Chapter 9
HENRY
Maisie
Hi, Henry, my friend hijacked my phone last night. Although she was not lying about the bucket list, I do not need someone to help me. Sorry for the confusion!
Confusion aside, what does it take to be invited to this “Maisie’s Fuck It List” summer adventure?
Asking for a friend who was really excited to check items off.
I bite the inside of my cheek as I watch the text bubble pop up and go away a few times.
Though it wasn’t actually Maisie asking me for help, that makes me more determined for her to let me in.
She’s most likely trying to let me down softly, which would kill me.
But I must admit it’s fun to watch her clearly flustered via text bubble.
While she is typing and I wait for the blow, I go to her contact and add a sun next to her name. She’s the epitome of sunshine, bringing a beacon of light into every space she enters.
Maisie
Are you serious?
As serious as one can be about spending their summer with a cute blonde.
(Extremely serious).
It takes a while for her to reply but once she does, I feel butterflies in my stomach, a feeling that doesn’t happen too often.
Maisie
If you’re serious, I’ll be at the park by the lake around noon.
Or if you’re busy, another time can work also.
I’ll see you at noon, Maisie :)
I nearly shoot up from my lying position in bed.
Holy shit.
Holy shit.
Two hours from now I’ll be with the prettiest human in Ruby Lake, hell, in the world. It may just be helping her cross items off a list, but I’m happy to be the one she—well, Wren—texted.
That has to mean something, right?
If someone were to ask me why I feel a magnetic pull to her when she’s around, I wouldn’t have an answer. I wonder the same question myself.
I’ve never believed in love at first sight—not saying I’m in love—but this must be equivalent to that feeling. Right?
Realizing I have no time to waste, I jump out of bed and take a quick shower, the whole time trying to figure out what to wear.
A T-shirt and shorts seem too casual.
Is a sweatshirt and jeans too sloppy?
Washington weather is so unpredictable I can’t even rely on the weather to help me decide what to wear.
Also why do I care so much about clothing?
This isn’t a first date scenario, and I usually don’t stress too much on what I wear, but I would love the opportunity to eventually go on a date with Maisie. I need to give her a good first—well, third—impression.
I wash my hair three times unknowingly, lost in my thoughts. I don't want to fuck this up. I cannot risk messing this up before anything even starts.
She is the most beautiful woman I have ever laid my eyes on. She’s who artists envision when starting a new canvas, and I’m the lucky one who gets to see the real life thing.
I stand under the shower head, water drowning me just like my thoughts of Maisie.
Fuck.
Looking down, my dick is hard. This can’t happen right now, I think to myself as I turn the water on cold in hopes that it’ll go away. I know if I touch myself, it’ll end with Maisie’s name on my lips.
A minute under cold water does the trick as I turn off the shower and wrap a towel around my waist. I end up choosing a crewneck and jeans from my closet along with a baseball hat.
Girls like hats, right?
What if she thinks I’m balding?
I ditch the hat.
I don’t have an appetite to eat but I know I’ll regret skipping breakfast so when I get dressed, I make my way to the kitchen.
The feeling of butterflies spark up in my stomach and a smile creeps on my face—a smile I need to hide as I find Miles already in the kitchen, sitting at the table on his laptop.
“Good morning, sunshine,” I say as I grab a few slices of bread from the cabinet, opting for toast. To no one’s shock, I get a gruff in return. “I know you gave me the day off but I just wanted to double check if you care that I leave in a bit for an hour or so?”
“Got a hot afternoon date?”
“Hot? Yes. Date? I wish.”
He stops typing and eyes me skeptically. “I knew that smile this early in the morning wasn’t normal. Who’s the girl?”
Fuck. My smile outed me.
“Remember Maisie, from Ruby’s the other day?”
“Ah yes, the one you stalked into the coffee shop. Right?”
“Stalked? It was a mere coincidence but yes, her.” I pop both pieces of bread into the toaster and walk to the fridge to grab butter. “She asked me for help with something so I’m going to go meet up with her.”
“She asked you?” His eyebrows raise in shock.
“Is that so hard to believe?” I retort.
“Just keep it in your pants. Everyone here loves her and if you break her heart, you might as well skip town.”
“Wasn’t planning on it, oh wise one.” I roll my eyes as I shut the refrigerator door.
“I’m serious. Her and her family mean a lot to Ruby Lake and you’re leaving at the end of August.” A harsh reminder of the future I don’t have come the end of summer.
“I don’t want her or you to get hurt.” He gives me the same look my dad gives me when he’s concerned but unsure how to show the emotion.
“I don’t plan on being more than friends specifically for that reason. Completely platonic, I promise.”
A promise I hate to keep.
Time does anything but fly by for the next hour.
Nothing can keep my attention away from blonde hair and freckled skin, and believe me I’ve tried everything—watching TV, doom scrolling on my phone… I started sweeping to pass time.
I even triple checked her message to make sure the time was in fact noon and hadn’t magically changed. Though part of me wishes it were sooner so I could see her.
This time last week I had just met Maisie and now I’m eagerly waiting on the edge of my bed to beg her to let me help her with her Fuck It List.
Begging her to let me into her life—friend, or more.