Page 11 of Waiting for You (Balsam Cliffs #3)

For the first time in a long time, Monday doesn’t feel like a blanket of dread coming down on me.

I celebrated this win with all my friends over the weekend. Friends that are genuinely happy for me.

The bell over the door dings, and I see my favorite little girl’s face light up as she sees me.

“Say ‘ Hi, Aunty Eve !’” Emma gushes at my niece, Olivia.

“Good morning, beautiful girl!” I get up from my desk and rush over to take her from Emma.

This is the best part of being back. I’ve loved getting to see Olivia more than the once a month I was seeing her. I smother her chubby little cheeks with kisses.

“How the heck is she cuter every time I see her?”

“It’s gotta be witchcraft so I overlook her complete lack of sleep.” Emma says, emphasizing her words with a yawn.

“Oh no, are you not sleeping, beautiful?” Olivia only giggles in response.

At eight months old we’re waiting for her first word and her first steps. I’m waiting for Aunty to be her first word over Dada. I want the bragging rights.

Emma lays out a blanket with toys for her to sit on. I place her down and she happily finds a giraffe squeak toy to chew on.

I frown. “Is that an actual dog toy?”

Emma laughs at me. “No! It’s a teething toy. And your girl has some big ones coming in right now. Hence, the no-sleeping.”

“Need me to take her for a bit so you can nap? Or for the night?”

“That sounds great. But today we’re here to help you with this Harvest Festival.

Later you can take her so I can nap. Maybe I could just curl up right there on the floor while you work.

” She eyes the blanket with her eyes already half closed and for a second I wonder if she’s kidding or really thinking about it.

She shakes her head and rubs at her eyes, opening them wide after.

“So. What are we doing? What’s the plan?”

“Well. Nothing really fun screams insurance.” I roll my eyes. “So, I thought about just doing a kid’s game and handing out candy. I’ll have some brochures on the table for the parents, and this will be the big official announcement that I’m taking over for Mr. Darnell.”

“What game are you thinking?” She pulls out her phone, typing. “I am pulling up Pinterest right now to find something cute.”

“Oh! I already found a game! Look.” I turn my phone towards her so she can see.

It’s a bowling set so they can use the small mini pumpkins to ‘bowl’ and then they’ll get to pick a piece of halloween candy.

“I ordered the pins and I’ll grab some mini pumpkins at the end of the week.

Liam is going to bring a piece of plywood for the bowling alley lane. ”

“Oh that’ll be so cute. The kids will love it. Treating the Harvest Festival as an announcement is good too. A lot of these people already use Mr. Darnell. You might be able to pick up a few of the tourists who have second homes though with your charming personality.” She smiles at me.

“That would be great. But for right now I’ve got enough going on.” Mr. Darnell may have treated the people of Balsam Cliffs right, but his office is a disorganized mess from the dinosaur era. Not one thing in this office is digital. That’s my first goal.

Emma looks around at the stacks of papers everywhere. “I’d say so. What is your plan?” She yawns again.

“Okay that’s enough working. I think you need a nap.”

“Nooooo. I wanted to have some girl talk! It’s all I could think about last night while I was awake at every hour. Like how Hunter couldn’t keep his eyes off you.” She waggles her eyebrows.

“It’s nothing. He just realized I was staying here, and now that he’s made nice with Rome and our secret is… mostly out, he needs to be nice to me too. That’s all it is.”

“Except you're forgetting that he’s my brother. I saw how he was watching you. And I heard there was a moment you maybe fell in his arms.”

My eyes go wide at the memory. I was hoping I was daydreaming it, and it didn’t actually happen. Because if that is true, then me admitting that I compare men to him is also true, and mortifying.

“Ugh. I was drunk. Who are you getting your gossip from? Sounds like they maybe had a few too many too.”

“It was Coop. Probably true though.” Another yawn.

“Seriously you’re making me tired and I got the required eight hours. Go home, take a nap. I’ll bring her back in a couple hours.”

“Are you sure? That’s not why we came by.”

“I’m one hundred percent sure. I’ll take her for a walk to the park then I’ll bring her to Rebels to drop her off and grab dinner.”

Emma jumps into my arms. “I could kiss you! I just need an hour.” She looks at her watch. “Maybe an hour and a half so I can shower too.”

“I’ll give you two hours. Go.”

