22. Indiana
I ’m practically skipping when I make it to Thistle and Sage this morning.
Not only am I riding the high of a morning run, but last night's dinner with Hazel and Knox was the most fun I’ve had in I don’t know how long.
Playing with Hazel reminds me of taking care of Han when we were young.
Being six years older than your sibling could have been an issue, but it wasn’t for me.
From the first day she was brought home from the hospital, she was my baby.
“Good morning, Indie!”
“Good morning, Winnie! How are you? I feel like I haven’t seen you in weeks.”
“I know. We’ve been working opposite shifts, and I took a few extra days for a wine tasting for the wedding.”
“Did you decide on one?”
“We did! It’s from this beautiful family-owned vineyard in California. I’m sorry I abandoned you! Are you settling in okay?”
“Don’t be sorry! That’s so exciting! And I’m fine. Good, um, great actually. Silverthorne is already feeling like home. ”
“That makes me so happy to hear. So, you’ve been in town almost two months now…I think it’s time you come out to AJ’s with everyone.”
“I’m in! I think a night out would be good for me, and who is everyone?” I ask excitedly.
She giggles. “Yes! I need a night out, too, and everyone is a lot of Holloways, my brother, Marigold and her boyfriend, and anyone you’ve possibly seen in town will also probably be there,” she tells me.
“Oh, is that all? So a small, intimate gathering?”
She laughs, a small snort slipping out. “Yes, exactly. Oh, and maybe have a karaoke song lined up,” she says, walking back into the kitchen. I follow after her to set my purse down in the back and get my apron on.
“Karaoke? Okay, now I’m even more in than I was a few minutes ago.”
Winnie claps her hands. “I can’t wait! I’m so excited for you to hang out with us!”
“I’m excited too. I’m a little short on friends at the moment, and it means a lot that you’ve included me so much.”
Her lips curl into a smile, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “Did I tell you I moved here when I was thirteen?” she asks.
“You didn’t.”
She hums, nodding. “My parents passed away in an accident right before Colt and I came to Silverthorne to live with our Uncle Buck.” My heart sinks into my stomach, feeling connected to Winnie in more ways than one.
“I’m sorry, Winnie.” My words are so cliché, but she accepts them with grace.
“Thank you. They were really wonderful parents—wonderful people. Moving across the country so young can be really hard, but this community made it bearable for us. We were welcomed with open arms. Now my heart is so invested here that I can’t imagine living anywhere else.
” Her smile touches her eyes now. “I guess all that is to say, I hope you’ll feel that way here too—eventually. ”
“I’m starting to,” I say, not wanting to admit that a huge part of that is due to my dinners with Knox and Hazel the past few weeks.
“Excellent. I’ll ask you again after karaoke and the festival this weekend. Town events are one of my favorite things about Silverthorne.”
I laugh, tying my apron on. “I’ve been looking forward to it since you told me.”
“Perfect,” she says, looking up from her phone. “Tomorrow night!”
“Wow, you work fast,” I tell her.
“I texted the Holloway family group chat. Ninety percent of the people coming are in it.”
“Is Knox in that?” In an attempt to keep my tone casual, it comes out very not casual.
“He is…” Winnie says, her voice going up at the end.
I roll my eyes, mostly at myself. “Did he say if he would be there…?”
“Knox doesn’t usually come out with us; he would rather stay home and hang with Hazel. I think the last time we got him to come out was months ago, and his brothers practically had to drag him there.”
“Yeah, I’m getting the vibe he’s more of a homebody.”
“You’re getting vibes from Knox?” she asks curiously.
“I mean…not a lot or anything. I’ve had dinner at his house a few times, and last night, it just seemed like he was more relaxed there,” I comment.
Her head whips to me. “You had dinner together?” I’m not sure if Knox wants that information out or that I have dinner at his house more often than my own.
“It’s really not that big a deal. I was walking by and Hazel waved me over.
