Chapter 34 Gwendolyn #2
“I know what you’re doing, and I’m going to let you because I can see the stress all over you, and I need you to be a little happier with all your big plans happening around you.”
Handing over the box, I take it from her and eye the shipping label. “I didn’t order anything.”
“No, you did not,” my best friend smirks. “Open it.”
At her insistence, I set the box on the ground and kneel beside it. Ripping open the packing tape with the keys in my pocket, I’m more confused than ever when I see the contents.
One by one, I pull out expertly packed decorations. Fresh leaf garland in rich oranges and reds. New strings of twinkle lights. Yards of fabric–no, curtains–in autumnal colors. Pumpkins of every size.
“This is everything I had on my wishlist in my festival planner,” I whisper in disbelief.
“Well, not everything. There are a few more boxes back at the cafe with Stacy.”
I dig through the box again, confirming everything was exactly what I had originally planned for, but was shot down at the committee meetings.
“Did I get drunk and order these? This is exactly why I shouldn’t save my card info on shopping websites. Get a couple of glasses of wine in me and suddenly I’m adding to cart without a care in the world.”
Piper giggles. “Nope,” she pops the p. Reaching in, she finds a packing slip and hands it to me.
Quickly reading over the checklist, I see it really was my entire wishlist. Everything in the right quantities and colors.
“How?” I start to ask when I see the note at the bottom of the invoice.
You deserve everything you want.
Yours, Logan
I read the words over and over again until Piper nudges me. She’s beaming with excitement as my mouth gapes at her.
“Logan got me everything?”
She nods enthusiastically. “That boy is smitten.”
“And you knew. How did you keep this from me?”
“Oh yeah, it was killing me the last few days not to tell you. But I’m pretty proud of myself, not going to lie.”
I sit back on my heels, quietly examining everything again and trying to wrap my brain around the fact that he did this for me. That is until his father’s final words come slamming into me like a ton of bricks.
“What’s wrong? Why do you look like you want to cry? And not happy tears. This is not a ‘sad tears’ moment, girl.”
“Pipes, am I being dumb?”
Sensing the shift, she kneels down beside me. Placing her hands on my shoulders to force me to look at her. “I need you to be more specific.”
“With Logan. Am I being dumb for starting something with him? I mean, it can never go anywhere.”
Piper scrunches her nose. “Says who?” Her expression levels out as she puts the pieces together. She looks over her shoulder for a moment, looking in the direction Mr. Spencer went before turning back to me. “Did he tell you that?”
I just shrug, picking at the flap of the shipping box.
“Are you happy with him?”
I nod my head.
“Does he treat you well?”
“Yes, he’s wonderful, but–-”
“No buts right now. Just facts. Has he given you any reason to make you think he will break your heart?”
I nibble on my lower lip. “No, he hasn’t.”
“Then what is the real problem?”
“His own dad said I was not good enough for him. His exact wording was ‘nuisance to his future’.”
Piper brushes my hair behind my shoulder. “You and I both know Logan’s dad has had a weird fetish with his relationship with Camila and taking over as mayor. I would bet money he is just trying to scare you off.”
“What if Logan decides I’m not good enough, though? I know this is new, but there are big heavy feelings involved already. At least for me.”
Piper’s eyes grow large. “Big as in…”
I nod my head, scared to actually put the words into the world and jinx myself.
“Honey, I saw this coming from a mile away.” Piper gathers me in her arms. We probably look crazy in the middle of the town square grass, hugging over a box of fall decorations.
I really didn’t care, though. Sometimes you just need a moment with your best friend.
“If for whatever absolutely certifiably insane reason he decides that you, Gwendolyn Ophelia Prescott, are not good enough… Then he is not the one for you. And it will hurt like hell, I can almost guarantee that, but it won’t be the end of your world.
Because you are so much more than the opinion of a boy. You are incredible.”
I lean back and peer at her incredulously. “You have to say that.”
“I don’t have to say shit and you know it.
All facts, babe.” She pulls me in for one more squeeze, then gets both of us to our feet.
“Let’s not borrow hypothetical problems from another day, though.
For now you are going to enjoy the seemingly perfect for you man.
And you’re going to thank him, hopefully in a very creative way, for this.
” She gestures to the box of decorations at our feet.
I grin down at it, sniffling back the emotions that had been bubbling up within me on the rollercoaster that was the last ten minutes. Reaching out, I grasp Piper’s hands in my own.
“Thank you for the impromptu pep talk.”
She grins back. “It’s no big deal. All in the best friend contract.
I’m sure you’ll repay the favor next time I have one too many half-priced margs at Daisy’s and decide to cry over my failed life.
” She glances down at her watch, jolting when she sees the time.
“That reminds me, I’ve gotta get over to the salon.
Mom needs a receptionist for the afternoon. ”
I point at her and try for a menacing look. “Speaking of, I do not want to see you at all tomorrow. You are to stay home and binge all of your reality shows and take some you time.”
She tries to wave me off, but I continue. “I’m serious, Pipes. You’ve been working every day lately, which I am incredibly thankful for, but you need some you time.”
“You know that alone time usually gives me hives. Just means too much time to think. I’m better off staying busy.”
“At least try, for me? If you feel the need to do something, text me. We can have a decoration date. At least you will be outside a little if you do that.”
She blows me a kiss as she takes a few steps toward her mom’s salon a couple blocks over. “You know I’ll be here. Love ya!”
“Love you too!” I shout at her and silently thank the universe for granting me the best friend I could ever ask for.