Chapter 35
HENRY
“Long time, no see,” Miles announces as I unlock the door to the Inn.
“I leave for one night and now you miss me?” I reply sarcastically, walking to the front desk where he’s rummaging through paperwork. “What’s the plan today, boss?”
“I have painters coming in about an hour. I decided I’d rather pay someone to do that than fuck it up ourselves.”
“Fair point.”
“We got a huge shipment over the weekend of pillows, comforters, sheets and all that stuff, and I just need help taking inventory, if you don’t mind.”
“I went to school for numbers, I’m down for the count.” I wink and he rolls his eyes but I see a smile on his face at my joke, so I call that a win.
We spend the next few hours counting inventory. Another shipment of towels and toiletries come in so we decide to knock that out too and make sure those numbers are all correct.
“How was your night with Maisie?” Miles asks. “Skip the shit I don’t want to hear from my cousin.”
“You don’t want to hear about how hard my dick was?” I joke just to get under his skin.
“That’s what I get for asking.” He huffs. “But seriously, what’s going on between you two, and don’t say you’re friends because all of Ruby Lake knows that’s a damn lie.”
“I don’t know.” I sigh. “Miles… I really like her. Like really like her and I don’t know what to do with that.
I know if I was staying, I would make her my girlfriend without hesitation but knowing I’m leaving…
I can’t do that to her. Thinking about leaving and the thought of her with anyone that isn’t me… I hate it.”
“Why can’t you do long distance? You’ll live like what, three to four hours away?”
“But what happens when she wants to stay and I can’t leave Seattle?”
“But what if she wants to leave or you find a way to stay? There’s always a positive to every negative.”
“I know you’re right.” I sigh. “As honored as I am to be here and help you, she’s really made this summer one I’ll always remember.
” I think about my lunch breaks at Ruby’s Diner just to see her, the many times we’ve ran into each other at Lakeside Grounds, how welcoming her friends and family are to me—she’s becoming a constant in my life.
“I’m scared that I’m falling in love with her while also being scared about ruining the friendship we have. ”
“I don’t think the things you guys are doing should be considered friendly.” He chuckles, breaking the seriousness of this conversation. “I think you guys should talk about your feelings, I don’t want what happened to me to happen to you.”
“What happened anyway? I’ve never known you to fall this deep for a girl.”
“I did what you’re doing and I don’t want you regretting letting her go thinking it’s what’s best. I let Jo go.
Actually ghosting her, which is worse, thinking that’s what was for the better and not thinking about what I wanted.
” I hear a heavy breath leave him. “Even if it was just a weekend, I’ve never met someone like her. ”
“I’m sorry,” I sympathize. “Sometimes when we let things go, they come back to us. Maybe that’s the universe’s plan for you.”
“Yeah, maybe,” he sighs, “but less about me, back to you.”
“We have one more item to check off his bucket list.” I remember. “Maybe I’ll bring it up then. Being more than friends.”
“I think you should. The worst thing that could happen is she doesn’t reciprocate your feelings, but I don’t think that’s how it’ll end. At least from how I’ve seen you two around each other."
“Thank you,” I say. “I think I needed this conversation.”
“What are best friends for if not calling you on your bullshit?”
“So we are best friends!” I grin, and he huffs with a smile on his face.
“All that aside, I think I’m going to post some ads for job openings in the next week or so.
” Miles changes the subject. “I need housekeepers, a receptionist, and a bookkeeper to start. Probably some other positions I haven’t thought of yet.
I’d do the books myself but I feel like I’ll have too much on my hands for that. ”
“I think that’s a good idea, especially since we’re almost done.”
“Speaking of almost done, have you been looking at jobs during your down time?”
“I’ve applied to some and haven’t heard back. I don’t know,” I sigh, “being here makes me wonder if staying in the city is what I really want, you know?”
“You know I’ve always hated the city, which is why I stayed here when my parents moved out there,” he mumbles something about their divorce under his breath that I barely hear. “I have this even more negative connotation with it now.”
“When was the last time you talked to them?” I ask.
“Don’t know and don’t really care to know how long it's been.” He shakes his head. “I just can’t believe my dad cheated on my mom and she knew and did nothing about it. She stayed put as he was fucking other women. Who does that?”
“How do you know that she knew?”
Miles rolls his eyes and scoffs. “She told me, and then would cover up his lies to make him sound like a good person.” His shoulders tense the more he speaks, this clearly has taken an emotional toll on him. “A good person wouldn’t fuck over his family like this, and a good person wouldn’t lie.”
“I’m really sorry,” I say. “You know you can talk to me, you never need to bottle up your feelings.”
“I know, thank you.” He scratches the hair on the nape of his neck. “It, uh, felt nice to get some of it off my chest.”
I slap his back. “I’m serious, whether I’m here or not, you know I’m always just a phone call away.”
“Love you, Hen. Seriously.”
“I love you, too. Wanna go grab a coffee? Get some fresh air.”
“Sure, let me go put this paperwork away real quick.”
When he comes back we walk next door to Lakeside Grounds. It’s pretty busy for it being the middle of the week but we’re able to find a table outside on the patio.
As we’re talking about some final touches for the Inn, I watch Miles’ face turn up at the same time a hand rests on my shoulder. Turning around, I see Elaine's smiling face greeting us.
“Hi, boys,” she waves to Miles, “I thought I saw y’all as I was driving past.”
“Hi, Ms. Winslow,” Miles greets at the same time I say, “Hi, Elaine!”
“First name basis, huh?” Miles mumbles under his breath.
“Shut up,” I say, and Elaine chuckles.
“I wanted to see if you guys were free any Sunday night coming up,” she asks. “We do our family dinner on Sundays and though I know you two aren’t technically family, I wanted to invite you two over.” She eyes Miles specifically. “You too, Miles.”
“That sounds wonderful, Ms. Winslow,” Miles responds, and I’m shocked that he isn’t coming up with an excuse not to go.
“We will see you then, anything we should bring?” I ask.
“Just bring your two selves and an empty stomach! It’s pesto gnocchi night!”
“Sounds delicious, I can’t wait,” I reply.
“I gotta run back to work but I appreciate you giving me your time.”
“Bye, Elaine.” I smile and Miles waves at her as she heads toward the direction of Ruby’s Diner.
“Thank you again for making me go to her birthday party the other night,” Miles confesses. “I ran into some buddies from high school that I hadn’t seen in a while. It was nice to catch up.”
“As long as they don’t steal my title of being your best friend.” I laugh. “Do you remember when we were like seven and made each other sign contracts that we would always be each other's best friend?”
“I totally forgot about that, clearly it worked well enough.” He chuckles back. “They invited me to go to the bar in the town over next weekend, you’re more than welcome to come.”
“I think Maisie has Saturday and Sunday off next week so I was planning on taking her on an actual date.”
“Wine and dine, huh?” He lifts his brows.
“Something like that.” I laugh. “Speaking of, if you’re going to be out, do you care if she comes over and we use the kitchen? There aren’t many restaurants to choose from so I figured I would cook instead.”
“As long as you clean up after yourself.” He raises his eyebrows, and I get the hint.
“Don’t worry, I’ll use protection.” I wink.