Page 26 of The Summer for Us (Golden Falls #1)

JULIETTE

The nap had given me a second wind for the evening.

Once we unpacked the boat, we made ourselves comfortable at Wesley’s house, which looked rustic from the exterior but had a modern feel when you stepped inside.

I loved the tall windows and open floor plan.

He mentioned to me how he made a number of upgrades to the home since moving in and shared how he was most proud of the basement, which included a pool table, dart board, and bar.

The decorations were minimal, which I wasn’t surprised by, but the home still felt welcoming and lived in.

It was easy to lose track of time. We hung out on his back porch, played yard games, and shared our favorite summer memories from over the years.

Most of Lily’s favorite memories had to do with pranks she’d played on her older siblings as a kid, including putting Wesley’s car keys in Jell-O and filling his pillow case with water balloons.

Once the sun started to set, the group began to disperse. Lily wanted to be back in her apartment to keep her cats company since they were afraid of fireworks. Cooper and Eliza wanted to stop by their grandma’s before the day was over.

Which left me and Wes.

He’d surprised me yet again when he asked if I wanted to join him and watch the fireworks from the back porch.

I wasn’t about to say no. His back porch, and the view he had of the lake, was absolutely stunning and so peaceful.

And…maybe I was looking forward to spending more time with him, especially with how nice today had been.

There was some time to kill before the fireworks started, so I stopped back at the cabin to shower and change before meeting Wes back at his house.

I might’ve also stolen his Lake Ridge cap.

“The sky looks beautiful tonight.” I leaned back in the Adirondack chair with a content sigh.

Wes was sitting next to me. He was casually slouched back, and I had to keep myself from thinking about what it would be like to run my fingers through his messy, slightly wet hair or over his stubbled jaw.

To distract myself, I focused on the thousands of stars sparkling like diamonds against the dark sky. “I’ve never seen so many stars.”

“One of the benefits of living in a small town, city girl.” Wesley brought the tumbler of whiskey up to his lips for a sip.

I hadn’t minded the nickname today. It came out gentler than in the past, no longer sounding like a curse.

But it still served as a reminder to both of us that I wasn’t sticking around after the summer.

“I swear, Golden Falls has the best views.”

I brought my knees up to my chest as I shifted in the chair to face him. “So, you’ve lived in Golden Falls your whole life, then? What was that like?”

“I have, yeah. I spent four years down in Madison for college. I appreciated the change of scenery, meeting new people and hearing different ideas and experiences. I wouldn’t change a thing, but it felt too busy for me, which was part of the reason I moved back.

The other part was I knew I wanted to take over Lake Ridge once my dad was ready to sell. ”

“You met new people and enjoyed it?” I asked with mock surprise. “Don’t tell the tourists that.”

“Smart ass,” he muttered, but I caught how the corner of his lip twitched up, fighting a smile.

“I complain about the tourists a lot, but Golden Falls wouldn’t be able to survive without them.

I’m grateful this town can continue to thrive, but I wish the people who visited were more mindful of those of us who lived here year-round.

Took better care of the town, didn’t litter, were careful out on the lake. That kind of stuff.”

“You love this town and want people to respect it. You’re not asking for too much.”

“And I guess I don’t mind meeting new people if I know they’re going to be around. I don’t trust people easily, and sometimes that can come off in the wrong way.” He waited a beat before adding, “I owe you an apology, Juliette. And an explanation.”

I finally looked over at him, tilting my head. “What do you mean? About earlier this summer? We put that behind us already.”

With the whiskey still in one hand, he tapped his other against his jeans.

“I know we did, and I know I left you that note, but I never technically apologized in person, and it’s been bugging me.

Today made me realize I’m glad you didn’t stop trying even when I gave you a hard time.

I’m glad you spent the day out on the water with us, with me.

“The cabin had been empty for a while, and I didn’t realize Lily was renting it out. That used to be one of my responsibilities before my parents passed it to her. A few years ago, I’d rented the cabin out to a travel photographer for a magazine. Gretchen.”

I didn’t have a right to be jealous—and I wasn’t—but my stomach flipped at Wesley’s mention of another woman’s name. I didn’t like how I wondered if he still had feelings for her.

“She spent time in the area on and off for about a year, taking photos of Golden Falls and the surrounding towns in northern Wisconsin.” Wesley let out a deep sigh, and I couldn’t tell what came over him. Sadness? Regret?

“I was different back then,” he continued.

“Less closed off. More open to meeting people. We hit it off immediately, and I don’t know if you’d call what we had a relationship, but we had something.

She wanted it all to be a secret, though.

She told me it was because of her job, which I respected, but then I realized there was more to it.

“She told me she was divorced, but the truth was she was going through a divorce. She was technically still married when we were together, and that’s why she wanted to keep things a secret.

Why she never wanted to meet my family or friends and never wanted to be where people would see us together.

She then said her time with me made her realize she wanted to fix her marriage.

That she wanted a life in the city with her rich husband over a life here.

That I couldn’t offer her anything beyond an escape.

” Wes was looking out at the water but slowly shifted his gaze to me.

“When I saw you with your pink suitcase and all those boxes, I assumed you were running from something, too. And I thought I was even more right when I found out you were on a show. I compared you to her without knowing anything about you, and I’m sorry for that, Juliette. ”

The pieces of our first handful of interactions were clicking into place, and while it wasn’t fair, a sense of relief came over me knowing it wasn’t anything I did.

