50. Crabby patty
Fifty
CRABBY PATTY
Luke
“Oh my goodness, smile!” Holly chides, exasperated.
“What the hell is this even for?” Irritation I can’t seem to control swims through my system.
“For our new Instagram account. Liv and Viv helped me set it up, and it’s been amazing for getting eyes on our bed-and-breakfast.”
She holds out her phone, scrolling through a series of images of the lake, the house, and a familiar orange cat. I dig my knuckles into my chest, an ache forming there.
“So, what you’re saying is, you need us—the two most handsome men in Maple Cove—to pose as bed-and-breakfast eye candy?” Josh raises his chin and then slants his head toward me. “I think we can make that happen. What do you say, Lukey?” He elbows me over and over.
“Stop being annoying.”
“Stop being a crabby patty.” Holly scoffs. “Just smile, would you? I’m going to post a series of photos of the staff here and brief descriptions. Liv and Viv said it’ll help people feel connected when they show up and see familiar faces. Please just do this for me?” She turns on her puppy face.
Dammit, I can’t resist the puppy face.
“Fine.”
“That’s the spirit!” Josh throws his arm around my shoulder and smiles wide. I slip my hands into the pockets of my shorts and smile at my baby sister, who snaps a million pictures before finally releasing us to do our jobs.
“Bro, seriously, what’s your deal? Woke up on the wrong side of the bed again? You’ve been in a bad mood for days now. What the hell?” Josh pulls at my shoulder, halting my progress out of the house.
“I’m fine! Let it go,” I say, immediately regretting it. “I’m fine. I’m sorry.”
“So… this sunny mood you're in has nothing to do with a beautiful blonde who checked out a couple of days ago?” he presses.
I clench my teeth, nails digging into my palms. “I have work to do.”
Josh stares at me, clearly not buying my bullshit, but nods anyway. Pushing the doors open, I hear over my shoulder, “I’m here, man, when you want to talk about it.”
I pause momentarily, half turn, then leave.
There’s nothing to talk about.
She’s gone and was always going to be. So, I just need to deal with it.
Liv
My computer screen stares at me. I answered all emails, and I caught up on everything.
Cori did an amazing job running the company in our absence, and we came back with little to worry about and happy clients.
We brought coffee for everyone today, and I think that’s probably what they missed most about us while we were away.
Viv catches me staring out the window when she pops her head into the office.
“Hey girl, are you good?”
I don't know.
“Yup, what’s up?” My chair swivels to meet her.
Viv talks, sharing ideas and thoughts she’s had about branching out and bringing in new clients. Focusing on what she’s saying proves to be difficult, but I nod along and hum at the right times. If she asked me to repeat back to her what she just told me, I wouldn’t be able to.
My eyes keep wandering to my phone, fingers feeling twitchy. It’s not like he’ll text me.
Her talking slows, and then finally stops.
“I’m on board with anything. It all sounds good!” I say, perhaps a little too chipper and enthusiastic, earning me a scrutinizing look.
“’Kay…” she says slowly, drawing out the sound. “Then I’ll give EdenReed a call this afternoon.”
“You’ll what?” My chair lurches forward from its semi-reclined position.
“What’s going on with you?” Her tone is demanding, but the frown on her face tells me she’s more concerned than angry.
“What are you talking about?” I wince at the defensiveness in my voice.
“You’re in la-la land. You look exhausted. And you keep looking at your phone like you’re waiting for something. Just text him already!”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Why would I?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Because he’s obviously on your mind?”
“Okay, maybe he is. But I think I’m just… hung up because we had sex a few times. I’ll get past it.”
Viv is quiet, eyeing me with an expression that seems mixed between “I don’t believe a thing you just said” and pity.
“Ever think of asking if he’d move here?”
“That’s a bit drastic, don’t you think? Besides, he made a promise to his dad. I will not ask him to break that.” I tug at the lint that doesn’t exist on my shirt, flicking away imaginary specks.
“Ever consider… working from… there?” she asks tentatively, like she’s afraid to say it out loud.
“Why would I do that?” My face snaps up to meet hers, my shoulders squared.
“You seemed… That town hit you differently. You seemed happy there—relaxed.” Viv leans forward, emphasizing her words.
“Well, yes, Viv, we were on vacation. Of course I was relaxed and happy!” And the view of the lake every morning, the sounds of nature, the welcoming community, weren’t too bad either. “I’m happy here too.” I pull at the curling fabric surface of the mouse pad.
“Are you though?”
No.
My face when I look at her must convey that this conversation isn’t one I’m interested in continuing.
“Okay.” She holds her hands up. “All I’m saying is I think you have options. You can do your part of the work from”—her hands sweep out—“anywhere.”
“I think you’re trying to get rid of me.”
“No, babe. I just want you to be happy.” Viv stands, stares at me long enough to allow her words to sink in, and then walks out, closing the door behind her.
I stare after the closed door, her words tumbling through my mind, when my phone buzzes with a notification. I move too fast to grab it, knocking it to the floor, where it flips and flops deep under my desk.
The Huffman House posted a photo.
I click the notification, and my breath catches when my screen fills with two familiar, unreasonably handsome faces. My eyes scan the image before becoming transfixed on one face in particular.
Make a wish.
I stare at the eyes that remind me of summer, and the lips I could easily kiss for hours on end that are stretched in a crooked smile.
His hair looks like he just finished running his fingers through it, the way it’s pushed to the side.
No doubt Holly had to persuade him to take this picture.
Josh is hamming it up. He has a lazy smile on his face, his arm wrapped around Luke’s shoulder gripping it, appearing to tug Luke closer to him.
Meet the Huffman boys. The caption reads before launching into brief descriptions of each and their roles at the house.
My heart stutters as I scan the picture again. I click the heart and close my phone. Breathing deeply, I close my eyes and lean on my forearms.
His voice caresses my mind.
Make a wish.