I was talking with her and picking flowers; I think Knox felt like it would be rude if he didn’t ask me in.
Then he found out that I can’t cook—it’s probably more of a pity thing,” I try to explain, but not liking the sound of the words I’m saying.
Is it a pity thing? It doesn’t feel that way.
“I know you’re just getting to know Knox, but I feel the need to tell you that man doesn’t mind being rude. In fact, the Holloways don’t do anything they don’t want to,” she muses.
I laugh at that. “I also got that vibe from him. It was a bit of a mixed-vibe bag.”
She grins at me. “That sounds about right. Don’t get me wrong.
I love Knox. He’s always been like a brother to me.
He’s protective and kind, and he’s the best dad to Hazel.
He just likes his privacy and isn’t a big fan of socializing.
” Winnie starts putting things into the oven, then walks to the fridge to gather items for the cookies she’s making for the Spring Fling Picnic event happening this weekend.
Nothing she told me about Knox surprises me, but I would be lying to myself if I didn’t kind of hope he would be there. I would love to see him in a different setting, out at a bar with friends. I can’t stop the giggle that escapes me at the image of Knox singing karaoke. Winnie looks at me.
“Sorry, just had a funny thought. Thanks for inviting me out tomorrow and for welcoming me into the friend group. First rounds on me. ”
“Oh, you’re gonna be the favorite if you keep that up.” She snickers.
“Excellent, that’s all part of my plan,” I say mysteriously.
Winnie laughs so loudly that I almost drop the bowl I’m carrying to the sink.
I love it. Her laugh is so infectious that I start laughing along with her.
We carry on for so long that my stomach starts hurting.
Winnie puts her hand on my shoulder, and the action knocks a memory loose. One I can usually keep contained.
Han and I on the front steps of our apartment building. Her shoving me in the shoulder, causing me to slip down a step. We had been out day-drinking at a baseball game in the city, and I lost my keys. I miss her.
Heat behind my eyes pulls me from the memory, and I swipe at them, keeping my smile in place. I put the bowl in the sink, running some water in it before splashing a little on my face to get myself together.
“So, do you need my help back here today, or should I head out front?” I ask.
“Out front for a while, please. I’m going to try and get these cookies and croissant dough made up for the weekend. Then do you want to come back here when Anna gets here? I’m going to show you how to make some blueberry muffins today if you’re up for it.”
“I am so up for it! My family’s never going to believe that I can bake something.”
“Not just something . Something delicious,” she says seriously. I grin at her before walking back out front to open the door for the day and get the coffee ready.
A few hours later, I’ve done all the weekly cleaning up front, made a list for the grocery store, and learned how to make blueberry muffins.
Winnie said the recipe is interchangeable with most fruits, but I have to be careful with any that could be considered “wet.” Tomorrow I’m going to learn how to bake a chocolate croissant, and I’m scared to have that information because I’m not sure there will be a day when I don’t eat one if I know how to make them myself.
I walk into the grocery store, list in hand this time, and grab a cart from the front.
I don’t know how to cook many things, so my list is basic, but I’m proud of it.
Growing up in the city, we ate a lot of takeout, and even when my mother did cook, Han and I never asked her how to make anything.
That being said, I follow a lot of online chefs who make meals that are at a level I think I can manage, so my menu for the next week is a lot of pasta.
I’m making spaghetti, ziti, chicken alfredo, and an attempt at mushroom ravioli.
Just in case, though, I have frozen pizza, Uncrustables, and popcorn as a backup.
I’m having trouble steering my cart with all the people packed in here.
The whole town is a flurry of activity, and I’m assuming it has something to do with the spring event this weekend.
There was always something going on in Atlanta, but for the most part, it was a sports event that brought people in or the odd movie was being filmed.
My dad was usually involved if it was the latter.
I sigh, wistfully thinking about my parents. I do miss them. None of this is their fault. It’s mine.
