Page 19 of The Summer for Us (Golden Falls #1)
JULIETTE
Wesley
Heard you needed help picking up something from the thrift store?
Me
Wow, word really does travel fast in a small town.
Wesley
Helps when you have a sister who doesn’t stop talking.
Me
Okay, rude. That’s my bestie you’re talking about!
But yeah…I actually could use the help. :)
You don’t mind?
Wesley
Not at all.
Me
Could we go later this week? We can stop by the thrift store in the morning and drop the items off at Lily’s after her morning rush?
Wesley
Sounds good to me.
Me
Always so chatty. :)
Wesley
Funny.
Me
:)
My fingers tapped the tops of my bare thighs, right under where the skirt of my dress ended, as I sat in Wesley’s truck.
We were on our way to Lily’s after stopping at Golden Finds, the local thrift store.
We picked up the loveseat, a side table, and a few other decorations I’d spotted on my last visit.
Layla, the owner, had been nice enough to set the items aside for me, making for an easy pick up.
I had the decor in a bag at my feet and the two pieces of furniture were in the bed of Wes’s truck.
I was incredibly grateful for his help, because I wasn’t sure how else I would’ve gotten the loveseat over, and it was perfect for the café.
Things between Wes and me were better today than our first handful of interactions, but I sensed something was bugging him.
He was trying but still keeping his distance.
At least today things seemed less tense, but maybe it also helped that we weren’t exactly talking.
Wes wasn’t very chatty, and I tried not to take it too personally.
Even when we met with Layla, who Wes knew well, I had done most of the talking.
I’d asked how long she’d lived in Golden Falls, how she started thrifting, and when she had opened the store.
I realized Wes was friendly, but he wasn’t outgoing. He preferred listening and didn’t want to make things about him, which was also how he’d been at the Richards family dinner.
I, on the other hand, didn’t do great with silence. I didn’t mind it if I was with someone I was comfortable with, and while Wesley didn’t make me uncomfortable…I didn’t exactly feel at ease around him. I wanted to know something about him.
“What’re you thinking about?” I blurted.
We were at a stoplight, and he glanced over at me, eyes briefly flicking down to the hem of my dress before meeting my gaze. He rubbed the stubble on his jaw, shaking his head. “Just trying to focus on driving.”
He looked so carelessly casual with one hand draped over the steering wheel, the other hanging out the open car window.
“You must be thinking about something ,” I challenged.
He huffed out a laugh. “I mean, one of the things I was thinking about is when I’ll be able to get out on the water. Things have been so busy at Lake Ridge that it’s been hard to take a day off. Usually, I would’ve gotten out there a handful of times by now.”
“You have a pontoon tied to your dock. Is that what you usually take out?” I thought back to how relaxed and at ease he looked out on the dock.
“Yeah, if there’s a group of us going out.
If it’s just me, I usually take out the jet ski or the kayak.
But as long as I’m out on the water one way or another, I’m not picky.
Good place to think. Take in the nature.
” He paused, hesitating. “We usually take the boat out for the Fourth. You should join us.”
I raised my brows. At first, I wasn’t sure I heard him right, but when he added, “think about it,” I realized I hadn’t hallucinated. Maybe we could both exist in the same town for the summer.
“I’d love to,” I responded quickly, not needing time to think about it. If he was putting in the effort, so would I. Plus a day out on the water sounded nice. “Will you let me know the details? Or should I ask Lily?”
“I’ll text you.”
“Careful, or we’ll be texting regularly,” I teased, reaching into my bag to pull out my phone to text Lily that we were getting closer to the café. “And see, you were thinking about something.”
A low grumble escaped his lips as he hummed. “I was thinking about a couple things.” I felt Wesley’s eyes on me, but by the time I finished typing out my message and looked over at him, his gaze was back on the road.
“I’m so excited to see it all come together!
It’s already looking great,” Lily said with a bright smile as I approached the counter.
The aroma of cinnamon, freshly baked pastries, and rich coffee when you entered Purrfect Blend was welcoming and inviting, like you were getting a warm hug.
I immediately eyed the pastries and mentally picked out which ones I’d buy on my way out.
“Me, too. I’m glad I was able to swing by yesterday to take care of the prep ahead of getting the new pieces in today.”
“The loveseat is going to look so good in the other room. I’m so glad you were able to get transport all figured out.”
I playfully narrowed my eyes at her. “I’m pretty sure you got it all figured out for me. Wes texted me about it. He’s out parking the truck.”
Her lips pulled into a mischievous smile. “So, you’re texting my brother now, huh? That’s an interesting development. I don’t remember giving him your number.”
“He had my number already. When he left the flowers on the porch, he’d also left his number, so I texted him as a thank you. And we sort of cleared the air? Or at least decided to start over.”
“Wait a second. Back up.” Lily raised her hand. “He left you flowers?” Lily’s lips parted in disbelief.
“In a flower planter! Not a bouquet or anything,” I added quickly. I hadn’t thought to mention it to Lily and also assumed she knew when she’d pushed Wes to help me.
“That’s…well, that’s good.” Lily nodded. “I was worried after dinner he’d continue putting his foot in his mouth. And he still might, but at least this means he’s come to his senses that he was being a jackass.”
I shook my head with a laugh. No arguing with that.
Her face softened slightly. “He didn’t know I was renting out the cabin this summer, so he’s been a bit on edge since your arrival.
It has nothing to do with you. He used to be the one who managed the rental, and a couple summers ago rented it out.
I don’t really know what happened, but he was different after that. ”
“What do you—” As if right on cue, the door swung open. And there was Wes standing in the doorway.