Chapter 10
Ten
Tents, awnings, and tables lined Main Street as people set up for the day ahead.
When Lori’s client had mentioned a fall market, I had pictured a quaint set up. Maybe a handful of vendors and a few people traipsing about, popping into tents, and seeing if anything caught their fancy.
What I hadn’t pictured was quite so many people.
Even though the market wasn’t slated to start for another forty-five minutes, people already lined the street to see what vendors were bringing out.
Sure, Mystic was a touristy town, but you’d have thought a celebrity was visiting with how crammed the street was.
Anyone who loved people watching would have an absolute blast here.
I, personally, loved it. Unique outfit after unique outfit.
Some gothic, some outright witchy, and some more bohemian.
Friends that had probably discussed meeting up in this town for years finally getting the trip out of the group chat.
The weather was moderately on our side today. It had rained in the morning, and while still misty, it wasn’t coming down like it had been. The sun even occasionally poked out from behind clouds where it hung in the sky.
I chewed my lip and stared at my empty space. I’d thought a canopy might be provided or a table. I cursed myself for not asking more questions. My art sat in boxes and bags at my feet. I had no idea the best way to go about this. I couldn’t set my work on the ground.
“Where should I put these?”
His voice sent a wave up pinpricks up my spine. I turned to find Theo standing there wearing a black beanie and a brown leather jacket over a perfectly fitted charcoal sweater. He had a folding table in one hand and a long bag tossed over his shoulder.
“What are you doing here?” My attempt to sound annoyed fell flat because I was positive the relief of seeing him shone bright in my eyes.
That morning, Theo had made me tea like he always did. He’d tried to insist on helping me carry my paintings to my car, but I wouldn’t let him. My mom had always called my inability to accept help “independent to a fault.” But I liked to prove to myself I didn’t need anyone.
But damn, Theo was persistent. He was always around me, trying to help, opening doors, paying for things, and making me food.
It made me all sorts of uncomfortable. Not in a way that made me physically uneasy or creeped me out.
No, it was the unfamiliarity of it all. I’d never had someone so willing to be by my side.
I had started to get used to him always being around.
I kind of liked it, which I think is what freaked me out the most.
Especially on a day like today. Being vulnerable and displaying my art? Possibly failing? The chance that no one stopped by my table? The shame of having to pack up my things with my tail between my legs? I hadn’t wanted him to see all that.
So when he’d offered his help this morning, I’d been short and borderline rude. I’d insisted I hadn’t wanted him there and left.
And he’d listened for all of two minutes. He probably barely waited for me to pull out of Lori’s long, gravel driveway before springing into action and tracking me down in town.
He unfolded the table and set it in the middle of my designated spot without waiting for instruction.
“What’s that?” I asked, pointing to the bag.
“A tent. The rain might pick back up later.”
I smiled. “And you can’t use your forcefield around all these people.”
The corner of his lip tugged up. “Exactly.”
“I thought I specifically said I didn’t need your help.”
He shrugged as he started setting up the tent. “I wanted to help.”
He said it so simply, like his need to help me was more important than my blatant stubbornness—like I couldn’t push him completely away even when I tried.
The sudden desire to hug him swept over me but I stuffed it deep down. Instead, I took in a steadying breath to calm my nerves and started unpacking my art.
“You’re overbearing, you know that?” I wasn’t able to keep the smile off my face.
He frowned but didn’t respond, just continued to set up.
When it was all done, with minutes to spare before the start time, it actually looked halfway decent. My paintings and sketches were displayed on the table instead of on the floor where they would have been without Theo’s help.
“This looks great!” I looked up to see Lori sweeping through the fair, wearing a giant hooded cloak. “I wish I could stay, but today is busy for me at the shop. I’m taking walk-ins.”
Sure enough, a line of about a dozen people had already formed at her door.
“I’ll stop by to help,” Theo said, but Lori shook her head.
“Nonsense, Josie needs you here. I’m sure it’ll be a zoo.” She turned to leave. “I’ll see you both after.”
Regret creeped in as I glanced back at Theo who straightened the edge of one of my paintings while staring at it intently. It was one I’d done from the view outside my window back in New York last fall.
“Thanks for bringing this stuff,” I said, hoping I hadn’t already come across as a giant asshole this morning.
He met my eyes and nodded. Then he shifted away from my painting, dropping his head and scratching the back of his neck. A guilty demeanor if I’d ever seen one.
“What?” I demanded.
“I also brought you this,” he said, pulling a cream knit beanie out of his pocket. “I noticed you left the house without many layers and it’s cold today…” he trailed off and I laughed. He sighed. “I would’ve given it to you earlier but you’d just called me overbearing.”
I smiled and tilted my head forward.
