Chapter 13
After moving to an alternate universe where up is down and left is right, it shouldn’t be a surprise to me to finally see the perks of having an older brother. Gavin actually made a friend who not only seems normal but is cute.
After thanking his new friend for the coffee, Gavin brings the cup to his lips, eyeing me in that annoying I-told-you-so way. As soon as he takes his first sip, however, his expression changes.
“I should mention that Blaire Labs might have state-of-the-art technology when it comes to radio frequency telecommunications, but it is quite lacking when it comes to craft coffee,” the guy says to Gavin.
“No, it tastes great,” Gavin says unconvincingly.
I’ve been standing here, listening to their exchange, and no one has acknowledged me for an alarmingly long time. I clear my throat in case Gavin’s new friend has some rare condition that affects his peripheral vision. They both turn to me.
“Oh, hello,” I say, shifting my stance to face the guy. “Gavin was just telling me about his new friend. And any friend of Gavin’s is a friend of mine.”
“Is that so?” he says, his eyes flicking between me and Gavin. “Then it’s nice to meet you. I’m Brennan.” His smile reveals a set of beautifully aligned teeth that nicely complement his strong jawline.
Yes, Chef.
“Is this your sister?” Brennan guesses when Gavin doesn’t offer an introduction.
“I don’t like labels,” I say, wrinkling my nose.
Gavin rolls his eyes. Unable to ignore me any longer, he finally introduces us. “Elena is my annoying little sister,” he says with an air of superiority.
“His younger, more sophisticated sister.” I wrinkle my nose and smile at him.
Brennan turns to Gavin. “I didn’t know you had a sister. She should join us. There’s plenty of room in the booth.”
“She’s not staying—” Gavin says at the same time that I say, “I’d love to.”
Brennan scratches the back of his head, confused.
With great reluctance Gavin scoots over.
I mean, I somehow manage to slide into the booth and sit shoulder to shoulder with him without retching.
Would it kill him to try? Although it does help to be sitting across someone as genetically blessed as Brennan.
And I’m even willing to overlook his worst flaw: befriending Gavin.
“Can I get you anything?” Brennan asks.
“Thank you, but my drink is coming.” I detect a slight drawl in his accent. Not quite Southern, but like someone from the mid-Atlantic region. “You must not be from around here. You’re too charming.” I point a finger at him with a wink.
“I think I’m going to be sick,” Gavin mutters loudly.
“Oh no. Are you okay? I hope it’s not the coffee.” All of a sudden I lose Brennan’s interest to Gavin’s sarcastic remark.
“What? No, I’m kidding. I was just…” Gavin hesitates and looks as if he’s going to explain himself while debasing me, but he somehow doesn’t. “It’s just a little gas. I feel better already.”
“Ew,” I let out by accident. I know people aren’t Gavin’s strong suit, but honestly could he not have thought up a more socially acceptable cover-up story?
Just then Callie approaches us.
“Oh, hi. I didn’t know you’d be here,” Callie says to Gavin. “What’s up, Supernova?” she says to Brennan.
“Calamity.” He nods back at Callie.
Callie sits across from me, handing me a paper Dixie Cup with something bubbly in it. “They didn’t have a Perrier, but they do have club soda, which is pretty much the same thing.”
“Thanks,” I say, even though she couldn’t be more wrong. Not all sparkling waters are created equal. But I don’t want to be rude, so I put the cup to my lips and take a small sip.
“You two know each other?” As soon as the words come out of my mouth, I roll my eyes at myself. Of course they know each other.
“We’re both interns at the observatory,” Callie says.
“I came here on an exchange program through my high school in April. Loved it so much, I decided to stay as an intern this summer.”
“It’s all part of our master plan. Next we’re going to convince you to finish your senior year at Blaire High. Isn’t that right, Supernova?” Callie pokes his side teasingly with her finger. He squirms, laughing.
“Supernova?” Gavin quirks a brow up at Brennan. “Because…astronomy?”
“That and because he’s from NOVA—Northern Virginia, that is,” Callie clarifies.
“But also because I’m super,” Brennan adds, flexing his arm for emphasis. And, boy, does it emphasize the appeal of his physique.
“I knew I detected a mid-Atlantic accent.” I delicately tap his hand.
Brennan tips a confirming head at me. “Fairfield, Virginia. Born and raised.”
“And…Calamity?” Gavin asks.
“Don’t you know?” Brennan chuckles. “She’s a walking disaster.”
