Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
WEBB
Ah, shit.
“Wait, what just happened?” Ms. Fortnum demanded as I pushed my chair back to stand. “Is Luke okay?”
“He will be,” I assured her. I’d make sure of it.
I hesitated before sharing Luke’s business, but they needed to understand…
some of it, anyway. “Luke’s house… Ben Pond let the whole thing practically fall to ruin before he left town, and when Luke won it, it was unlivable.
It needs a new roof, plumbing and electrical work, a new kitchen, the whole nine yards.
Luke’s been living in a camper on the property for eight months because he doesn’t have the money to repair it.
And his mom doesn’t know any of this. She’s been sick, and he didn’t want to worry her. ”
“The poor guy,” Em said. “That’s awful.”
“If Ben Pond comes back to town,” Ms. Fortum said severely, “I’m going to give him a very large piece of my mind.”
“And now his mom’s coming to visit?” Marco gasped. “Lord.”
“Exactly. Just hang tight while I go take care of him, okay?”
“Webb,” Knox said, face creased in genuine concern. “If he’s having a panic attack, get him to focus on his breathing.” He hesitated. “If Gage and I can help…”
“I’ll let you know.”
“Take him home,” Drew advised. “Warm him up. I left a rhubarb pie cooling on the counter. The boy seemed real fond of my pies.”
“Or maybe a walk,” Em said. “Get him some fresh air.”
“Dad, can I help?” Aiden piped up. “Maybe he wants a hug.”
I hesitated at that one but shook my head. “Later, okay, bud? I don’t want to overwhelm him.” I was pretty sure he was already overwhelmed enough.
I barely waited for Aiden’s nod before I headed out the door, following Luke into the chilly false-spring morning. It wasn’t hard to locate him. He leaned his hands against the cafe’s exterior wall, huddled into his oversized sweatshirt, breathing fast and looking very much alone.
“Hey.” I didn’t think twice before reaching for him and pulling him against my chest. I felt my own anxiety go down the moment he was in my arms. “It’s gonna be okay.”
Luke immediately wrapped his arms around me and buried his face in the shoulder of my shirt, like he needed the contact as much as I did.
“I’m so sorry. I-I-I’m upset over nothing. So ridiculous.”
“No. Hush, baby. It’s not nothing. I get it.
We’re a lot to take.” I ran a hand over his cowlicky hair.
The strands felt like silk under my fingers.
“Seven Sundays was plenty. Maybe too much. Add in that call from your mom and you must feel totally out of control. But we’re going to take care of the repairs, and things will be fine. You’ll see.”
I’d watched Luke’s stress level tick up like the pressure gauge on an engine throughout breakfast. The townsfolk all up in his business. My boisterous, teasing family. Ernie and his damn Hand-Fast Watch.
I’d hoped Luke would let me know when he’d had enough.
That he’d speak up and call a time-out. But I’d forgotten one crucial detail—Luke had spent the longest time thinking everyone in town didn’t care about him.
Maybe he didn’t feel like he could push back.
Or maybe he was just so unused to it, he didn’t know how.
“I-it’s not just that.” Luke sucked in an unsteady breath. “I just… ugh.” His fingers gripped the back of my shirt. “It’s fine. I’m being silly. Gosh, everyone must think I’m—”
“Every person at that table wanted to be sure you’re okay,” I said, leaving no room for misinterpretation.
“That’s why it took me so long to come after you.
Not a single one of them is judging you or upset at you.
They only want to help. And if that means telling them all to back off and go jump in a lake—or maybe a very icy pond—that’s okay, too. ”
He pulled back slightly, his gorgeous face a little red and damp.
“No, it’s not that. They’re great. I-I like it!
I just have so many questions, and my mind started racing, and I couldn’t— Oh.
Good morning, Mrs. Graber. Yes, it’s a lovely day.
No, I’m not sure if the groundhog saw his shadow.
Maybe Google. Google would know. You too.
Take care.” He rolled his eyes and huffed out a laugh.
“I sometimes don’t know if I love this town or it’s going to drive me demented. ”
“The mark of a true Hollowan,” I said wryly. “Come on. Let’s find a little privacy.”
I tugged him down the street and through the town common to where the gazebo stood as the sole, silent sentry over the empty park and nicely shoveled paths.
It really was a nice day, especially for March, but I doubted Luke agreed, so instead of sitting him down on the cold gazebo bench, I took a seat, pulled him onto my lap, and settled my arms around him.
