Chapter 4 #2
Taking one last sip of my tea, I stand to wash my plate and fork.
“Austin, thanks for breakfast. I think I’ll run to the store to grab a few things. Either of you need anything?” I ask over my shoulder.
“Nah, I just went yesterday. Hey, does the G-wagon need gas? I can give you my credit card,” Austin offers.
And that’s another thing I have to think about.
Living in Dallas meant I could take public transportation or an Uber everywhere, but I’ll need a car of my own soon.
While I could walk around Singing River, I don’t want to do it every day.
And there’s only so long I can drive my brother’s G-wagon.
I’m a grown ass woman who needs her own vehicle.
Looks like I need to put back some money for a down payment.
“It’s good. No gas needed, Austin.”
On my way to the grocery store, I spot a field with rows of white tents and a sign that reads Singing River Farmers’ Market.
It’s been years since I shopped at a farmers’ market so I take the next turn and pull into the gravel lot.
Grabbing my reusable shopping bag, I start toward the front row of tents.
The first one I come to sells baskets filled with plump blackberries and peaches so ripe I can practically taste them.
I make my selections, place the fruit in my bag, and head to the next tent.
Before I know it, my bag is filled with everything from local honey to apples to homemade hand pies. I’m just admiring the most beautiful heirloom tomato I’ve ever seen when an arm snakes around my waist.
In college I took self-defense at the local gym, and you better believe every last one of those skills comes rushing back. I’m basically Buffy the Vampire Slayer as I deliver an elbow jab to the perpetrator’s gut.
A very masculine “oof” sounds behind me, and I turn, coming face to face with Liam.
“You again,” I grind out, placing a hand on my hip.
“Me again,” Liam replies, amusement dancing in his eyes, which in the light of day I see are a beautiful bottle green.
He’s even better looking than he was last night. But even with those eyes and his distractingly good looks, he’s lucky I didn’t hit him harder…or in a more Southern region for that matter.
“Liam, you don’t get a pretty pass to go around grabbing unsuspecting women.”
He brushes a lock of hair from his forehead and grins, all confident and boyish. “All I’m hearing is you think I’m pretty.”
Rolling my eyes skyward, I fail to bite back a grin as I examine the tomatoes. “You know you are. I think you’re the cockiest person I’ve ever met.”
He places a hand over his heart in mock insult. “Cassandra, you wound me. Here I was thinking I’m charming.”
“You’re definitely something, William,” I reply, poking him in the chest. “You’re definitely something.”
Out of nowhere, a blur of black and gray fur appears, jumping on its hind legs for Liam’s attention.
He scoops the creature into his arms, and I’m now face to face with the ugliest dog I’ve ever laid eyes on.
The kind that’s so ugly it’s cute. Patchy fur and a little pink tongue that pokes from one corner of its mouth.
One front leg is missing, but that doesn’t seem to stop it from getting around.
“Who is this lovely little creature?” I ask.
“This,” he starts, as the dog licks him on the chin, “is my man Muttley Crue. I call him Mutt.”
An uncontained smile slips across my lips at the sight before me and I reach toward the dog to allow for a hand sniff. Once I’ve earned his approval, I give several scratches between his ears.
Liam sets the dog back on the ground, and it scampers off behind the table where a man and a woman sit next to a money box.
I select several tomatoes and start to hand my card over to the lady, but Liam swipes it, tucking it into my pocket. The lady stands and swats at Liam. She’s petite, with chin length silver hair and eyes the same meadow green as his.
“Liam, are you going to introduce me to your new friend?”
Liam steps closer to me, placing one large hand on my head.
“Mom, this is Cassandra. She’s Austin James’s sister and a guest at Penny’s house.”
Liam’s mom introduces herself as Lisa, and wraps me in a motherly embrace that takes me by surprise.
People are certainly friendly in this town.
I’ve never been much of a hugger other than with my family, so it takes a second for my arms to catch up.
She’s several inches shorter than me, and when I make eye contact with Liam over her head he winks.
Winks! My stomach does the stupidest flip flop. I can’t recall the last time a man winked at me.
When she releases me, she squeezes my hands. “You sure are a pretty thing. Liam, isn’t she a doll?”
Liam, who is now popping cherry tomatoes into his mouth, eyes me up and down.
“The prettiest I’ve seen in a while.”
Again with that stupid flip in my belly. Ridiculous. Which I think is exactly what he wants.
Lisa gives him a look, one I don’t quite understand, and she turns back to me. “Well, any friend of Penny’s is a friend of mine and Greg’s.”
The man stands, coming to shake my hand, and the three of us make small talk about my time in Singing River.
It turns out, Greg is Liam’s father and also a member of the studio band.
After a few more minutes of conversation, I part ways with Lisa and Greg and continue to the next booth with Liam at my side.
It looks like I have a shopping partner today.
And bartender Sheila is right. Liam is a charmer with a heart of gold.
He puts on his most disarming smile, wooing all the little old ladies and even carries their bags to their car for them.
I’ve never seen so many grannies blush. He pets every dog we pass and stops to speak to nearly everyone here.
Nothing about his behavior seems performative on my behalf. Liam is just genuinely friendly.
Meanwhile, my conversation from earlier with Penny and Austin bounce in and out of my thoughts while we move from booth to booth.
The two of them are still exploring their new relationship, and I don’t know a soul in this town other than them.
Until last night. Now I know three people.
And so far, his company has been exactly what I’ve needed.
“Did you,” I start right as Liam says, “I’ve been thinking.”
I laugh awkwardly, and Liam gestures for me to speak. “Ladies first.”
“Did you give our Powerball money to Henry?”
Liam’s eyes light up. “Sure did. He went early. Your tickets are in my truck.”
“Thank you. Now what were you going to say?”
“I’ve been thinking about your list. What do you have going on today?”
“Why?” I eye him skeptically. “What have you been thinking?”