Chapter 20 #2
Griff didn’t move from the couch, as if he had no one to see and nowhere to be for once. He didn’t protest when I turned on Apple TV, needing some stupid, mindless noise. “You know what,” he said while I considered Netflix options. “You’re really talented.”
I gave him a look. “Huh?”
“You’re really talented,” he repeated. “I know I said that after you blew the vase for Gram, but…” He motioned around the room, to my not-quite-identical blue candlesticks on the mantel to my rippled vase on the table to some small seashell sculptures.
“Your stuff really is incredible, Audrey. I’ve seen you in the hot shop before, but seeing all of these different things here, I can tell how hard you bust your ass. ”
“Thanks, Griff,” I said, smiling a little before telling him the truth. “I work so hard because I want to become the best.”
He nodded. “That’s why you want to skip college.”
My eyebrows knitted together. “Skip college” seemed a little unfair. I’d always liked school. I was good at it, and I wasn’t against the idea of college. But Blue Ridge and whatever opportunities lay beyond would help me achieve my dream faster.
“Golightly Glass won’t be a successful business if I don’t have the skills.” I sighed. “And I don’t think blowing glass on weekends in college will give me enough experience. I really want to commit to getting better.”
Instead of saying anything, Griff looked at me and I looked at him.
There was nothing romantic about it—instead, there was realization.
“You should rent out your house,” Griff said, then blushed.
“Trust me, I know how nuts it sounds, especially now with this stolen stuff, but I believe in you, Audrey. You need to go for it to make that money back.”
“You’re right,” I heard myself say softly. I didn’t have much faith that someone would rent the house in time, but I could at least try. There was no harm in trying.
The mansion—my house—was my last shot.
Griff grinned. “What the hell, right?”
“Yeah,” I agreed, hope flaming in my heart. “What the hell?”
“YOU’RE KIDDING,” HENRY SAID AT SCHOOL the next day.
We were under the quad’s centuries-old maple tree, sitting on one of the benches.
I’d told Henry I had something to tell him, and that it was probably safest if he heard the news while seated.
“Are you seriously telling me you’re listening to Griff?
You’re going to rent out your house?” His expression was incredulous.
“Especially after stuff was stolen from the apartment?”
I glanced away for a moment, unable to deny that Griff’s scheme sounded absurd.
He’d even said it himself! “I need the money,” I said.
“We both know I’m not going to hit six thousand, even with the next guests.
” I shrugged. “My parents get home only a few days after their stay. It’s not going to happen. ”
Henry opened his mouth.
“And this is my mistake,” I added before he could speak. “I’m not taking out another loan from you. This is my hole to dig myself out of.”
Five seconds of silence passed.
Henry shook his head. “It’s a bad idea, Audrey.”
“Well, Fair Winds wasn’t a great one,” I pointed out, “but we’re pulling it off.”
I thought of my most recent review. Valerie hadn’t responded to my stolen-stuff query, but she’d rated me five stars and called me professional, attentive, and compassionate.
It was hard not to be flattered, but I couldn’t believe she was ignoring me. Did she think a good review was an apology for breaking the pitcher?
“Yes, we are,” Henry said. “If you turn a blind eye to your parents’ missing antiques, we are pulling it off just fine.”
“Then what’s the problem?” Something deep in my stomach started to squirm. I knew convincing Henry wouldn’t be easy, but why couldn’t he help me accomplish this on my terms?
The warning bell rang. I hadn’t taken a sip of my iced coffee yet. “I’ll see you this afternoon,” Henry said, rising from the bench. “I have a few pop quizzes with people at lunch.”
Before he could walk away, I took his hand and squeezed it.
He squeezed back, but didn’t say anything.
I WASN’T SURPRISED TO SEE ELLIE IN ENGLISH, but I was surprised to see the return of her signature pink-blond hair. “Tate did it last night,” she said as I did a double take. “Right after I got home from Boston.”
Right after I got home from Boston.
Was she giving me an opening? To ask about Chase?
“Pink is your color” was what I settled on saying.
Ellie rolled her eyes, but all in good fun. “Way to quote my mom.”
I shrugged. “It’s true.”
“I know.” She smiled softly, then pointed at me with her pencil. “The bleach blond was cool, but this is much better.”
“Way to quote my mom,” I laughed, then told her about the CALL ME text.
Ellie laughed, too. “She and your dad will be home soon, right?”
“This Sunday.”
She nodded. “Do you have people booked this week?”
“Ruth and Eileen arrive tomorrow,” I said. “They’re seventy-five and have been best friends since first grade. Ruth said that they desperately need a break from their retirement community.” I shrugged. “Apparently there’s been some senior citizen drama.”
“Well, they sound interesting,” Ellie said. “Did you ask if they can handle the carriage house stairs?”
“Yes, I sent them a video. Eileen has had her hip done and Ruth’s recovered from a knee replacement, so they aren’t worried.”
