my range of ability, and if I show them pro-level astrophotography shots…” His voice trails off like he’s envisioning finding gold at the end of the rainbow.
“I want to capture shots of the planets, the Milky Way, and eventually a meteor shower for my portfolio. I figure a bit more practice and I’ll be capable of getting the shots I want. A portrait shot with the Milky Way in the background would be epic. Like a portrait framed by the cosmos.”
My mind jumps to the couple on the bench swing on the inn’s staircase. That photo was also at night. “The photo of the couple on the inn’s swing must’ve been difficult.”
Gabriel looks up. “You noticed that?”
“Of course, it’s gorgeous. Did you take it?”
“No, that was my dad’s work. He took that photo of my grandparents,” he says with a bittersweet smile.
My hand flies to my heart. “That’s so sweet. Your dad was super talented.”
“He is—was.” His voice lowers as he corrects himself.
My chest tightens. “Is that why you’re reluctant to tell your mom about the summer program?”
He stares up at the sky. “It’s always been about the family business for her. She calls photography a hobby. And after my dad died, I stopped mentioning it. I think it kind of upsets her.”
“I’m sorry. Must be hard.”
He nods. “I can’t be a burden on my mom. I’m going to stay here in Mystic Hollow and help the business, but I just want to study abroad, at least for a semester.”
“So, the art school is kind of your bucket list item?” I say with a tiny smile.
He chuckles in agreement, but any response he has must be cut short as the sky brightens. Gabe’s face lights up. “The clouds covering the moon have moved,” he says. He lifts his camera and goes straight to work-mode.