Chapter 22
TWENTY-TWO
EVERLY
My palms are still sweaty as I straddle my bike and peddle away from Nick’s “summer cottage.” Alex coached me until the early hours of the morning, but no matter how much I knew it was the right thing to do, I’ve never liked confrontation. Even worse, I hate that I hurt someone’s feelings.
In the end, Nick let me off easy. When I rang his doorbell, I thought I was going to throw up in the bushes.
When he opened the door with his easygoing smile and windswept hair, I was sure the dreaded anticipation of this conversation might cause me to pass out.
When I finally spat out some semi-coherent words, I think the exchange went something like this:
“I like you… but… um…” I looked down, fidgeting with my hands a lot. “I have had a lot of fun times with you… but um, I just…” I stopped to take a few shallow, panicked breaths like I was having a near-death experience. “I am feeling like… um… I can’t fully… um, you’ve been so nice…”
Nick’s ears must have been bleeding from the torture of listening to my pathetic excuse for conversation, and finally, he put me out of my misery. He put his hands on my shoulders and lowered his head to the same level so we were eye to eye.
“Everly, it’s okay, I get it.” That same easygoing smile was still plastered on his face.
I had let out a nervous laugh that more resembled a hyena than someone of the human race. I’m still not sure what was more humiliating, me trying to speak words while sounding like I was having a stroke or that awful laugh. It’s going to remain a toss-up forever.
“Are you sure? I didn’t mean to hurt you. It’s just this thing with Hux…”
“Look, I think he’s an ass, I always have, but I can’t say this comes as some big surprise.
I am pretty sure all of Aurora Lake can tell something is going on with the two of you.
” His eyes briefly darted out to the shining lake behind me.
“I was probably the fool for thinking I could intervene.” A halfhearted chuckle escaped his lips, proving maybe he was a little more disappointed than he was letting on.
“I know no one ever wants to hear this, and you have every right to tell me to leave and never talk to you again, but do you think there is a chance we could still be friends?”
Deep down, I knew Nick and I wouldn’t have a big romantic future, at least not once Hux entered the picture, but I still really enjoyed his company.
“For sure. I mean, we still have Boston, right?” I could tell his comment was meant to be a joke, but I also knew there was some truth behind it that made me slightly uncomfortable. Nonetheless, at that moment, I was so relieved that I nodded my head yes before jumping back on my bike and escaping.
Now, safely on my way back to the house, I chew over the one word he had mentioned that made my stomach uneasy.
Boston. In the beginning, I missed the city so much, missed my dad and brother, missed the constant noise of traffic and people, and missed visiting my mom in the local cemetery and giving her all my life updates, no matter how small.
I missed streaming services, the newest binge-able shows, and the multiple coffee shops within walking distance of my dorm.
For the last six weeks, the only java I have had has been from Mr. Croft’s Keurig maker or from the main lodge.
During my first week here, I was told that a cup of joe from Anderson’s was some of the best in northern Maine.
People travel from all over specifically for their coffee.
Now that I have had time to investigate this information, I think the real truth is it has nothing to do with the actual quality but the fact that it’s just actual coffee in Maine’s North Woods.
That stuff is indescribable, and not in a good way.
Even with the horrendous brew, I know deep down I love it here.
I love the stubborn old locals, and I love the creaky resort porch and its chipped paint where the rockers have sat for years.
I love the cold mornings that take your breath away and the dead silence at night when the lake goes still.
As I ride this old camp bike down the dirt road, which I have ridden almost every day for six weeks, I realize I love Hux Anderson most of all.
Something else I’ve noticed in Silsby is how the weather changes distinctly each month. Without even looking at a calendar, you can almost predict the day of the month just by the feeling in the air.
Alex and I sit under the pergola, the warm August sun streaming through the slats and purple Clematis that’s woven itself overhead. A stronger breeze that seems to be a more permanent fixture has taken over in the last few days. Change is coming.
“I think the fence looks pretty good,” Alex says with her mouth full of the ham sandwiches I made for each of us. Dried paint speckles across her UCLA T-shirt and the tip of her ponytail is covered in white paint from when she accidentally dipped her hair in the paint can.
“If you don’t look closely, I’d say you and I definitely have a future in fence painting.” I laugh as Mr. Croft comes out the side door.
“Look at that, girls! I was starting to wonder if you just conveniently forgot about our deal, but the fence looks great.” He stands with one hand in his pocket, the other one holding a cup of coffee.
“Of course not, but you know, Everly here is such a perfectionist and wanted to make sure we picked the perfect shade of white for you. I mean, she’s been researching it all summer.” I kick her under the table, trying to hide my smile.
“You just used the paint I had in the shed, didn’t you?” Mr. Croft is not buying Alex’s story.
“Yup, sure did, and we may have added a little water to it when we were running a little low.” She smiles up at him innocently.
“What did I get myself into this summer?” He laughs, shaking his head as he takes a seat with us.
I have grown very fond of Mr. Croft over the last couple of months, and it has been truly amazing to watch my best friend reconnect with her father.
He is such a kind and gentle man, and I can see why the city was slowly killing him.
It’s too bad Alex’s mom drove such a wedge between them for her own personal gain. There was so much wasted time.
Lately, I have been trying to stop that mindset in myself.
Maybe there is no such thing as wasted time, and maybe it is all part of the journey we are on.
My whole life, I have beaten myself up about wasting time.
I should have spent more time with my mom, and I shouldn’t have said no when she’ asked me to go to the store or do mundane errands with her.
After she was gone, I fixated on school, and how I should have spent more time studying.
I felt guilty for doing anything other than school work or working my various jobs.
As the end of the summer is getting closer, I find myself doing the same with Hux.
Six weeks have passed, but how many of those weeks did I actively avoid him, or did we spend our time being riled up by one another’s actions?
This has hardly been the perfect summer romance, but I’m determined to stop living in that concept of wasted time.
Alex and her dad’s playful banter brings me out of my thoughts. I smile as they debate the actual chances of bigfoot’s existence. That’s another thing about Silsby, there are a lot of bigfoot believers.
“So, do you ladies have any plans tonight? I was thinking I could fire up the grill if you were going to be around.”
“Everly has a hot date tonight! But I’m free for whatever you want to cook up.”
“A date, eh? With Nick, I’m assuming?”
“Dad, keep up. Nick is old news; she’s going out with Hux tonight.” Alex wiggles her eyebrows and clicks her tongue.
“Alex!” I swear she is determined to make sure I spend this entire summer embarrassed.
“What? Dear old dad should know if you’re getting cozy with his best friend’s son!” Alex screeches back. Mr. Croft watches me closely with a strange look on his face. I can almost see the words be careful flash behind his eyes but he doesn’t verbalize them.
“Well, I hope you have a good time. If there is anyone who knows the most beautiful spots this area has to offer, it’s a member of the Anderson family.”
I smile at him, silently thankful for letting the subject conclude. This seems like the perfect opportunity to excuse myself, and I head upstairs to change and get ready for the afternoon.