Chapter 38
MAISIE
“Miles actually spoke to you?” Wren gasps while sipping her water bottle as we float on the lake. “As in more than two words?”
We finally have another day off together and decided to take in the hot summer day like old times.
“I was just as shocked as you are but I think he felt… I don’t know…
comfortable around me?” I try to put my thoughts into words but it doesn’t come out quite correct.
“Maybe it’s because he doesn’t know me well so he doesn’t have to worry about being judged,” I say.
“Or maybe it’s because of Henry, so he knows he can trust me.
” I lay back and take in the sun that’s shining down on us.
“He had me help him with some interior ideas for the Inn. I think he had some thoughts he needed to get out too because he opened up about some love life stuff.”
“Oh? Anyone we know?” Wren asks.
“I don’t think so, I think he just needed to get it off his chest.” When I was helping him at the Inn, he briefly told me about Jo.
After our initial heartfelt conversation outside I think he felt comfortable talking to me about the situation.
He didn’t go into much detail, just that he’ll make sure Henry doesn’t hurt me the way he hurt Jo.
“He also had a one on one talk with me about Henry.”
“The man of few words sure has a lot to say.” Wren nods and takes a sip from her water bottle. “What’d he have to say about Henry?”
“Remember our talk a bit ago about just letting go and not thinking too much about the future?” She nods, so I keep going. “Basically he sees the way we are with each other and doesn’t want us to let it go just because of Henry leaving.”
“Thank God,” she rolls her eyes, “someone else sees it.”
I laugh. “What do you mean?”
“I’m happy someone else besides me and your mom see what you two have. It’s something special, almost like you’re twins but minus the incest part.”
“Wren!” I splash water at her with my foot and laugh.
“I’m not one to yuck someone’s yum about kinks if you’re into that, but maybe don’t be.” She wipes the water off her face. “Anyway, you two make me believe the invisible string theory is true because how do two people from different parts of the world—”
“Wren… we live in Washington. Saying ‘the world’ is a bit dramatic,” I cut her off.
“Let me be dramatic. Like I was saying before I was rudely interrupted… How do two people from different parts of the world end up in a town of less than 7,000 people and have this instant attraction?”
“Well, his cousin lives here so…”
It’s her time to splash me. “I need you to see the vision that we all see of you and Henry! An invisible string led him here for you and you can’t convince me otherwise! I might need to tighten that string around your neck so you can finally see it.”
“No harm is needed, but real talk… what happens if we are together and he leaves and it doesn’t work out?”
“But what if it does? The glass is half full too, not always half empty.”
“What happens when we spend possible years doing long distance just for neither of us to want to move?” I question.
“What if you realize you want a change of scenery? What if Henry wants a change of scenery instead and that means being here with you in Ruby Lake?”
My fingers play with the water as I think about what she said.
Wren continues. “I know it’s scary. Life and relationships are scary, but you deserve happiness and love, and Henry probably has a big dick that you deserve too!”
That last comment breaks me of my depressed water flicking but I keep a straight face. “I will not confirm or deny.”
“So you did get dicked down! And you didn’t tell me?” She squeals.
“You hate men and dicks!”
“But I love my best friend getting laid!”
My hands fly to my face as I quickly try to cover the blushing on my cheeks.
“The way you’re feeling right now could be how you feel the rest of your life if you just let Henry in.” She takes a sip of her water again. “Just… think about it.”
“I miss the days where we just did this, lay out in the sun for hours, no responsibilities.”
“We had it so good, little did we know it then. Speaking of us back in the day, you’ve left me out of the loop on your Fuck It List!”
“I told you about the fair!”
“Yeah but there was, what? Three things on that list? You’ve only told me about one!”
“You’re right,” I say. “He took me camping the other day, I just haven’t had time to tell you about it yet. And I still have one more to check off, which is that date.”
“Like that’ll be hard,” she huffs out a laugh. “How was camping?”
“It was amazing. Miles told me today that Henry spent the whole day cleaning up the area of his property that has a small lake just so we had a private place to camp, and close to home in case something went wrong.”
“He went all Bob The Builder for you? Damn… I need to find myself a Barbara The Builder.”
I snort.
“He even bought three tents, one large enough for the two of us or two single tents in case I wanted my own. Same with the sleeping bags, he bought three for the exact same reason.”
“I never thought men could be gentlemen until Henry Bellwood strolled into town.”
“Honestly, same. He invited me over tonight to check off the last item. It’s a bittersweet feeling having this come to an end.”
“Do you think it helped heal your inner child?”
“In a way, yes. It also showed me not every man is like my dad. Not everyone will leave.” I reminisce on how Henry has treated me this summer.
Overcoming my fear of the ferris wheel, taking care of me when I had cramps, creating a camping set up just for us two…
“He helped bring out a side of me I only ever show with you, I became comfortable around him. He’s new and my life didn’t crumble at the change, instead it became better. ”
“I’ve never seen you so… yourself. You’re more free, more spirited. You did this all on your own and Henry was the cheerleader you needed along the way.”
“It’s funny you say that.” I pause. “He also called himself my personal cheerleader.”
A cheerleader that’s made me feel more myself than I ever have.