Page 16 of The Summer for Us (Golden Falls #1)

JULIETTE

By the time we were wrapping up dinner, I was already looking forward to the next one. Even though I was the new guest, I was included and at ease the whole night. Well, at least once we sat down.

It was still hard to believe Wesley was Lily’s brother. Typical small town.

Wes and I didn’t exchange another word the rest of the night, but every so often, I’d feel the weight of his stare. I couldn’t figure out why we didn’t click, or why it wasn’t as easy to be around him as it was the rest of the Richards family.

By the end of the night, I’d even become fast friends with Cooper, who offered to buy me a drink when I stopped by Lake Ridge.

Lake Ridge. The words on the baseball cap Wesley had on that first day clicked into place.

I was slowly starting to see the inner workings of Golden Falls and the various connections between residents. Even though a lot of people passed through during the summer, it was the year-round residents who kept the town going.

Like Wes.

It was easy to see the impact the Richards family had in town. Cooper and Eliza, too.

I wanted to be on good terms with Wesley, but that meant figuring out why we weren’t on good terms to begin with. I wasn’t sure I’d ever get answers to that. Me just being here struck a nerve.

Tonight, I’d come to realize there were a few different sides to Wes. The grumpy side, which I was very familiar with. The natural, confident side I’d seen out on the dock. The caring side when he tended to my injury at Hal’s. And the quiet, reserved side from tonight.

He didn’t say much during dinner, but he was listening intently the whole time. His eyes softened when he was speaking with Jade over the phone. He refilled his mom’s water glass and got up when his dad needed something. He had that same fondness when talking to Hal.

He loved and cared about his family.

He loved and cared about this town.

Maybe we could have a restart.

I glanced around the yard and caught sight of Wesley walking through the sliding door into the house and carrying a stack of plates from dinner.

Mark was cleaning the grill while Lily and Laura chatted at the table with me. Admittedly, I’d zoned out as I watched Wes enter the house.

When Cooper said he was going to help Mark clean the grill, Lily batted her eyelashes, an angelic smile on her face. “Actually, Mom got ingredients for s’mores if you wanted to get the fire started, Coop.”

Cooper, Laura, and I burst out in laughter.

“Go ahead and start the fire, Cooper. I’ll go help Mark while Lily delegates.” Laura chuckled with a shake of her head.

“Your future husband is in for a treat, let me tell you,” Cooper said with an amused huff as he stood from his seat.

I assumed he had a lot of years under his belt of being bossed around by both Lily and his own sister.

He made his way down the wooden steps over to the stone firepit Laura and Mark had in their yard below the patio.

“If he even exists! At this rate, I’ll be single forever,” Lily called out, letting out a sigh.

She turned her attention back to me. “I love it here, but the dating pool is slim to none. Most of the guys I’ve either known forever, went on a date and it didn’t work out, or they don’t like cats.

And, yes, that is a dealbreaker!” Lily made a face as she shook her head.

“I’ll have to visit you in Chicago after the summer.

Maybe I’ll find a nice, hot city guy with a cat. ”

I grinned. “Love that idea. I’ll see who I can find for you.”

“I’m holding you to it,” Lily said with a smile of her own. “I’m going to grab the graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows.”

I quickly shook my head. “You stay here. I’ll go grab them. Need anything else from inside?”

“Nope, just that. Everything should be in the kitchen, which will be on your right after you go in through the sliding door. Thanks, Jules!”

When I stepped into the house and followed Lily’s directions, I saw Wes standing at the kitchen sink.

He was rinsing the plates and then putting them in the dishwasher.

I watched how he bent toward the dishwater, muscles flexing in his arms as his long fingers wrapped around the plate.

His jeans hung on his hips, wrapping around his muscular thighs and ass.

I paused. Maybe I couldn’t figure him out, but I could admire him from afar. Just for a moment.

I was grateful Paradise Love hadn’t come up during dinner, because knowing that about me would likely make Wes hate me even more. It would make me seem even more out of place in his town. Or maybe he knew already?

I wasn’t keeping it a secret—after all, I told Lily minutes into meeting her, and it was getting out around town—but I was keeping it close to my chest for now.