He rested his head on my shoulder like he was collecting his thoughts, and I was in no rush. It felt really, really good to have him in my arms again, and I savored the feeling.
I wondered idly how many winters he’d have to spend in the Hollow before he got acclimated to the temperature, and selfishly, I hoped it was a lot. I liked warming him up. It was a definite silver lining to being fake-handfasted.
“This is nice,” he said after a minute.
“It is. I missed you this week.”
His body tensed a little. “Yeah? I… I missed you, too. I wasn’t sure if you… if you’d want to… again.”
I tugged on the ends of his hair so he’d lift his head and look at me. “Was that one of the questions on your mind? Let me clear that up right now. I definitely, definitely do.”
He bit his lip. “Yeah, I kinda clued in when you kissed me. In front of everyone.”
I winced. I hadn’t even factored that into my list of Luke-stressors.
“Right,” I said ruefully. “Maybe I should have asked you before I did that, huh?”
“No,” he blurted quickly, and then his words began tumbling out like he’d been holding them back.
“You should kiss me whenever you want. I just didn’t expect it.
I didn’t know how you were feeling after Saturday, since up to then you considered yourself, you know, straight, and then you were busy last week, which I totally, totally understood, but then you came and got me for breakfast out of the blue and I… I wondered…” He trailed off.
God, he was gorgeous.
I cupped his cheek, drew his face down to mine, and kissed him with all the pent-up passion of a very long week, my tongue stroking boldly and thoroughly over his. He sighed into my mouth, and I felt the last of his tension bleed away.
“Okay, let’s unpack this. I’m not straight.
” I shrugged. “I don’t know how I identify, but I have three gay brothers and one bisexual one, so being with a guy isn’t a crisis for me.
Not at all. I resisted it at first because…
I dunno. You think you know yourself, right?
And then you find out that actually, you’re an ever-changing process.
Who I was ten years ago doesn’t have to be who I am today. But I’m okay with it. Okay?”
He nodded.
“I told my family I was bringing you for breakfast with us because we’re friends… but I think they might have seen through that, what with the kissing and all? They’re pretty perceptive, so probably.”
And I was expecting a ration of teasing as a result, but it had been worth it to see the stunned, happy look on Luke’s face.
“And as far as doing it again, I’d really like to keep kissing you,” I continued. “And to compare those notes we discussed earlier, if you’re good with that.”
“Very good with that.” He blushed rosily, and I wasn’t sure how I’d ever failed to find his blushes sexy. It was the most obvious thing in the universe now.
“So, that’s, like, three questions answered,” I said once he’d collapsed against my shoulder again. “Look at us, uncomplicating shit left and right. What else is on your mind?”
He laughed, just like I’d expected him to.
“When you and I uncomplicate things, they seem to get more complicated, but okay.” He blew out a breath.
“This is gonna sound weird, but everyone is so… nice. I don’t know how to take it.
I always wanted to live in a close-knit community, you know?
I always wanted a… a big family. And it sucked when I thought everyone didn’t like me. But now, they do—”
“And it’s a little much?”
“No! No, the opposite. I mean, it’s overwhelming, yeah, but it’s incredible.
It’s just… how long will it last? What’s going to happen when we call off the handfasting?
What if I get used to people bringing me soup, and asking how I am, and being a Hooker, and then…
” He shook his head. “It was hard enough not having it when I didn’t know what I was missing. ”
I rubbed my chin against the top of his head thoughtfully.
“Luke, I know you think no one liked you much before the handfasting. And maybe there were some folks who fed off my bad feelings when Aiden went missing. If that’s so, I’m sorry for it.
But… maybe people just weren’t sure how to get to know you. ”
“What do you mean? I was friendly—”
“Of course you were. But Hollowans tend to show their affection by getting allllll up in your business and solving problems you didn’t know you had.
If they offered you help and you didn’t take it, or asked you to join things and you didn’t feel comfortable, they probably backed off because they figured you weren’t interested.
But that doesn’t mean they don’t like you.
They’re not just a supportive community; they’re like family. You know?”
I felt him frown, and it hit me that he didn’t know. He was an only child, too. He really had no frame of reference for this place.
“Okay, take me and Knox, for example. He’s my brother. I know way too much about him. I know all his admirable qualities—there are a lot—and I also know love must be blind in order for Gage to tolerate his grouchy ass.”
Luke snorted. “Knox is sweet.”
“Sometimes. Most of the time. But sometimes not,” I said.
