Chapter 20 Wes
She’s wearing a dress. I think I’ve only ever seen Rose in leggings, joggers, or jeans. Even when we were younger, she was always just wanting to be comfortable for our next hike, or for whatever would come up during the day. But man, does she look amazing. I think she’d even look beautiful after a seven day backpacking trip.
I knew I wanted to reconnect with Rose, and that I still had unresolved feelings, but our kiss in the woods was unexpected. I know there’s still a lot we need to figure out, and I want to do what I can to help reassure her—help her work through what my presence is bringing up for her. I don’t want to mess this up again, even if it means we continue as friends.
As I watch Rose and Kate walk away, Erick lumbers up behind me, clapping me on the back. “Hey, you made it. Thanks for coming to help, man.”
“Of course, what can I do? I haven’t seen Tonya.” Erick leads me over to a table where a million rubber ducks sit and hands me a permanent marker. “What’s this for?”
“Each of the ducks need a number on them, one through fifty. Is your writing neat enough?”
“I’m sure it will be fine.” I start to write out the numbers, giving it my best effort at perfect penmanship.
“Eh, I think I should take over.” Erick chuckles, grabbing the marker from my hand before I can write any more. I sigh.
“Guess it wasn’t neat enough . . . ?”
“Nope. You can start organizing those toys instead. Put them in the boxes, by size, for prizes.”
We work this way for a while before I look up and see he’s finished his numbering.
“What’s next?”
He answers, but I don’t hear him because Rose just walked by again and I’m completely lost in her. She glances my way and I give her a smile, then she turns her head and nods like I should follow her. Shortly behind her is Chloe who is also looking directly at me, but with a little more genuine happiness since the last time I saw her. I prepare a happy greeting, but Erick beats me to it, calling out to her as she goes by.
“Well look who decided to show up to help,” she says as she smiles at me. I wonder if our talk has really helped her feel better, or if she’s still keeping a close watch over my every move.
“It’s good to see you again, Chloe. How’s the B&B? I heard you own it now?”
“I do, and it’s going well. I actually wanted to check in with Erick about something.” She continues talking about something to do with the bed and breakfast, but my mind is following where Rose was headed.
“Hey, I’ll be back in a minute.” My heart starts to pound as I make my way across the gym, but lose sight of her before I can get too close. Where did she go?
Suddenly I’m stopped by Mabel and know I’m going to be stuck for a while. “Well hello to you,” she croons at me. I clench my jaw as I smile down at her. Her perfume is extraordinarily overwhelming today and I have to take a step back.
“Hi, Mabel. How have you been?” She looks me up and down.
“How have I been? It’s been a decade! I’ve looked better, but you, my boy, look fantastic. What are they putting in the water down there in the cities?” Her cackling laughter reverberates off the walls, setting my head on edge. Running my hand through my hair I glance around again, looking for Rose.
My eyes lock on her, half hidden behind the stage curtain. “I don’t know, I just grew up I guess.” I shrug. “I have to get going though, it was nice to see you.” I step to the side and keep walking even when I hear her call after me. Before I know it, I’m being tugged behind the curtain and Rose’s peppermint smell envelops me as I trip into her arms.
She feels warm—like home—but I push back and try not to linger, remembering our agreement. “Well, hello again to you too.” I gaze down into her eyes, and can’t resist tucking some of her long, soft hair behind her ear. “You look amazing in this dress by the way.”
“Thanks! I don’t wear dresses very often but it felt like as nice a time as any. Sorry to pull you like that, I just wanted to say hi and it feels like everyone is watching us.”
“I know. I’m getting that feeling too. Hey, I was wondering, could we . . . would you, I mean, be willing to, or be open to . . .” I stammer out. Man this is not how I wanted it to go. “Would you want to go to dinner with me, is what I’m trying to ask. As friends, of course,” I rush out. Jumping a little as my last words tumble out of me.
Nervously, my eyes flick to her face, looking for any sign of her thoughts. The freckles on her nose, the way her lips curve as she smiles, it’s all exactly as I remember, but none of them give away what she’s thinking. I suddenly feel the full weight of what I did when she had already said she wanted to be friends. My hands feel wet with sweat and I’m painfully aware of a knot growing in the back of my throat. There’s no going back.
“I’d love to, Wes. It would actually be great to talk more. Could you pick me up at the shop tomorrow afternoon?”
“Sure, I can be there at three? Does that work? Early dinner?”
Rose nods. “See you then.” She gives my arm a squeeze and as suddenly as we appeared behind the curtain, she’s gone. Peeking out, I see she’s heading back towards Kate. My heart does a little skip, watching her walk away.