“I’m not that bad.” Callie laughs along with him. “My full name is actually Calamity Jane Hartford. My parents have a mutual shared love of the Wild West.”
I stifle a snort. That’s the most hillbilly thing I’ve ever heard.
But so far what I’ve seen of Callie is nothing but kindness, so I keep the thought to myself.
The two of them seem to have some kind of close rapport, like they’re family.
Well, not like my family. But what I imagine other families to be like.
“How did y’all meet?” Brennan points to the three of us.
“Callie was nice enough to lend us money at the convenience store when we didn’t have any,” Gavin says.
“Not because we’re, like, poor or anything,” I quickly add. Jesus, is Gavin on a mission to make us look like pathetic losers? Because that’s about the only thing he’s succeeding at right now. “We’re only here for a short while, so we’re not used to not using our phones to pay for things.”
“That’s right. Gavin told me you’re making some improvements on your place to rent it out,” Brennan recalls. “And I totally get it. It took me a minute to get used to not using my phone here.”
“What about you two? How’d you two meet?” Callie asks Brennan and Gavin.
“Gavin was the only one who showed up for the tour today, so he was stuck with me.”
“Honestly I feel like I lucked out. I basically got a private tour of the place,” Gavin says.
“We ended early, so I offered to buy Gavin a drink at Blaire’s finest dining option.”
This janky cafe is Blaire’s finest?
“Just kidding,” Brennan adds, as if he can read my mind. “Blaire’s only dining option.”
I’m about to laugh until I realize Brennan is being serious. “One restaurant for the entire town?” I gape.
“I couldn’t believe it when I got here either,” Brennan says. “But working here has shown me how challenging it is to run a fully functioning business that’s compliant with the National Radio Quiet Zone. With all the regulations, small businesses aren’t able to make a profit in a town like this.”
“Doesn’t the town get assistance from the government?” Gavin asks.
“The observatory gets funding, but it’s not enough,” Callie explains.
“That’s why a lot of our stores, like this cafeteria and the convenience store, quadruple to cover all our needs.
And because food is expensive to transport into town since we’re so far out of the way, a lot of it is locally sourced.
I may be biased, but I think it tastes better than any gourmet restaurant out there. ”
“It’s true.” Brennan nods. “They have an extensive menu, and they try to change it frequently.”
I raise a skeptical brow, but at this point I notice Gavin’s interest is piqued.
“Really?” He leans in. “What kinds of food come from here?”
“Mayor Beecham and his wife have a dairy farm that provides milk and cream, and then Jean has the most amazing garden and chickens that lay not only the best-tasting eggs you’ll ever eat but the most beautiful ones you’ll ever see.
And my family has a bee farm. Our honey is used in everything from yogurt parfaits to honey-baked hams.” Callie smiles proudly.
“We’re in a co-op that sells our products to the local store and this cafe, but we also take them to a farmer’s market in the nearest town every Saturday to raise extra funds. ”
My face falls sympathetically. “Is it because you’re poor?” I extend a hand and place it on hers.
“Elena! Don’t be so insensitive!” Gavin chides me.
“I am being sensitive.” I was trying to let Callie know that if she’s fallen on hard times, she’s in good company. I mean, who are we to judge? But leave it to Gavin to assume the worst of me.
“No, it’s okay,” Callie responds, more amused than offended.
“I wasn’t very clear. What I mean is that since most of the people in Blaire work for the observatory, many of our town’s resources are allocated to maintaining it.
But I’m sure you’ve noticed that the town needs maintenance, too—unpaved roads, overgrown fields, and buildings that have seen better days.
A few months ago the town council agreed to let us sell any leftover resources to use the proceeds for beautifying our town. ”
“Thank God you said that. I was beginning to think everyone had lost their will to care. But now that makes sense. It’s not that you’ve given up; it’s that the town is po—” I rethink my word choice, lest I get another scolding from Gavin. “I mean, because this town is underfunded.”
“From what I saw yesterday, the locally sourced items are severely underpriced,” Gavin says, surprising me. “You could charge three times what you are now, and it would significantly increase your profit margins.”
I crane my neck to face Gavin. Since when does he know so much about food prices?
“I’m sure you’ve noticed that Blaire is a small community.
We know our consumers personally. And we’re not looking to profit off one another.
But we do sell our products at a slightly higher price point when we go to the farmer’s market every month.
Everyone, not just the co-op, pitches in.
” She nudges Brennan. “Including this guy.”
“Just doing my civic duty.” He blushes in that aw-shucks kind of way.