“The point is, no matter how much shit he gives me, no matter how tempted I am to chuck him off the face of the earth… I would burn the world to keep him safe. He’s family.
He’s mine. Kinda like you said about your house.
It’s yours to take care of, even if it’s not perfect.
The Hollow is like that. We care about each other, even when we don’t agree with or understand each other.
Those idiots getting moony-eyed over you romantically falling in an icy pond just want you—us—to be happy. ”
“Oh.” His fingers worried the collar of my shirt. “Really?”
“Yup. Once you’re in, you’re in.” I paused. “I’m making it sound like the mafia, aren’t I? Or maybe a cult.”
He let out a soft laugh, sounding more relaxed than he had all morning.
“The good news,” I went on, “is that no one is going to stop being your friend just because we don’t complete the handfast. Promise.
But it also means you should consider letting people help you once in a while.
Trust people to do that for you. Otherwise, how will they feel okay letting you help them when they need it? ”
“Wow. That’s…”
“Profound?” I asked smugly. “Is profound the word you’re looking for?”
“Not quite.”
“Convincing and also sexy?” I asked hopefully.
He snickered but then nipped at the side of my neck and made me groan. “No… but also yes. I’m all in on joining the Pippin Hollow Mafia.”
“Awesome. I get a referral bonus,” I teased.
“But you should consider taking your own advice.”
My grin slid into a confused frown. “What do you mean?”
He shook his head. “Well, you might’ve noticed that you tend to—”
“Hey, Webb? Luke?” Gage stood on the path, a respectful distance away.
“Sorry to interrupt, but I got delegated to come find you. Helena got a great idea about your house, and she called in a bunch of favors and… I think we figured everything out, if you wanna come back to the diner and hear about it. Or if not, that’s okay, and Knox said to remind you it’s not selfish to focus on your mental health. ”
“An idea about my house?” Luke looked up at me.
“I told them a little bit of what’s going on,” I said in a low voice. “Everyone seemed really surprised. You hadn’t told anyone about the state of the place, had you?”
“Who would I have told? And I was taking care of things—”
“Yourself. I know. But remember what I said about letting people help a little?”
Luke nodded.
“It’s especially true when they’re volunteering to help fix up your house in time for your mom’s visit.”
“Fix up—” His eyes widened. “But that’s not a little, Webb. That’s… that’s huge. I couldn’t possibly—”
“You really could. Because if I know Helena Fortnum, she’s called a dozen people, and they’re all gonna be thrilled to help. And this visit will put your mom’s mind at ease.” I paused. “But if you really don’t want to, then say so, and I’ll back you. I promise. I don’t want you to feel pressured.”
“Hey, guys?” Gage shifted from foot to foot. “You remember I might be a Vermonter in my heart, but my blood is still Floridian, right? It’s freakin’ cold out here. What should I tell them?”
“Tell them—” Luke called, then hesitated. “Tell them we’re coming to hear the plan. And thank them.”
Gage scurried off, and I kissed Luke swiftly before lifting him to his feet.
“Have I mentioned recently how much I like you, Luke Williams?” I demanded. “Because I do. I’m really glad we’re… whatever we are.”
The unspoken label hung in the air between us, but it didn’t seem awkward. It seemed hopeful. Exciting. Full of promise.
“And thanks for getting my kid to see me as a hero, too,” I continued. “That was… unexpected.” Kind of ironic, too; I’d have thought Aiden would have picked his beloved Mr. Williams over me any day of the week.
Luke smiled softly. “I didn’t get him to do anything, Webb. Aiden’s a smart kid. He already knew his dad was great… just like I did.”
My face went hot and I cleared my throat. I wanted to kiss that soft smile more than I wanted my next breath.
Luke’s eyes were bright, like maybe he was thinking something similar, and I realized if we stayed out here any longer, things were going to turn indecent.
He shot me a teasing grin. “So, would now be the time to talk about the apple tithes you might owe me?” he asked. “You know, as part of Ye Olde Friendship Agreement?”
I slung my arm over his shoulder as we walked back toward the diner. “I think I might have a better way to repay you. We can discuss it later. Privately.”
For the first time in a while, I felt optimistic. My family was whole and happy, things with Amanda were going better than expected, spring was in the air, and I was confident that if the town came together, we could get Luke’s problems sorted…
But in our excitement, we forgot the issue that had brought us together in the first place… until Genevieve and Hand-Fast Watch showed up at the house.
With that motherfucking scroll.