Chapter 21
Reese
“You set this up,” I hissed at my cousin. “Some friend you are.”
Ever rolled her eyes, a clear indication she was over my attitude.
“If I didn’t get you in the same room with the man again, then I wouldn’t be your friend.
Go ahead.” She poked me in my side, almost causing me to smile.
“You can say it. ‘Thank you, Ever. You’re the best friend a girl could ask for.’ Do it. Say it.”
“You’re an idiot,” I complained as I started walking toward the one free booth in the place.
“Clay,” Ever called out behind me, “why don’t you join us?”
Pivoting, I glared her way. What did she do? She laughed. Right out in the open, for all the Falls to see and gossip about. Now people will think there’s something going on between me and Clay. There was. Literally, there was sex going on last night.
I hated everyone right now, including the little voice in my head.
Here I was in the middle of some existential and doubt-fueled crisis, and all Ever did was pour gasoline on the fire.
“Would you stop it.” She slid into the booth, stopping dead center, forcing me to sit on the other side.
“Everyone in town already knows who Clay is; the grapevine works pretty damn quickly, as you well know. Are we supposed to ignore him after he’s staying at the B that’s a given.
It’s also true that Henley Falls has its own charm and quirks.
” Before speaking again, he looked at his watch.
“Do you know it took almost two hours for you to show me your four blocks? Do you know why that was?”
“Because everyone here is a damn busybody and wouldn’t let us go without stopping to be nosy.”
“Because every person stopped and wanted to say hello to you. Every person knew you, and it was quite obvious they all care about you. Four blocks in Manhattan would have taken me a few minutes to walk, with not a single person stopping me. This—” He motioned to the people and stores around him.
“—is what’s going to help you build your destination.
As long as you can get people in town on board and not resistant to an influx of guests. ”