Page 14 of Sweater Weather (Sapphire Falls Orchard #1)

FOURTEEN

Tilly

T he school buses pull in exactly at noon.

Bells has arranged for all the guests to be picked up at the train station and brought here on the local school buses.

It’s a cheap arrangement for us, and then no one needs to worry about transportation.

As the people pile in, I’m amazed at the diversity—not just in looks, but in gender and age.

She has managed to hit almost every group of people and get them here.

The second they get off the bus, they pull out their phones and record everything.

I have a feeling I’m in the background of a lot of TikToks right now.

Bells makes a little speech as we hand out maps of the orchard—newly improved maps with the new logo, links to our social media pages, and the new website.

As much as I hate to admit it, the improvements to our social pages and website are amazing.

It looks more cohesive and is very user-friendly.

There are fewer phone calls to the main office because there’s even a frequently asked questions page on the site.

All the people disperse, and I head to the barn to keep an eye on the horses.

No one is allowed to ride them this weekend, so I want to make sure no one tries.

“Have you seen that hot-ass blondie? I heard there’s a masc shortage, but God damn,” one woman whispers.

“Tell me about it. I’d like to climb her like a tree, if you know what I mean,” the other says, and they both giggle.

I smirk to myself. It isn’t the first time I’ve been ogled.

But it’s the first time it’s happened while Bells is in earshot.

I don’t know why, but it makes me happy that she knows how people lust over me.

It isn’t like I’m going to fuck some influencer, but I like being admired. I mean, who doesn’t?

“You look happy. You doing okay?” Hattie asks, sneaking up behind me.

“Just taking this all in. It’s more people than I expected,” I admit.

“Bells said it was at least one hundred.”

“I know, but I didn’t think they’d all show up. It’s kind of impressive,” I say.

“Have you told her that?” Hattie raises an eyebrow.

“No. She doesn’t need me telling her she’s doing a good job.” I scoff.

“It doesn’t hurt to hear a compliment sometimes. Especially when it’s a new job and the person you work with has been an ass in the past,” Hattie says.

“I’ve been better!”

“You have. But it wouldn’t hurt for you to tell her she did a good job. You can admit that she surprised you.” Hattie smiles.

“She has. I really thought she was going to turn this place up for profit. I mean, she still could.” I shrug.

“She’s not like that. She’s worked so hard to make this place even better than it was before without getting rid of its core. I know you two had a rocky start, but isn’t it time you put that in the past? Kiss and make up and all that?”

“Oh yeah? Kiss and make up? You sound like Lina.” I roll my eyes.

“We just want you to be happy. And you may not see it, but we see how she lights you up.”

“This isn’t weird for you?” I frown. We don’t talk much about me seeing someone since she told me she had feelings for me. I don’t want to make her uncomfortable.

“No, I thought it might be. At first it wasn’t great, but then I realized all I want is for you to be happy. Even if that isn’t with me, you deserve someone who makes you smile.”

“And this is why you’re my best friend.” I pull her in for a tight hug.

“Excuse me!? I’m in the bakery for one day and you replace me?” Lina teases, walking into the barn.

“What are you doing here?” I laugh.

“I thought you were working the bakery?” Hattie says, confused. The electrician pulled a miracle, and since there was just an old fuse blown, he was able to repair it rather quickly. The bill was insane, but we’ll make it all back in a day or so.

“I just came to bring you both some breakfast. Treats are going quickly, so I wanted to make sure you both ate.” She hands us each a brown paper bag. I can smell the cinnamon and apples, making me hope it’s one of the apple turnovers I love.

“Thank you,” Hattie and I say in unison.

“Of course. Come see me later. I gotta get back.” She hurries off toward the bakery, and we open the bags. Sure enough, inside is a warm apple turnover covered in cinnamon sugar.

I take a bite and moan. Hattie’s eyes flutter to mine, but quickly catching herself, she looks away.

I don’t mean for it to sound sexual, but holy shit it’s good.

Everything Lina makes is good, but these are my favorite.

If I don’t have an energy drink this morning, I might follow her back to the bakery for a fresh cup of coffee.

Hattie takes a bite of her pumpkin scone, and I make a face.

I am not a pumpkin spice person. I don’t understand how people call it pumpkin spice when there’s never any real pumpkin in it.

Half the time it’s the taste of nutmeg. Plus, I don’t care for the taste.

But Hattie loves it; she drinks pumpkin-flavored coffee year-round.

“Tilly? Can you help me with something?” Bells’s voice startles me from my thoughts.

I nod, unable to speak with the turnover in my mouth. Finishing the last bite, I follow quickly behind her. She’s walking faster than normal, so I can tell she needs me to keep up. When I can speak without choking, I ask what’s up.