I was still trying to figure out how I felt about the whole experience.

On one hand, I had no regrets, because I’d tried something new and out of my comfort zone.

On the other, it was safe to say my life had been flipped upside down and my vulnerabilities aired for everyone to see.

I bet Wes had it all figured out. Maybe that’s why I bothered him so much. Because I had no idea what I was doing, and he had his life put together.

Trying not to dwell more than I already was, I walked into the kitchen.

“Need some help?” I asked as I stood behind him, peering around him to see how many dishes he had left in the sink. “You can rinse and I can put the dishes in the dishwasher?”

He paused what he was doing and turned the water off but didn’t say anything.

I continued, “I know we got off on the wrong foot, but I don’t want to spend the whole summer tiptoeing around you. We’re bound to keep running into each other.” I paused. “We can at least try to be friends.”

“Friends?” he asked hesitantly before shaking his head. “Don’t need any more friends, city girl.”

I held back an eye roll. Of course he would say that.

“Pretty sure it’s scientifically proven that having more than one friend is good for your health. And having only one friend is detrimental to your well-being.”

“I don’t just have one friend,” he grunted, turning around so we were now facing each other and crossing his arms. “I have more than that.”

I tilted my head, crossing my own arms over my chest and taking a few steps forward to close the distance between us. We were standing toe to toe now, and I had to tip my head back to look up at him. “Who other than Cooper? And siblings don’t count.”

His jaw clenched, and I realized I liked getting under Wes’s skin. I liked getting a reaction out of him. If he was going to give me trouble, I was going to dish it right back.

“I’m not looking for temporary friends. You’re only here for a few months, and then you’re leaving.” He shook his head. “Besides, I don’t think I’d be able to be friends with you.”

Ouch . I took a step back. “What’s that supposed to mean?” All of a sudden, all I heard was Tony’s voice in my head. You’re kind of a handful . Did Wes think that, too?

Wes uncrossed his arms and braced his palms on the edge of the counter. “I can’t, Juliette.”

I nodded slowly, almost in a daze. Was I too much? Was that why? I wanted to know what he was so hesitant of, why he wouldn’t give me a chance. The rest of his family liked me.

I mustered a polite smile, finding that the last place I wanted to be right now was the kitchen. “Noted.” I swallowed. “Well, I don’t need any more friends, anyway. I’ll be friends with Lily, Cooper, and Eliza, once I meet her.”

I turned and grabbed the s’mores supplies I had come in here for. As I walked out, I could have sworn he whispered, “Believe me. It’s better this way.”

We ended the night making s’mores and sitting around the fire Cooper started. The heat from the bright flames warmed us on the breezy June night. The sun had long set, and the stars sparkled in the dark-blue sky.

I had two square pieces of graham cracker resting on my thigh—one plain and one with a square of chocolate.

My marshmallow looked perfect—gooey and slightly burnt.

I carefully adjusted my roasting stick to place the marshmallow on the graham cracker with chocolate and used the other graham cracker to help slide the marshmallow off.

I lifted up the s’more to take a bite, humming in delight from the sweetness and various textures. The perfect summer treat.

As I looked up, I met a pair of dark eyes that were already focused on me. It wasn’t the first time tonight I’d looked over at Wesley and he was already looking at me. But…why? Did he want me to leave that badly?

Maybe Wesley didn’t want me here, but I wasn’t going to let him stop me from building a friendship with Lily.

From coming back to the Richards’s house for dinner if I was invited.

From stopping by Lake Ridge. It seemed like everyone else was happy I was here, which was enough for me, because they’d actually taken the time to at least start getting to know me.

Cooper already started to put together a list of beginner trails I should check out during my time here.

“We’re so grateful you were able to join us tonight, Jules,” Laura said, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I looked over at her, a warm smile on my lips. “I had a great time. Thank you for having me.”

“You’re always welcome to stop by. No pressure, but the invitation is always there if you’re looking for some company and food.”

“I’m already looking forward to the next one, so that’s wonderful to hear. I’d love to join again.”

Like I’d told Wesley, I wasn’t going anywhere. For now, at least.