Chapter 20 Jack #2
“Wow, it looks great in here,” he says, smiling wide and looking around the decorated shop.
I follow suit, taking in the transformation Rosie did over the last six hours.
The tables where games will be taking place are draped in green and black tablecloths and decorated with some kind of garland, something Rosie took responsibility of, and they look better than anything I could ever have managed.
She found some kind of printable decorating set online that I think was technically for a birthday party, but with her skill it looks professionally done.
I stood in awe as she hung black and purple streamers along the ceiling with her magic from a stash she had in her store.
Food is laid out on a table, and she even assembled gift bags with freebies and a pamphlet for tonight’s activities for each guest, different than the admittedly ugly stack of things I had planned to hand each of them.
“Ro—” I start, stepping to Ryan and putting a hand out to shake his, but Rosie cuts me off as he grabs my hand.
“Isn’t it amazing? Jack’s been working so hard on this, and I really think it’s going to be such a hit!”
“It is,” he says with a nod, turning to her. “How’s it going? Didn’t really pin you as a gamer.” She shakes her head and lets out a small, tinkling laugh.
“Oh, I’m not. Jack’s tried to teach me a couple of times and I’m totally lost. But you know if someone needs help, Heartwood Hollow steps in.
” He nods like this is common knowledge everyone in town knows, and maybe it is: I’ve never made much of an effort before Rosie came into my life to learn.
But that’s changed recently. The week after the fall festival, I met with Mrs. Hanna and we made plans for a joint sale weekend, where customers could get a Five Realms–themed craft and a pack of cards for a discount if they visit both shops, and late last week, I met with the owner of the local antique store to talk about comics, cards, and second-hand pricing.
Even Ryan’s been chatting with me a bunch since then, coming to the shop a few times, once not even with shopping in mind: he just walked to talk about our shared interests.
I’ve been more engaged in this town in the past month than I have in the entire three years since I moved here, and I know there’s one person to credit that change with. My eyes are locked to her, lost in my thoughts, when Ryan speaks again.
“Anything I can do to help? Looks like you two covered everything yourselves for the most part. I wish you had called me up. I would have been happy to come early.” I shake my head and open my mouth to tell him no, but Rosie cuts me off.
“Actually, we ordered pizza from Prima in case anyone needs real food instead of just snacks, but their delivery is super backed up. Any chance you can go pick it up?” she says, and I turn to her, eyes wide with disapproval. She can’t ask a guest if—
“Oh, for sure! Anything else you need?” Ryan asks, looking at me. Again, I shake my head.
“No, no. And you don’t have to do that, either. I appreciate it, but it’s not necessary. You came here to enjoy a night of games and—” He looks at me, confused, and my words trail off.
“That’s what friends do, right?”
Over Ryan’s shoulder, Rosie smiles wide, nodding and giving me two big thumbs-up.
I stumble on my words, and I think I say thank you through my shock and confusion as I realize he’s right.
Somehow, I’ve made a second friend in just a few weeks, all thanks to the woman who can’t seem to contain her joy.
I give Ryan some cash, and he heads out to get the pizzas.
When the door closes behind him, I turn to Rosie, whose smile is still taking over her entire face.
“Look at you, finally being a real local, making friends and whatnot,” she says as she steps closer to me.
I open my mouth to argue, but she shakes her head, her face going soft.
“I’m proud of you, Jack.” Her words are gentle as she wraps her arms around my middle, looking up at me with soft eyes and genuine pride on her face.
With the look, the panic that had started to build up once more in my chest melts away.
“This is a lot for you, but you’re killing it. ”
A million responses flood my mind, and then I come to the conclusion that none of them are appropriate for a friends with benefits situation like we have and would surely screw up whatever we have beyond repair.
Instead, I lean down, pressing my lips to hers, my hands lifting to cup either side of her face.
I kiss her, sweet and hard, and hope that somehow, in some small way, she understands everything that today means to me: her trust, her belief in me, her help, her kindness.