I pick up the varying pastas needed for the internet meals and then walk to the produce section—avoiding the zucchini entirely—and grab the rest of my groceries.
All I need now is some cheese. I’m almost to the dairy when I see Knox.
He’s standing right in front of all the cheese and yogurt, which wouldn’t be a big deal except he’s talking to someone.
Not just someone though. A woman. A gorgeous woman.
She looks to be around my age. Long, blonde hair and bright, blue eyes.
She’s much taller than me, maybe six or seven inches at least. Her legs go all the way up to my chest, and now she’s laughing, and it’s delicate like bells tinkling in the wind.
I don’t like the feeling snaking inside me right now, causing my face to heat and my mind to race.
And I’m staring. I’m staring at her so hard that it looks like I’m trying to use my pyrokinesis to set her aflame.
I avert my eyes and realize that Knox and I have nothing going on.
A few dinners at his house, some mild flirting, and I’m what?
Ready to call him my boyfriend? Fuck, I am ready to call him my boyfriend.
I’m contemplating whether I actually need the cheese or if I should just try my hand at making my own when the woman speaks—to me.
“Hi, are we in your way?” she asks, and it’s not passive-aggressive—it’s sweet and genuine. How annoying.
“Uh-I’m...I just need some cheese,” I blurt.
She smiles at me. “I’m so sorry. I would never stand between a woman and her cheese,” she jokes. Cool, so she's beautiful and funny.
“No, you aren’t—” I cut myself off, trying to string together a full sentence in my head before letting anything else come out of my mouth.
“Excuse me. I’ll just grab this and be out of your way.
” I reach for a block of cheddar, two wedges of smoked gouda, bleu cheese crumbles, and a bag of shredded mozzarella.
Okay, so I needed a lot of cheese. I’m a little embarrassed. I need to get out of here.
“That’s a lot of groceries for someone who doesn’t cook,” a deep voice drawls from my side .
“Yeah, I’m attempting to cook a few meals for myself this week,” I say, tossing the packs into my cart. “It could end very badly, but I want to try.”
Blonde goddess chimes in, “I don’t cook.
It’s safer for me and the fire department.
This one though? He is an amazing cook.” She elbows Knox in the chest, and I fight my eye twitch.
“I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’m sorry, I’m Cora.
I work with Knox. You must be Indiana,” she introduces herself.
The snaking feeling I mentioned earlier coils tighter. I’m not sure I like how wound up I am.
“Oh, hi. It’s nice to meet you. Will you be at AJ’s tomorrow night?”
Knox looks back at me. “Will you be at AJ’s?” he asks.
“Um, yeah. Winnie invited me and called in the cavalry to show me a night out.” I laugh.
“I’ll be there.I wouldn’t miss a night out with everyone. You’ll come, right Knox?” Cora asks the man towering over us.
“Great, I’m glad to be joining. I’ve heard a lot about the place,” I tell her, but I can’t help the way my eyes flit toward Knox.
I find him looking at me. Eyes a little narrowed.
Does it bother him that I’m hanging out with his family—his coworkers?
“I guess I’ll see you tomorrow, Cora. Knox, see you around.
” I give them both an incredibly awkward wave, halfway between a homecoming queen and a soldier, before making my escape.
Oh god. Am I cursed to become an idiot around him?
I carry my bags out to my car and try to stop the nervous laughter that’s threatening to be set loose on the good people of Silverthorne, but I’m stopped in my tracks by the mountains.
I’m still not used to these views. I need to get out there again.
Maybe this weekend. I’m helping Winnie at the festival, but I have Sunday off, and I’m thinking I need to start exploring my new home state.
I’ll consult my list when I’m home and try to pick one close by.
I may have already run this morning, but I’m thinking I’ll try paddleboarding around the lake for some exercise this afternoon.
It will do me some good. I have to get some of this energy out of me before I go full green-eyed monster on anyone who looks in my landlord's direction.