4. Will
CHAPTER 4
Will
T he one positive to running a record store in a small town is that when the entire population is at a wedding, no one stops in to shop. This makes closing for the rest of the day easy, as I don’t expect any customers anyhow. When Grandpa left earlier he told me I could close early, but I decided to stay a little while longer to help him with inventory.
Even though I haven’t worked at the shop in a few years, I could run it with my eyes closed. When I turned sixteen, he let me work with him. At first, he gave me small tasks, like straightening the vinyl or sweeping the floors. Over time, he taught me everything there is to know with the hope that one day I’d take over.
That was before I moved an hour west to the closest city, Knoxville, to go to college and pursue working with music in a different capacity. I liked working at Carter Records, but it was never my dream. Thankfully, Grandpa always supported me. I thought moving to the city would give me more opportunities. In a way it did; it led me to finding how much I love teaching kids how to play guitar. So much so that I’ve been doing it for the past few years. But, the city never felt like home.
Every few months, I came back to hang out with Jeremy and check on Grandpa. Millie and I always found a way to see each other without watchful eyes. We’d sneak off to the store, often heading to the roof where we found solace. It started as us finding time to talk. She was my best friend, like Jeremy, but it was different between us. We talked about more personal things. One night, she kissed me.
I kissed her back.
Our friendship began to include benefits—my hands on her waist, under her underwear, in places that allowed me to bring her pleasure. It was never anything more; we never had sex, but I looked forward to finding time to be alone with Millie every time I was in town.
Our relationship was easy and carefree, and looking back, it was something I took advantage of. When I wasn’t with her, we were texting. I didn’t date anyone while we were talking. It was as if we were together without a label. Three years ago, she asked me my thoughts about moving back home. She didn’t ask me to come back for her, and she didn’t suggest a timeline, but she was nervous to ask me. We were on the roof, snuggled under the stars, and her voice was timid.
For some reason, her question led to me having a mini-freak-out. I told her I wasn’t planning on it, and she tried to hide the disappointment. Millie told me she wasn’t feeling well and left, and I should have chased her, should have talked to her, but I didn’t.
When I went back to the city, I met Julia and stopped coming home except for special occasions. Six months ago, I was engaged. All for the wrong reasons, sure, but that’s why I’m now single and nervous to be around Millie. I’m scared I’ll do or say the wrong thing.
I’ve been wracking my brain for ideas on how to find time to talk to Millie while I’m in town, to ask for a second chance, even if it’s as friends. When she called the store, I would have done anything to help her .
Even run audio at a wedding, which is surprisingly the one thing Grandpa never showed me how to do. How hard can it be?
“Dude, why are you so pale?” Jeremy finds me at the audio booth during the wedding, saving me from thinking more about the past and what I should have done instead of running.
“I’m trying to figure out what all these buttons do.” Finally, I find the right button and music comes through the speakers. “Aren’t you supposed to be behind the bar?”
Jeremy shrugs, ultimately ignoring my question by asking me another. “When is Julia coming to town?”
“Huh?” I ask, confused.
“I meant to ask you earlier but forgot when we started chatting about games.” Jeremy leans against a pillar, facing the crowd to people watch.
It takes me a moment too long to answer, which has Jeremy looking at me with raised brows.
“Is everything okay?” he asks.
“What? Oh, yeah, um, I didn’t tell you we aren’t together anymore. Did I?” I grimace.
“Not together anymore?”
I shake my head. “I meant to tell you when it happened, but I didn’t want to do it over text.”
“Makes sense.”
“Why do you say that?” I ask, tilting my head.
“You’re in love with Millie.”
“I—”
“Don’t deny it,” he practically yells. “You’ve been in love with her since high school.”
“It hasn’t been that long, Jere.”
“Ha! You don’t deny it.” Jeremy walks backward through the crowd of people, not giving me time to respond, and certainly not caring if he runs into a few of them.
Instead of having the remaining time of the wedding to sit with my thoughts and try my best to not look at Millie every time she walks across the room, Kira Ivy waltzes to the audio table.
“Hi, Will.” She smiles as she greets me.
I offer back a thin-lipped smile. “Kira. What’s up?”
