24. Theo
THEO
Strawberry Springs Neighborhood Watch
Marjorie Brown: Interested in the art of the human form? Nude drawing classes are every Thursday at six!
Comments:
Dale Garrett: Who in their right mind would want to draw naked people?
Mollie Wilson: @Wren Hackett @Grace Day @Jade Clark We’re in this week, right?
Dale Garrett: I can’t believe your men let you do this.
Wren Hackett: Let me? LET ME? Henry does NOT own me. No one owns any of us! Say that one more time and I’m making sure your door squeaks every time someone opens it.
Dale Garrett: Hey, no need for threats! I’m sorry!
Jade Clark: I’m so proud of you. Preach, sis.
The weekly farmers market was still in full swing despite the fact that it was nearly afternoon. Years ago, visitor numbers would dwindle and vendors closed up their booths early, but business had been booming since the show.
I’d never admit it, but I liked the farmers market. It was how I got local food and met people. A massive one in Nashville was how I met the franchise owner that helped me open The Reserved Bean.
We’d been busy this morning, but it had wound down enough in the afternoon to let me at least make one round around the booths.
I was pretty sure someone had told Kelsey I used to frequent the one here because she’d all but shoved me out of the shop, insisting she could handle it for an hour since it was slow.
I couldn’t believe I’d let her do it, but she’d boasted she was now friends with Piper, and if she came in late, she wanted first dibs on talking to her. I didn’t have the heart to tell her Piper probably wouldn’t come in. The square was busy, so much so that she would hide out at home.
I was barely two steps onto the sidewalk when I instinctually turned to the second floor of the building.
Blonde hair peeked out and I could see her watching the action. I thought she was checking in on the farmers market.
Then I realized she was looking right at me.
Our eyes met for a second before she disappeared from view. I stared at the space that she had just occupied, my body growing warm.
My phone buzzed a second later.
Piper
I swear I was looking at the farmers market.
Theo
Didn’t look like it to me.
Piper
You were just there! And I liked your shirt today. Rolled-up sleeves are a good look for you.
How could this woman be caught staring at me and also be the one making me blush? I rubbed my hot cheeks and shook my head.
Theo
Do you want to join?
She typed for a long while, and I leaned against a light post.
Piper
I want to, I really do. There’s just a lot of people.
I surveyed the crowd. She was right, but there were gaps we could go through.
Theo
I’ll do my best to make sure no one touches you. It’s the end of the day, so it’ll get slower.
Piper
Really? You’d do that?
Theo
Always, Piper.
It took her a minute to respond.
Piper
I’ll try it.
Please don’t judge me if things go wrong.
Theo
I wouldn’t dare.
I went to the back of the building where the door to her apartment was. I kept myself together until she came down the stairs. My entire body tensed when I saw her in another denim skirt and floral top.
No. I shook myself out of the thoughts. She wanted to enjoy the farmers market. She may have said it was okay for me to think of her, but I refused to keep doing it. The last thing I needed was for this to turn into something I could never keep.
“Ready?” I asked.
“As ready as I can be.” Piper took a deep breath. “Okay, just in case this goes wrong, we need a plan.”
I nodded. “A plan. I can work with that.”
“If someone touches me and I lock up, I want you to get me home and under a blanket.” She fished in her pocket. “Here are my keys. Feel free to use them.”
Sometimes, it was startling how much she trusted me, especially since she knew all of my past.
“How tense are you? Will you be upset if I touch you?”
“Good point.” She tapped her chin as she thought about it. “I have an idea.”
She whirled around to where she wasn’t facing me.
“What are you doing?”
“I want you to grab my arm.”
“Uh . . .”
“You’d need to do that to move me out of the way. It’s better to do it now and not when someone’s running at me.”
“All right. Tell me to let go if you need me to.”
“I will.”
My hand met her lower arm and I gripped it gently. She tensed for a second before she relaxed.
“You okay?”
“I know what your hand feels like,” she said softly.
I blinked. “You do?”
She turned and nodded. “They’re a little rough, but I like that. It’s how I know it’s you.”
My heart stuttered at her words. I let go of her, but she grabbed my hand.
“I like it when you touch me.”
“Is it a good idea to say things like that?”
Piper rolled her eyes. “This is where you stop worrying and tell me if you like it too.”
“You know the answer to that question. I’ve already said it.”
“Maybe I want to hear you say it again.”
She would be the death of me. “I like touching you too.”
The corner of her mouth tilted upward as she stared at me. The tips of her fingers traced the lines of my palm and we stood in silence for far too long.
“Piper,” I murmured. “The farmers market will close soon.”