“I couldn’t figure it out,” I said slowly, “why everyone was willing to give me a chance except you.”

Wes frowned, his eyes softening. “It had nothing to do with you and everything to do with me. I shouldn’t have let my past cloud the future.

You’re the first person I’ve told the full story to,” he said.

“Cooper knows bits and pieces, but I haven’t been able to bring myself to explain what happened.

Explain that things ended because I wasn’t enough for?—”

“Because she wasn’t the right person for you,” I interjected.

“You have so much to offer someone, Wes. You just need to find her, and she’s going to be a lucky woman.

” I firmly believed that as I started to see more of the real Wes.

“What Gretchen did and how she treated you says so much more about the person she is than the person you are.”

He let out a huff, shaking his head. “I don’t deserve your kindness, Juliette.”

“What makes you say that? Of course, you do. You’re a good man.

Maybe we got off on the wrong foot, but you’ve made up for it.

I appreciate you apologizing again and opening up to me.

Things between us are good.” But there was one more thing on my mind.

I swallowed before asking, “Do you…still have feelings for Gretchen?”

“No, I don’t,” he responded quickly, without any hesitation. “The way things ended was frustrating, but even then I knew she wasn’t the person for me.”

I exhaled a breath I didn’t realize I had been holding.

“You seem relieved.” That half-smile of his was back, and he knocked his knee against mine.

I shook my head with a laugh, appreciating how, even though our conversation was raw and vulnerable, there was an ease to it, too. “Only because I’d hate for you to be hung up on someone who doesn’t deserve you.”

“And are you? Hung up on someone who doesn’t deserve you?

” His hand clenched around the whiskey glass before he set it on the side table, flexing his fingers at his side.

I would’ve given anything in that moment to know what he was thinking.

“You were upset earlier today, and no one should be making you feel that way.”

I looked into his dark-brown eyes with golden flecks. Eyes that noticed more than I wanted him to. “I also know a thing or two about falling for the wrong person, but no, I’m not hung up on him.”

After Wes gave me a piece of himself, I wanted to tell him my truth. Maybe I did come to Golden Falls as a distraction, but it’s turned into so much more. “You know that I was on a reality show, right? Do you know anything beyond that or have you read any of the articles?”

“Articles?” He shook his head. “No. I figured if you wanted me to know something, you’d tell me yourself.”

That meant more to me than he realized. I went on to tell Wes about why I’d gone on the show, falling for Tony, the breakup, the audio, my vulnerabilities. How Tony said I was a handful. It all felt like a lifetime ago now.

“And then the same tabloid that ran the article with the audio did an interview with Tony, who said I knew about his intentions from the beginning and was using the show to benefit my career, too. He even said he did me a favor by breaking things off.”

“Fucking bastard,” Wesley muttered. It wasn’t the first swear he said as I recounted what happened. “He didn’t deserve you. If the guy you’re with doesn’t worship the ground you walk on, he’s not it. Plain and simple.” He was clenching his jaw so hard, I thought he was about to crack a molar.

I sighed. “I’m starting to think I trust people too easily.”

“Not a bad thing, but I can imagine that comes with its own challenges. I like how open you are with the people you meet, but not everyone deserves your light.” Goose bumps formed on my skin. The low rumble in his voice both soothed and awakened something in me.

“You don’t think it’s stupid I went on the show? Thinking that things would turn out well?” I untucked my legs and stood, walking over to the deck railing.

He stood, too, bare feet hitting the wooden deck as he took a few steps to stand next to me.

When I didn’t look his way, he reached over and took my chin between his thumb and forefinger, tipping it up.

He slowly moved his fingers from my chin, cupping my face instead and running his thumb over my cheek.

A shiver ran up my spine at the warm contact of his calloused touch.

“You’re fearless, Juliette. I can’t imagine many other people who would pick up their life and sign up to go on a reality show not knowing the outcome.

Or who would pack up their car and drive to a new town.

And fully embrace both experiences.” His gaze searched my face.

“You’ve brought new life into this town.

Golden Falls is better with you in it. And today was one of my favorite days because of you. ”

“Because of me?” It was unusual how quiet my voice was, but I didn’t shy away from it. I wasn’t looking for his approval—I knew I didn’t need it—but I wondered if he felt the connection building between us. “So, you like me, then?”

“It’s impossible to not like you.” His thumb moved along my cheek once more before he dropped his hand.

I grinned up at him, trying not to think too much about the loss of contact. “Oh, really? Impossible?” I teased. “Bet you’ll be begging to be friends with me now.”

And then something truly breathtaking happened.

Wesley’s lips widened into a full smile, his eyes crinkling in the corners. What I would’ve done to capture his smile in a photo. “Sure, baby, I’ll beg if you want me to.”

I let out an airy laugh, speechless. I was glad it was dark out, because maybe that meant he couldn’t see the heat creeping up my cheeks.

He turned to face the railing, and I did the same, looking out at the water. The lake looked different than it did during the day but just as peaceful. I viewed Wesley in a different light now, too. He’d shown me pieces of himself today I hadn’t expected, pieces that helped me understand him.

My palms were wrapped around the railing. He inched his hand closer and hooked his pinky around mine, his dark eyes focused ahead.

As the first fireworks lit up the night sky and crackled above us, I couldn’t tell if the booming I felt was from the bursts of light or if it was my heart pounding in my chest.

I liked Wesley Richards, and that was a problem.