Chapter 7
HENRY
“I’m back!” I call out walking through the unlocked door to what will soon be the lobby of the renovated Dew Drop Inn. Miles is sitting at a makeshift desk looking through paint swatches.
“What took you so long?” He stands and walks over to grab his coffee. “It’s literally right next door.”
“Remember that waitress from the other day? Maisie?”
He eyes me skeptically.
“She was in front of me in line and we talked for a little bit.” I place his coffee on the desk. “I also gave her my number.”
He pops the straw into his lid. “Didn’t you already give her your number? On the napkin?”
“Yes, but she never reached out.”
“Oh, so you’re harassing her now?”
“That’s not—” I pause wondering if she thinks I’m harassing her. “That wasn’t my intention.”
“Make sure she knows that before you go forcing your number on her again.” He scoffs. “Or anyone else, for that matter.”
“I wasn’t planning on it, or talking to anyone else, really.” Which is true. There’s something about Maisie that makes me want her and only her to take up my time.
Is it the blonde hair that looks softer than a feather?
Is it the freckles that look like constellations across the bridge of her nose and cheeks?
Is it the way she blushes when I’m near her?
Miles points at me like my dad used to when I was in trouble. “I don’t care what you do, just don’t let me walk in on anything, hear anything, or get anyone pregnant, okay?”
“Don’t worry, Daddy.” I slap his shoulder. “Like I said… I wasn’t planning on it.”
“It’s not too soon for me to kick you to the curb.”
“You would never, you love me too much.” My hand flies to my chest, somewhat offended.
“Yeah, yeah. Anyway, back to work.” Miles claps his hands together and walks back around the desk to where I’m standing, laying out the paint swatches in front of me. “Do you think we should stay with the same color scheme or try something new?”
I lean in closer to see what exactly we’re working with. Some match the cream and blue color palette the Inn already has going on and the others are warmer oranges, browns and green.
“Hmm. That depends… Do you want to enhance what you already have or begin something new?”
We sit in silence for a minute, eyes locked on the paint swatches.
“What if we do both?” Miles looks up at me and then back down to the swatches. “We keep the cream and blue that the town knows and loves, but we restore the wood on the tables, trim, desk and all that with a warmer wood stain?”
“I love that idea. You’re still keeping the old roots but making this place your own.”
“It’s settled then. Are you down to drive into town with me this week to grab some new paint? Maybe new wood trim and stain too?”
“I’m here for you, so you get to tell me what I’m doing.” I take a sip of the coffee I got—Maisie’s order—and she must be onto something because it’s pretty good. “What’s the plan for today, boss? Make me your bitch.”
After a long day of taking inventory, we call it a day and head back home. I didn’t realize how exhausted I’d be but I’m not surprised since I haven’t worked a full day shift in a while, unless you count my all night study sessions in school.
Miles stays on the front porch flipping through some paperwork and blueprints, doing whatever Inn owners do. As much as I love being around people, it’s nice to have a bit of alone time, and just overall time to recharge.
“Care if I use the shower?” I step inside, taking off my shoes.
“Go ahead.” His head is buried in whatever the paper in front of him says and doesn’t look up. I just nod and head to my room, grabbing a clean towel and sweats. I can’t wait to get this sweat and dirt scrubbed off my body.
I turn on the shower and let the steam fill up the bathroom as I take off my clothes, tossing them onto the floor and remembering I need to get a hamper.
Staying here in Ruby Lake, even if just for a few days now, has been so nice. The small town vibe and the community is clear as day. Just from breakfast at Ruby’s Diner, to the grocery store trip, to grabbing coffee at Lakeside Grounds, this feels like a place I could be happy in for the long term.
Thinking too far into the future, I can’t help but wonder what’s to come when I leave.
Realization hits me that this could be my last summer before I'm forced to become a real adult, to find my place in this world. I hate to admit defeat and fear—typical man—but I’m scared that I’m not going to find anything I love and fail.
Miles makes it look so easy which is unfair to compare myself to him. He’s worked so hard to be where he’s at and I know I’ll get there one day.
My parents have always had my back. If I called tomorrow, they’d clear out the guest room without a second thought. But I’m twenty-four, and the idea of depending on them again makes me feel like I’m standing still.
The water starts to chill and that’s when I realize I’ve just been standing here alone with my thoughts under the shower head.
I quickly wash my hair with shampoo and conditioner, no five-in-one bottle around here.
Hopping out of the shower, I dry off my hair and body with the towel, wrapping it around my waist. Unfortunately turning off the water didn’t turn off the thoughts in my mind.
College was supposed to be the key to my future, that’s what everyone says growing up right?
Go to college if you want to make money.
Go to college if you want a future.
Go to college if you want to provide for your family.
Do I even want a family or do I just want someone to spend my time with?
What if I never find someone to live life with?
I have no problem with women or men but they always seem to think our friends with benefits arrangement will turn into more even though I make it clear it can’t.
I never allow anyone to get closer than physical with me.
It’s a contradicting thought of wanting more but never allowing anything to go further—maybe I just haven’t found someone I want to know on a deeper level yet.
I thought I have too many times to count, yet I can’t seem to find the answer.
My parents are so in love with one another and have been my whole life; I want that. Is that too much to ask?
Thinking about finding the one has my mind wandering to Maisie.
I want to know her, beyond her glowing face. I want to know why she’s been the constant thought in my head since that morning at the diner. I want to know what about her makes me think I can let someone in close enough to know me.
Maybe it's nothing.
But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't curious to learn more about her.