Ellie shook her head, impressed. “You think of everything, Audrey.”
Not wanting to talk about my hosting gig anymore, I tried to change the subject to our homework, but after admitting she’d only had time to skim the SparkNotes, Ellie circled back. “I ran into Kenzie in the bathroom this morning,” she whispered, “and she told me the most ridiculous thing.”
No, I thought, feeling my blood thud, thud, thud in my veins. No, Griff, please tell me—
“She said Griff texted her that you plan to post your house on Here-to-Stay.”
The back of my neck flamed. I never thought I’d say it, but I wanted to punch Griffin Keeler.
Ellie gasped at my silence. “Audrey!”
“Shh!” I anxiously glanced around the classroom.
“It’s insane,” she whispered.
“It’s hypothetical,” I whispered back.
“For now,” she said. “I can tell you’re going to go for it.” Her eyes widened with shock all over again. “What does Henry think?”
“He’s ruminating,” I said, because I had all my fingers and toes crossed that it was the truth.
I knew I didn’t need Henry to make my final decision, but making my final decision would be easier if I knew I had his help.
So I was going to let him think, weigh every pro and con, and run through various scenarios.
But again, it was my house.
My house, my rules.
And I was going to do what I had to do.
I NEITHER SAW NOR HEARD FROM HENRY FOR the rest of the day. He didn’t stop by my locker between classes, send me any funny memes, or reply to any of my texts. Come on, I thought, annoyed. Even if you don’t like this plan, you’re still my boyfriend!
He was, wasn’t he? I mean, I’d told him I wanted to be his girlfriend and he’d asked me to prom, so we were actually dating, right?
Yes, I tried to reassure myself. Dating was implied!
It wasn’t until I got home that I realized none of my texts had even been read (Henry was a staunch supporter of read receipts). “Okay, this is ridiculous,” I muttered to myself, then aggressively tapped my screen to call him.
“Hello?” someone who didn’t sound remotely like Henry answered after four rings.
“Hello?” My eyebrows knitted together. “Who’s this?”
“Nadine from Sandwitch,” the girl said. “Is this your phone? It was found under a table after our lunch rush.”
Ah, I thought. Whoever Henry had tutored today must’ve treated him to lunch.
“No, it’s not mine,” I said. “But I know—” I stopped, hearing the front door open and familiar footsteps in the foyer.
“Hepburn!”
I smiled to myself. “Hepburn” was special. I was special.
To him.
“Who are you talking to?” Henry asked when he entered the kitchen. His hair was a little wild, like he’d run his hand through it a hundred times today.
“You,” I answered, and showed him my screen.
Hank, it read. His contact photo was the snap of him asleep in the striped inner tube.
He sighed and took the phone from me. “Hi,” he said. “Please tell me I don’t have to pay a king’s ransom…”
I’d only eaten an apple and peanut butter for lunch, so I offered to drive Henry into town so he could retrieve his phone and I could get a sandwich.
Nadine was more than happy to take my order before we hung up, and fifteen minutes later, Henry insisted on paying for it—or not paying for it, because he’d finally filled up his punch card.
“You’re giving me your free sandwich?” I said, stomach growling with gratitude.
Henry crooked an arm around my neck. “I’m sorry for ignoring you all day.”
“That’s okay.” I kissed his cheek. “I like to think it’s because you lost your phone.”
He grinned so wryly that my knees went numb. “Is there any way I can make it up to you?”
“Hmm.” I pretended to ponder. “How about”—I tossed my wrapped sandwich in the air, then caught it with one hand—“you drive home so I can immediately devour this?”
Henry’s eyes twinkled. “Deal.”
WHEN WE GOT BACK TO MY HOUSE, I ASKED Henry if he wanted to come in and hang out for a while. “Is that a trick question?” he asked, but instead of us making out in my room (my after-school activity of choice), Henry brought his backpack in and set up camp at the kitchen table.
Bleh, I thought. Homework?
Midnight was when I thrived academically.
“First things first,” he said. “You need to cancel Friday night’s Fair Winds booking.”
Something in me tightened. “What?”
“Fair Winds,” Henry repeated. “The septuagenarian Thelma & Louise trip tomorrow is fine, but I refuse to let you rent out both the carriage house and this house.”
My heart warmed, relieved. “What made you change your mind?”
Henry opened his laptop, body language all business. “I didn’t change my mind.”
“Excuse me, but you told me it was a bad idea!”
“Yes, that’s my opinion,” he said. “After thinking about it more, my decision is to help.” He gave me a look. “James texted me to help you no matter what, and I don’t want to let him down.”
Tears threatened to spill. “Henry Chen, have I mentioned I love you?”
“Yes, but the exact number of times depends on the context.”
Grinning, I went over to the table and wrapped my arms around him from behind, hugging him close. “Thank you,” I whispered in his ear. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” he whispered back, then focused on his laptop. He already had a Here-to-Stay tab on-screen. “Now let’s pitch this house.”