“Your grandpa told me you’d be back, but I didn’t believe it. It’s been too long,” she says, leaning a hand onto the table. She’s always flirted with me, even though she knows I’ve never been interested. Especially not after what she did to Millie six years ago, abandoning her with the floral business.
“Mhm,” I huff, not wanting to talk to her at the moment.
“I also heard from your grandpa you’re single. We should grab coffee tomorrow if you’re not busy.”
Wow, news travels fast.
“I’m, uh?—”
Kira bats her eyelashes, leaning into her small-town charm. Most people in town aren’t her biggest fan. Not only because of the Millie thing, but also because she spreads gossip like wildfire.
“Sorry, Kira, I’m not looking to see anyone while I’m in town,” I say and try to look busy, rotating a few knobs. “It’s a quick visit.”
Kira presses her lips into a thin line and her shoulders slump. Then, as if it never happened, she dons a smile and leans away from the table. “Next time. I’ll see you at Jeremy’s birthday party, right?”
“Wouldn’t miss it.”
“Great. See you later, Will.”
With Kira gone, I can breathe again.
And remind myself for the millionth time that I’m only in town for one or two weeks max. Even though Grandpa told me he was okay, I felt like I had to come to town to check for myself. And him forgetting about the event tonight has me worried there may be other things he’s forgotten to tell me.
So, I’m here to help him.
Once I’m comfortable leaving him alone again, it’s back to the city .
Although I could stay here longer, as my guitar students can be taught virtually, I can’t stay here forever. Not with having to see Millie everywhere I go.
A few hours later, Miss Jane comes to the booth as I’m putting away my equipment.
“Ah, Will, I was hoping to catch you before I left.”
I was hoping to be out of here without talking to anyone, but it looks like the universe has it out to get me.
“Hi, Miss Jane.” I do my best to make eye contact as I’m wrapping cables. “What can I do for ya?”
“Rumor has it you’re in town for a little while, huh?”
“Well, for a couple weeks.” I put the cables in a tote and work on placing the rest of the audio equipment back into its various bags and boxes.
“Do you anticipate having any spare time to help plan the spring festival?”
“Oh—”
“Millie is leading it, but I fear the poor girl might need some help between everything else she is doing. And since you’re not here for long, I thought you’d be able to find some time to help her with some of the logistics.”
Miss Jane smiles like I’d imagine a mother would when asking you to do something they know you don’t want to do but will ultimately say yes to. And Miss Jane knows Millie wouldn’t ask for help.
“I don’t know, Miss Jane…she and I aren’t on the best terms right now. I’m not sure she’d want me helping. Sorry,” I reply, but Miss Jane shakes her head.
“Oh, nonsense. This is perfect. You two can work it out while planning the festival. Yes?”
She’s already backing away from the booth and all I can do is give her a thumbs up.
“Perfect, go to Willow Inn tomorrow!” she hollers.
With Miss Jane gone, I can finish packing and get back to the store. I’m exhausted from traveling here this morning. After two trips to the truck, I’m looking around my spot one last time when Millie stops in front of me.
“Need anything before I lock the venue for the night?” she asks, not bothering to look away from her clipboard.
I didn’t notice earlier, but at some point, Millie changed into a purple silk skirt and sweater. Her hair drapes in waves over her left side.
“Will?” Millie knits her brows together, peering at me.
“What? Oh, no. I’m good. Do you need anything?” I find the words after being caught looking at her once again.
“Nope,” she says, returning her attention to her list.
“You sure? I’ve been told I’m great help.”
“Will, I’m tired. I’ve been awake since four this morning,” Millie mumbles, and if there were a wall behind her, I’m sure she’d slump against it.
“Let me do something, like sweeping. You don’t even have to talk to me.” Knowing myself, I will try to talk to her, considering how I wasn’t supposed to say anything dumb, yet here I am.
“Oh, joy.” Millie drops her arms to her side and looks around the room. No one else is here besides one other vendor. “Fine.”
She turns on her heel and walks toward the back of the venue before I can say anything. I may not be here for long, but the last thing I want is for her to stay mad at me. If there’s a way I can turn all this around, I will. Do I need to wish on a star for things to be different or tap my heels three times?
Millie will come around. I hope. She’s going to be seeing a lot of me.