“I totally forgot about the gift bags we’re giving out, and I need help getting them out of the storage closet. Can you help?”

“Of course.” I nod. She looks nervous, which makes sense. A lot is riding on her today.

“Okay, it’s in here, but they’re on the top shelf, and they’re too heavy for me to lift over my head.

” She frowns, and we both step into the walk-in closet in the main building.

It’s where we sell tickets and where the bathrooms are, so right now it’s fairly empty.

I step into the closet behind Bells as she flicks on the light and points out the boxes.

I reach for the two boxes and put them on the floor.

They’re a little heavy, so I’ll only be able to take one at a time, but it should be fine.

“Can you get the door?” I ask Bells as I pick up the first box.

“Sure.” Bells nods, but when she twists the door handle, it doesn’t move. “What the…”

“Is it jammed?” I put down the box to investigate.

“It’s not opening,” Bells says in a voice clearly trying not to panic.

I twist the handle myself, and sure enough, it isn’t budging. It must lock automatically from the outside, and we are trapped. I don’t know how to tell Bells that without her freaking out.

“We seem to be trapped, but we can call Hattie, and she’ll have us out in a moment,” I say. Maybe providing her with the solution along with the problem will help.

“Sure.” Bells nods, but I can tell by the look on her face and her wide eyes that she’s still freaking out.

I pull out my phone to call Hattie, but I have no service. I try anyway, hoping it’ll magically connect, but it doesn’t even let the phone ring. Shit. Now I really don’t have good news. I try texting her instead, hoping by some miracle that it will send.

“Do you have service?” I ask quietly.

Bells’ eyes widen, and she pulls out her phone. “No.”

“Okay, well, I tried texting Hattie, but until we have service there’s not much we can do. I’m sure Hattie will come get us eventually.” I try to reassure her.

Bells starts breathing heavily, and before she has a panic attack and passes out in here, I grab her hand. After helping her sit down on the stack of boxes, she looks at me, and I try to think of something calming to say.

“I think you do a really good job with the event today.”

Bells laughs. “Ha! You didn’t even want it to happen.”

“I know, and that’s why it kills me to even admit that. But if this many people can show up for a free day, imagine who will show up when we have some big events going on.”

“I tried telling you that.” She cracks a smile. I take a seat across from her, not letting go of her hand.

“I know, but sometimes I have a hard time seeing what’s in front of me,” I admit.

Bells pauses, and I can feel the tension between us.

It’s as raw and tight as it was the night we met.

Her cherry-red lips are begging to be kissed.

Her hand wraps around mine tightly, and we don’t break eye contact.

Her hazels warm to my own as I smile. Maybe my friends are right—maybe she isn’t so bad.

And maybe there’s something between us after all.

Because in this moment, the only thing I want to do is lean in and kiss her.

Maybe fuck her against the wall and have her begging me to cum.

She stares at my lips and then back at my eyes.

Her breathing is steady again, nowhere near nervous territory anymore.

Meanwhile, I can feel my own heart beating out of my chest. She’s lighting a fire in me I’m not sure I want put out.

For months I’ve thought that fire is because I’m angry for Benny leaving her the orchard.

But maybe I’ve mistaken that fire that is so clearly desire for anger.

Now that the anger is gone, I can see Bells in a whole new light.

I lean in, just an inch, to see if this is what she wants.

I don’t want to try to kiss her and have her slap me or something.

But she moves closer too, her lips pouty and perfect.

I reach up, pushing some of her curls out of her face.

Then I leave my hand there, holding her chin, and gaze into her eyes.

RING! RING! RING!

My phone rings, jolting the two of us apart. I jump up and answer the call.

“Tills? Where are you? I need help!” Hattie says from the other end.

“Hattie! We’re stuck in the storage closet at the main building! Come quick, please!” I say as quickly as I possibly can. I don’t know how long I’ll have service or if it’ll cut out.

“We? Who’s with—” The phone cuts out.

“Hattie? Hattie?” I say, but it’s no use. My phone says call failed, and she’s gone.

“Was that Hattie?” Bells asks quietly.

“Yes. She should be on her way,” I say.

“Good. We have a lot to do.” Bells’ cheeks are as red as her lips, and she avoids eye contact with me. Gone is our moment, gone is feeling like there are no other cares in the world.

Fifteen minutes later, Hattie is there with the backup set of keys to let us out.

Bells takes off as soon as the door opens, and I’m left moving boxes with Hattie.

She looks at me quizzically, but I guess she can read my mood well enough to know I don’t want to talk.

I don’t know what I’m feeling, and I don’t want to think about it right now.