Chapter 10
ten
FINN
I ’m back in Lake Starlight, but this time, I’m alone. Tamra was supposed come, but she had a last-minute business emergency she had to stay behind to deal with. I’m not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing, given my history with Harper.
Though it was awkward as fuck between Harper and me, having Tamra around was a buffer. Especially when it came to my attraction to Harper. Tamra’s presence was a constant reminder of why I shouldn’t be checking out Harper and replaying the way she rode me that night over and over in my head.
Now that it’s just the two of us this weekend, I suspect it will prove more difficult to keep my mind from wandering.
Because of course, we’re meeting at a romantic restaurant in town to try the menu for our rehearsal dinner.
According to Harper, Terra & Mare is the fanciest restaurant in Lake Starlight, and it’s the vibe that Tamra wants.
The irony that Tamra wants to get married in the quaint little town of Lake Starlight because of its ambience, and yet she wants everything about the wedding to be formal and high end, is not lost on me.
I step into the restaurant and brace myself. Harper is already seated at a table near the window. She gives me a tight smile then looks behind me, probably expecting to see Tamra. When she realizes I’m alone, she frowns.
She’s wearing another green top that sets off the deep red of her hair, making her a beacon guiding me across the restaurant.
“Hey.” I sit in the chair opposite her.
“Is Tamra running behind?” Maybe I’m imagining the hope I see in her eyes mixed with terror that we’ll be having dinner just the two of us, but I don’t think so.
“Tamra had to stay back in Vermont unexpectedly. Something came up with work.”
Tamra is in IT and is trying to get an app off the ground, so she’s constantly working. Her work was the reason we drifted apart originally. She’s never around and rarely put any importance on us. Eventually, we broke up until we came up with our plan.
“So, it’s just the two of us this weekend?”
“Yep.”
“Awesome.” Her tone suggests it’s anything but.
My shoulders sag. “I’m sorry this is so awkward. I’m going to tell you again. I really did think things were over between Tamra and me.” I wish I could tell her the lie I’m living—the words are on the tip of my tongue—but if I tell Harper the truth, and she tells anyone else, it ruins my family.
“Do you regret it?” The vulnerability in her voice is like a quick knife to the chest.
With that, at least, I can be honest. “Only that it hurt you.”
She mumbles something under her breath.
I lean forward. “What?”
Harper stares at me for a beat, and there’s a glimmer of tears in her eyes. She opens her mouth to say something, but before she can, the waitress steps up to the table, welcoming us and asking if we’d like something to drink.
I motion across the table for Harper to order first. “Oh, um… I’ll just stick with my water.” She holds up the glass in front of her and gives the waitress an awkward smile.
“No wine?” I’m surprised. I’m not sure I saw her without a wine glass at the rehearsal or wedding.
“Trying to cut back.” Her lips press together.
I give my attention to the waitress. “Sparkling water if you have it.”
“Coming right up. Colin said to let you know he’ll be bringing out the samplers for the first courses shortly.”
“Thank you.” Harper nods, then turns her attention to me. “Nothing to drink for you either?”
I shift uncomfortably in my seat. It’s not that I’m embarrassed, but me not drinking isn’t a topic I love talking about. I could chalk it up to a long travel day, or not being in the mood, but for some reason, I want Harper to know. “I’m an alcoholic.”
She blinks a few times, eyes wide. “Oh. Wow, sorry I wouldn’t have asked if I’d known.”
I shrug. “Don’t apologize. Been sober for four years.”
“That must have been difficult.” She reaches for her water again.
“It was. But no more difficult than waking up each morning wondering what the hell had gone on the night before, or if I did happen to remember, being embarrassed about something I said or did.”
The corner of her lips tips. “Huh, so tipsy wasn’t the reason you took me to your room that night?”
God, is that what she thought? “No.”
She doesn’t say anything but takes another sip from her water.
The waitress interrupts with a bottle of sparkling water and an empty glass. She sets the glass on the table and pours the water from the bottle, setting it to the side when she’s done. “Food will be out in a minute.”
“Great, thanks.” Harper looks at me. “Now that we’ve gotten all the awkward stuff out of the way, let me tell you how it’s going to work tonight. Each course will be served with a variety of options, and you just have to decide which ones you prefer.”
I lean back in my seat. “Sounds easy.”
“Should be, but trust me, the food here is delicious, and it’s going to make your job hard.”
I chuckle. “Well, I look forward to the difficult task.”
We share a smile over the table, and for the first time since I returned to Lake Starlight, the easy, relaxed feel between the two of us from that night has returned.
Again, I swear Harper looks as if she wants to say something, but an older gentleman approaches the table with two plates in hand and sets one down in front of each of us.
“Hey, Colin, how are you?” Harper asks.
“Living the dream, you know how it is.”
Harper smiles a genuine smile, one I miss being on the receiving end of. “Finn, this is Colin. He’s been the sous chef for my uncle Rome for decades. Colin, Finn. He’s a client of mine. His lovely bride couldn’t make the trip.”
I nod and reach out to shake his hand. “Good to meet you, Colin.” My head whips in Harper’s direction. “Wait. Your uncle owns this place? Does one of your family members own every business in town?”
“Pretty much.” Colin laughs.
“I mean, statistically speaking, with the number of people in my family, it’s not that surprising.” She shrugs playfully.
“So…” Colin interrupts. “I saw on Buzz Wheel that Palmer is pregnant.”
“She is. Isn’t it so exciting?” Harper claps her hands in front of her.
“She is?” I ask. I had no idea. Hudson hadn’t told me.
“I’m sure you’re pumped. I know how close you are to Adley,” Colin says.
“She’s going to be the cutest big sister.”
I allow them to go back and forth, Harper very relaxed with Colin, and Colin seeming to know more about her life than me.
“What’s Buzz Wheel?” I ask.
Colin shakes his head with a grin. “Harper can explain that one to you, but first, let me tell you what you have in front of you.”
He goes on to explain each of the appetizers on our plate and tells us to let him know if we have any questions. We thank him, and he ventures back into the kitchen.
“So, what’s this Buzz Wheel thing he’s talking about, and why is it talking about Palmer being pregnant?”
“Just one of the perks of small-town life.” She rolls her eyes.
“It started a long time ago and was basically a gossip blog. Nowadays it’s an app that churns the Lake Starlight rumor mill.
People can send gossip in and include pictures if they like, and it refreshes every day. You never know who’s watching.”
My mouth drops open. “Are you serious? That sounds horrific.”
She shrugs. “It sounds invasive, but honestly, it’s a small town. If you’re the topic at hand, then yeah, it sucks. But if you’re the one reading, it tends to be entertaining. Depends which side of the fence you’re on.”
I can’t imagine having all my shit out there for anyone to read. Then I realize…
“They didn’t report anything… about us, right?”
Harper laughs, and I watch the easygoing facade slip off her like the bridesmaid dress she wore the night we slept together.
“Don’t worry, Finn. Your dirty little secret is safe with me.”