Page 56 of Baby, It’s You (Clairesville #1)

Hunter

Six months later

T he weather is starting to warm up again, finally.

This winter felt never-ending; there was even some snow up on Jewel Mountain this year.

I head out of my house and smile over at my garden as I pass; the flowers have started to bloom.

I look over at the extra petunias I planted last week and think about her.

It’s been seven months since I’ve seen or heard from Olive and there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of her.

Eddie told me a few months ago that he drove by Whiskey’s and the bar was open.

He went inside and said Olive was running it.

She told him that Jane gave the bar to her in her will.

I was thrilled for Olive, hearing this, but I can’t lie that I wasn’t also hurt.

Knowing she has been in town and that she hasn’t even bothered to reach out to me crushes me.

I haven’t worked up the courage to visit her.

I can’t handle the pain of seeing her at this point.

It’s obvious that the love I have for her isn’t reciprocated anymore.

I haven’t wanted to travel as much recently, so I’ve started taking on local filming gigs.

I've shot some commercials for local businesses and even filmed a few weddings.

I have enjoyed the slower pace of the work.

I was losing my spark trying to stay busy working for brands after Olive first left.

My heart wasn't in any of it. But the feeling of helping a mom and pop shop with their advertising, or recording a couple’s most important day, like their wedding, has given me a sense of purpose again.

After we finished the video series on Whiskey Jane’s, I was lost for a while.

I felt like what I was filming was meaningless in comparison to what we did for the bar.

So when my mom told me that her friend’s daughter was getting married but couldn’t afford anyone to film it, and asked if I would do it, I took a chance.

I sat there in awe behind the camera as I watched a young couple pour their hearts out to each other, the raw vulnerability of the moment.

They expressed their love in front of everyone, and it inspired me.

I finally felt passionate about filming once more.

I wanted to chase that feeling again so I started getting the word out to people and sure enough, I’ve been able to take many local projects on.

Right now, I’m headed to Bricks to talk with Savannah about shooting a commercial for the restaurant.

She told me she has a few ideas, so she is going to meet with me instead of her dad, even though he's the owner.

I told her, “No problem.” Savannah has always been kind to me, just a little intense with her flirty eye contact at times.

I roll all my windows down and shuffle my playlist. “Heart in a Cage” by The Strokes starts playing as I leave my neighborhood.

I pass Mrs. Bodart walking Pebbles on the side of the road and give her a wave.

She gives me a curt nod and continues her walk.

She hasn’t seemed to like me ever since the night Eddie drunkenly yelled on his birthday in front of my house. The night I met Olive.

No matter what I do, everything brings me back to her. A flower, a funny story, a handwritten note, butter , for god's sake. I can’t get away from thinking about her. I try to switch my brain into work mode as I pull up into the parking lot of Bricks and shut off my truck.