“Oh. Right.” She nodded. “That’s why we’re here.”
Finally, she let go of me and looked at the tables lining the square. “It’s not too bad from down here.”
“It’s not. And Freya has no customers. What do you say we get something from her bakery to start?”
“I love that idea,” she said with a bright smile in my direction. “You lead the way.”
Halfway across the street, I realized that people were going to see this. People were going to talk about this. I hadn’t even considered that when I invited her out. Just like when I went to Mike, all I cared about was her happiness.
Piper had her purse with her, her grip tight on the strap, but she looked at the entire market with wide, bright eyes.
Maybe I’d regret this later, but for now, I didn’t care if people talked. I didn’t care if they saw that I cared about someone.
I just wanted her to experience the damn farmers market.
Freya was managing her stall and perked up when she saw us coming. She made a wide variety of baked goods with her sister. I got along well with her, even after she had asked me out and I turned her down, saying I didn’t date anyone. She’d respected that, and things had been polite ever since.
This was how things should go.
If only my heart could get the memo with Piper, who was sticking close to me.
“Hi,” I said as I walked up.
“I haven’t seen you in forever,” Freya said. “You must’ve been busy.”
“I have been. My barista kicked me out today, and I decided to bring my friend, Piper.”
Freya’s attention turned to her, who offered a shy smile.
“Hi! It’s nice to meet you. I don’t think Theo has ever brought a friend before.”
“Friend might be the wrong word,” Piper said. “He’s more like a . . . guide. One I need while I get used to the town.”
“That’s very nice of him. Do you live here?”
“I do. Right above his coffee shop.”
“Oh, I bet that’s the best apartment. I saw it online when Wren renovated it, and it looked great on the inside. Do you like it here? This is the best small town to live in.”
“I do, but I haven’t seen you around.”
“I live an hour north in Rainwood. It’s a little rundown, but it’s home.”
“Strawberry Springs used to be like that, once upon a time,” I said. “We just got lucky with the STM grant.”
“Do you guys have something like that too?” Piper asked.
Freya shook her head. “The STM grant loves Strawberry Springs, which is great for you guys, but we’re on our own.”
“Oh,” Piper said.
“We don’t question it,” Freya said with a laugh. “I’m just happy to come out here with a booth. A lot of other towns join too. We make the most out of it.”
“And there’s good stuff,” I told Piper.
“So what you’re telling me is that I should have come way sooner. Got it.” She looked back at Freya. “What do you recommend?”
“Anything, but you keep looking at the cinnamon rolls. So, that’s what you should get.”
“You caught me. I’ll take one.”
Freya nodded. I ordered a loaf of sourdough bread and slipped her my card for both while Piper’s eyes traced over the rest of the market.
“So,” Freya said while bagging it up, “you and her, huh?”
There wasn’t any anger in her voice, but it made me tense anyway.
“I’m just showing her around.”
She hummed. “And watching her like a hawk.” She truly had an eagle eye. “I’m happy for you,” she said. “And I hope to see her again.”
“That’s the goal,” I replied.
“Here you go, Piper.” Freya held out the bag, which I immediately took to hand to Piper myself.
“Thank you so much. What do I owe you?”
“Your guide took care of it,” Freya said with a smile.
Piper turned to me. “You did. Why?”
“A welcome gift.”
“I’ve been here way too long for that.”
I only shrugged, skin prickling at her watchful stare. “Don’t look too much into it.”
“You have a good friend here,” Freya said. “And I hear he makes amazing coffee.”
“That he does.”
“The coffee shop is why you’re so busy, right?” she asked.
“It is. Mostly in the mornings. I got lucky with the people in town giving it a chance.”
“He’s downplaying it,” Piper said. “The Reserved Bean is incredible and I go every day.”
“I’m glad to have someone here who can tell me what’s actually going on.” Freya laughed. “Rainwood’s too small for a coffee shop like that. I thought Strawberry Springs was too, but you guys are lucky. I haven’t been able to go in yet, but I plan to.”
“What do you drink?” Piper asked.
“Normally a vanilla latte, but—”
“Be right back!” Piper sped off in the direction of the shop.
“She isn’t getting me coffee, is she?” Freya asked.
“She is.”
“Huh. What a sweet girl. You two match.”
I crossed my arms. “You’re as bad as my barista.”
“We both just have eyes, I guess.”
I was glad Freya wasn’t acting jealous like she could be. I didn’t come here with the intention of showing off anything with Piper, and Freya was taking it well.
Piper returned moments later, a drink in her hand.
“Here you go. Coffee to try.”
“You totally didn’t have to do that, but thank you. What do I owe you?”