Chapter 21 Sierra
Sierra
We spend the next day tearing down what’s left of the festival, me and Sophie and the whole committee, and anyone else who’s able to volunteer.
Then I spend the evening with Soph at the cottage while she starts packing her things; mostly, we just talk and listen to music and laugh.
I confess to her that I’ve been sleeping with Mason. I tell her how good he’s been to me when we’re together, and she offers me the most priceless advice that a best friend can. “As long as it makes you feel good, enjoy it for all it’s worth. You deserve to be happy.”
The next day, we all come together again to clean up Water Street. And afterwards, the committee gathers in the bar for a celebratory round and a “thank you” dinner, courtesy of the Grant family.
Sophie and I skip out early so that I can help her finish packing up at the cottage. She’s leaving first thing in the morning to catch an early ferry from Nanaimo to Vancouver. Pete and Dirty need her back.
Which means that tonight I’ve organized a little goodbye party in my best friend’s honor with the help of some of our new friends, over at Bev and Bill’s house.
I put on my sexiest little body-con dress, sage green, because Sophie tells me it makes my eyes look like “sex on fire,” and my favorite Kiss her mouth is compressed into a tight line.
“Look, Sierra. I hear what you’re saying,” Mason says gently. “But—”
“Just think about it? Why don’t you both just think about it, and then maybe actually talk about it?”
“There’s nothing to talk about,” June says.
“Mason knows where I stand. I’ve made it very clear.
” She moves toward the door, and I step out of her way.
But she pauses. “Thank you for all your efforts, Sierra. Your energy is . . . admirable. It’s truly inspiring how you’ve come to care about this town.
” She puts her hand on my shoulder, squeezes.
Then she goes back into the house.
My shoulders drop. “Well, that went well.”
Mason sighs. “I’ll talk to her.”
Hope surges through me. “I really think it’s the best thing for the town.
And I think, deep down, you do, too.” I take a step toward him.
Look up into his gorgeous eyes. “Imagine, you could be running a restaurant at the pier, like you wanted to. You just have to open your mind to the idea that June could be involved, that you could do it together. Your businesses are so similar, it makes sense.”
I feel kind of desperate to convince him. To convince them.
I tell myself that it really is what’s best for the town. And what’s best for Mason. What’s best for June, too.
But honestly . . . maybe it’s also a selfish proposal.
Because wouldn’t it be amazing if they asked me to be involved somehow, too?
“I can’t promise anything,” he says. “You know June.”
“Yeah. I know. Just . . . think about it?”
“I will.” He comes closer, slings an arm around me. “You’re a real sweetheart, Sierra Daniels.” Then he kisses me on the forehead.
It’s the last thing he says to me for five long days.
My hope that Mason and June might consider the brilliance in my proposal fades day by day as the week progresses, and I get closer to the end of the month and the day I’ll be leaving Orchard Cove. I don’t hear a word about it from either of them.
I only see June a couple of times, speed-walking about her property, though we barely exchange words. She’s busy. I’m busier than I’ve been since coming to town.
I’m still working on the cottage, replacing some of the decor with cute thrift-store finds from Duncan and Ladysmith and Nanaimo. It’s busier at the smoothie bar without Sophie there, even with the part-time help I’ve brought on.
And yet I still can’t seem to find enough work to do to take my mind off Mason.
Mason, who hasn’t gotten back to me about my proposal.
Mason, who I’ve only seen in passing around town because, at this point, I’m steadily avoiding him.
It’s now Sunday, and the smoothie bar is busy all day.
Since we’re always closed on Monday and Tuesday, and Tuesday is the end of the month, today is Cutie Fruitie’s final day operating in Orchard Cove.
Layne and Kaylie, Trish, Pam and Maria, Jace, Evan, and so many others drop in to thank me for coming to town, to buy a final smoothie, and wish me well.
Mason does not.