Theo paused and searched my eyes for permission. I smiled and ducked my head even more. He placed the hat carefully over my hair, as if scared to touch me. When his hands did brush the sides of my face, a sparkly sensation shot off around my cheeks.
He ever so gently tugged the hat down so that it covered my ears.
When I straightened up I knew for sure my cheeks were bright pink.
“Well I’m all set up.” I shifted back and forth on my feet. “You totally don’t have to stay and help.” Even as the words came out, I eyed the crowd warily.
“I’d like to stay.”
“Oh, well. That’s great. T-thanks.” I cursed my voice for cracking. I expected him to hover at the back of the table, but instead he started looking at all of my art. I felt naked as his eyes studied my drawings and paintings.
“These aren’t my best ones.” I felt the need to say it, even if it wasn’t true. I valued everything I created. Any time I sat down to make something I always left a piece of myself in it.
“I disagree.”
Before I could think of anything remotely intelligent to say, a few people roamed into my tent. And then a few more.
They lingered, oohing and aahing and pointing to different paintings.
I held my breath. It was hard being an artist. I wouldn’t change it for the world, but being perceived would always be a challenge for me.
Even though it was chilly, heat consumed my body as people came in and out of my tent perusing my work. I could feel Theo’s presence, but I didn’t make eye contact with him.
After ten minutes, someone picked up two of my sketches.
“I’ll take these,” they said, waving cash in front of them. “Are you the artist?”
“I am.” I tried to sound confident as I took their payment.
“These are incredible. I can’t wait to add them to my gallery wall.”
I thanked them.
As soon as they were out of the tent, I excitedly turned to him and held up the money.
“Look!” I whisper-exclaimed, not wanting to look crass in front of the other potential customers browsing my stuff.
His eyebrows lifted, as if surprised by the attention before giving me a soft smile that melted me instantly.
The rest of the market went well. Hell, better than well. I’d nearly sold out after two hours.
Toward the end, Margarette from the café came outside and was passing out teas and coffees to the vendors.
“Hi again.” She blushed when she noticed Theo. “Seems like it was a good market.” She looked at all of my remaining paintings. Even though I’d sold dozens, I still had quite a lot left back at Lori’s.
“It really was.” I couldn’t even help it.
I was beaming. Rejection and slow days were expected when it came to the creative field.
But today? Today was a great day. I’d sent home paintings with people who looked genuinely excited about them and I would actually be able to afford food for the next month.
Maybe I’d even treat myself to a new sweater while I was at it.
“My offer still stands if you’re interested. I can take a few of these off your hands while you’re here. I have some prime spots ready for them.”
“That sounds great actually.” I felt more confident about the idea of displaying my art in the café after today. Clearly this wasn’t just a silly tourist town. It was a magical place—literally, apparently—where people gathered and brought joy and experienced art.
I gave her two sketches and a painting that was one of my favorites, along with the prices I charged. We exchanged numbers and she told me she’d text me when they sold. I loved the way she said when, as if there wasn’t a doubt in her mind it would happen.
“Today was successful,” Theo stated. His arms were above his head as he unscrewed the mechanism in the middle of the tent that held it together. I tried not to stare at the inch of his exposed stomach when his sweater rose.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you for bringing this stuff.”
He gave me a quizzical look as he folded the tent up. Excitement was so rare for me that it typically manifested into energy I didn’t know what to do with. I grabbed Theo’s biceps and gave them a little shake.
His eyes widened at my out-of-character gesture, and it might have been my imagination, but I swore I could see the tip of his nose turn pink. It could be the cold.
I started to collect my remaining canvases off the table to hide my own blush that had splashed across my cheeks.
“I thought I was overbearing,” he said, biting back a smile.
“In a way that grows on you,” I clarified, practically breathless.
“Am I?” he asked. “Growing on you?”
His words caught me off guard and I dropped the bag I’d been trying to squeeze a sketch into. It fell right off the table.
I bent forward to pick it up, but he was faster. We nearly bumped heads as we both crouched on the ground, our fingers brushing the cloth bag at the same time.
“Sorry,” he choked out as his gaze met mine. His face was inches away and it was the closest we’d been since we met.
I gulped down a gasp, unable to break the practically chemical reaction that kept me rooted in place, openly staring into his clear, dark blue eyes.
Before I could break away, he reached out and grabbed the end of my braid, twisting it in his fingers, his eyes looking at the point where we touched.
“Wow, you cleared out.”
The new voice in my tent had us jerking apart.
“Lori, hi,” I choked out as my grandmother stood peering between us, a knowing look dancing in her eyes.
Theo picked up the bag and handed it to me, clearing his throat.
“I was going to see if I could take you two out to an early dinner to celebrate. I had a record day for new customers and it seems like you did pretty well yourself.”
“Sounds great,” I squeaked, not able to look at Theo.