13. Should be doable
Thirteen
SHOULD BE DOABLE
Luke
“Hey, Hollybush, I’m headed out to gas up the boat for tonight’s sunset cruise and then into town to run some other errands for Ma. Are you all set here before I go?”
My littlest sister looks at her computer screen. “I think we’re good, but keep your cell phone on you just in case anything comes up.”
“Alright. Josh is around somewhere pretending to fix things that Ma said needed fixing, so if I don’t answer, try his cell.” I pull on a Maple Cove baseball cap and give my little sister a playful punch in the shoulder before heading out the back toward the dock.
Chloe and her friend are filling bowls with fruit, yogurt, and granola at the counter in the great room. I try to slip by unnoticed, but fail miserably.
“Luke Huffman, you snuck by me before, but not this time.” Fuck.
I paste on a smile and take my hat off, turning to face Chloe and her friend—what was her friend’s name again? I’m not even sure I was told.
“Morning, ladies. How are we doing today?”
“Better now, obviously.” She bats her heavily made-up eyes at me and bites seductively into a strawberry.
She’s wearing shorts that are too short and a crop top that shows more than it covers.
Her friend is wearing almost the same outfit, just with a differently colored shirt.
I feel like a younger version of me might have found them attractive once upon a time.
They’re certainly not unattractive. They just aren’t…
The realization hits me like a ton of bricks. Liv. They aren’t Liv.
I drift back to this morning and how she looked when I ran into her on the path.
Walking next to her, hands animated as she spoke, the way her face scrunched and her eyebrows moved, I couldn’t keep my eyes off her.
She talked so passionately about the work she does.
She isn’t settling for a job that pays the bills or hunting for someone to take care of her.
Liv seems happy to pave her way, and something about that drive and determination is so sexy.
Everything about her is beautiful. Fresh-faced first thing in the morning with glasses?
Goddamn, she’s a walking fantasy. When she spoke and her arms moved, her shirt lifted just enough to give me a glimpse of a toned stomach, but not enough for me to really see what she kept hidden under her clothes.
There’s something to be said for a little mystery.
Liv has some walls up, that’s for sure. She questioned everything, like she needed to know my intentions for every question—and I liked it.
I just need to figure out how to break down those walls, to get her to trust me enough to open up.
Should be doable. I just need time, which is exactly what I don’t have.
What am I saying? I can’t get involved with a guest. Getting to know her doesn’t mean I’m involved. It means I’m being hospitable.
Giggling in front of me pulls me from my thoughts.
“Hellooo, earth to Luke.” The girls giggle again.
“Sorry, ladies, a lot on my mind.”
“We asked what you were up to today? Do you think you could give us a ride into town? We need to do some shopping.” I’d rather inventory the linen closet.
“Ah, sorry, I can’t do that. I have some things that I need to get done around here. Holly, over at the desk, can call you a local cab or an Uber if you like, though it’s an enjoyable walk.” I suggest, trying to figure out how to get out of this conversation without seeming rude.
Chloe pushes her bubblegum-pink glossed lips out in an overly dramatic pout. “We don’t want to walk and get all sweaty. We really would rather you take us.” She reaches her hand out and touches my arm.
I step away, pulling from her touch. “I really would like to help, but I have to get going on my to-do list. Holly will be happy to help you out!” With that, I slip past them. “You two enjoy your day.”
I leave, planning out all the ways I can be more hospitable.
Liv
I did not know French toast could melt in your mouth the way it did at brunch.
Maybe it was the mimosas, or perhaps I just have an unappreciated love for French toast, I don’t know, but my goodness, it was yummy.
Viv had eggs Benedict with perfectly crispy bacon.
Between the two of us—moaning over our food and carrying on about how fresh and tasty the fruit was—I think several patrons questioned our use of pleasure-enhancing drugs.
No drugs needed though, just good food and good vibes.
We spend the rest of the morning and early afternoon wandering the quiet streets of town, stopping at a storefront called Maple Cove Treasures. The little bell above the door tinkles as we enter, and I’m met with a familiar face sitting behind the counter. His nametag succinctly says Reg.
“Hey now, you’re the toe lady,” he says as we purchase matching beaded bracelets. This is our tradition: anytime Viv and I vacation together, we pick up a new beaded bracelet to remember the trip by. Viv scrunches her eyebrows at Reg’s declaration.
“Oh. Ha! Hi, Reg, how are you? This is my friend Viv.” I tilt my head toward her.
“What? I thought your name was Viv.” He tilts his head forward to look at me over the rim of his glasses.
“Nope, I’m Liv.” I smile at him.
With an expressive eyebrow raise, Reg stares me down for an uncomfortable few seconds. “Liv and Viv? Are you messing with me or something?” He squints at us.
“Nope. Those are our actual names,” I answer.
“Well, it’s confusing.”
“Fair,” Viv says. We’re not hearing anything new.
He shakes his head, turning his attention to Viv. “And you. Do you go around asking about people’s toes, too?”
“Doesn’t everybody?” she answers. Viv may have no clue what Reg is talking about, but she never misses a beat.
Reg stares at her. Viv stares back. And then she breaks into a prize-winning smile.
“City folk,” he mumbles, shaking his head. I don’t bother asking how he knows we come from the city—this man seems to have been around long enough just to know.
He drops our beaded bracelets—one bright fuchsia and the other a bold orange—into a small white bag with the store's name stamped on the front. “Here. Come back on Tuesday if you want to. Doesn’t matter to me.”
“Why Tuesday?”
Reg shrugs. “It’s sale day.” We wait expectantly for more information, but it never comes.
“Well, I, for one, love a good sale.” I look at Viv with a lift of my shoulders.
“We’ll see you Tuesday then, Reg!” Viv waves and turns toward the door.
While Viv and I wander from shop to shop, we notice that it’s incredibly quiet on the tourist front for what appears to be a busy little town.
Most people we encounter appear to be locals by the way they know each other and don’t look around with wide and wondrous eyes.
The shops don’t have a steady flow of out-of-towners buying trinkets; restaurants aren’t turning away reservations.
For all this town’s charm—its white picket fences, cobblestone side streets, and minor tourist attractions—it isn’t really on the map.
On the path outside of Maple Cove Treasures, we slip on our bracelets and hold our wrists up with the shop name in the background.
I snap a quick picture with my phone and post it to the Liv + Viv socials.
We have a decent following, and if we can bring awareness to Maple Cove somehow, maybe it would help bring tourists through.
I can’t say why I feel so compelled to help. What I can say for sure, though, is it definitely has nothing to do with the man back at the bed-and-breakfast.
Definitely not.