She rushes out to grab the stroller from the car and drops it off inside before taking too many minutes of her two hours to say goodbye to Olivia.

“Well, it’s just me and you, Livvy Girl. At least you won’t pry into my love life.” She blows a raspberry at me in response over the giraffe’s head that is dripping with drool.

This is why I’m here. Not anything to do with Hunter. I don’t even need Hunter if it was. I’m here to be on my own, build my business and spend time with my family.

But I will take the eye candy that comes in the flavor of Hunter Keaton.

Margaret and Esther have it out for me. Or Violet and Emma. Or all four of them, in truth.

My booth is somehow directly next to Hunter’s. Emma and Violet thought it was hysterical. I however, did not.

I am losing the battle with this massive piece of plywood that Liam dropped off for my bowling game.

“You need some help, Peach?”

I close my eyes. Of course he’s here to rescue me.

“I’m fine. I’ve got it.” I huff out in response before the plywood gets the best of me and sends me flying backward on my ass.

I close my eyes, not wanting to look up to see who was witness to this show beyond Hunter.

“Are you sure?”

“Seriously? Can I not just suffer alone?” His large hand reaches down in front of me to help me pull myself up.

Blowing a puff of hair out of my face, I place my hand in his and allow him to pull me up. I ignore the feeling of his calloused hands grazing against my skin. And I push out the thought of how those hands would feel gripping my hips… Nope. Not thinking that.

“Thanks.” I grumble.

“Where do you want this thing?” He picks it up like it’s light as a damn feather.

I point to the side of the booth, moving my table to the other side. “Right here, kind of more in the center.”

The wood plops gracefully down on the ground, right where I want it, and he didn’t even break a sweat.

Me on the other hand? Oh I have sweat dripping along with some drool after watching the way his muscles twitch under the Henley threatening to rip if he picks that wood up again.

No, Evelyn. Stop looking.

“Thanks, for uh… moving that.” I turn, suddenly busying myself with the brochures that are a centimeter off center on the table after I moved it.

“You got it. If you need anything else, just holler.”

“Mmhmm, yup, thanks.” I mutter.

He chuckles, walking back to his booth. Fuck, he knows exactly why I won’t look at him. Could this day be any worse?

Mr. Darnell is the first visitor to my booth. “Hey there, girly. How’s it going? You feelin’ ready to take over?”

“I’m ready. We’ve gotten some positive feedback from the announcement we made yesterday. I think it’ll be good.” I smile and nod at him. I’m ready for this new adventure, one that is all my own.

“You’ll be great.” He looks over at another booth and nods toward his wife. “Well, I’m off to enjoy retired life. Good luck today!”

“Thank you!”

He finds his wife and I’m left to promote my own brand new business. Nothing could wipe the smile off my face today.

My attention is drawn to the booth next to me by a deep laugh. Hunter is talking with a family, one that looks an awful lot like the dreams we talked about.

Maybe one thing can wipe the smile off my face.

It’s been harder than I thought to be around Hunter. He always seems to be around, and each time is like a stab to the heart that I have to watch him.

Three hours pass by in a blur. My booth crowd is thinning out for the most part. The pumpkin bowling was a major hit. Kids absolutely loved it.

Margaret and Esther are making their rounds with the leftover cupcakes from the bakery’s booth. They better hurry up and get to my booth because their stock is dwindling and I want a cupcake.

Margaret comes over to our booths, and I notice she positions herself and her one cupcake directly between my booth and Hunter’s. “Hey kids, I’ve only got one—”

Both Hunter and I dive to her tray, reaching the cupcake at the same time. I don’t miss the subtle way that Margaret angles toward me at the last second. A girl’s girl. I knew she was my favorite.

Hunter reaches across to steal the cupcake from me so I stick my tongue out, licking all around the frosting to claim it as mine.

He freezes mid-move. “Did you seriously just lick the cupcake so I couldn’t have half?”

“You wanted the whole thing!” I protest.

“I wanted to share.” His lips tip up in the corner, showing that mischievous grin I loved so much.

I glare at him in return while I peel the wrapper off. “I guess if you don’t mind my germs you can have half.” I hold out the cupcake to him.

He leans forward and takes a large bite of the cupcake. “I used to be okay with a lot more than just a little lick.” He murmurs low before pulling away.

“Oh my. Sounds like my cue to leave.”

I totally forgot that anyone else even existed. I release the breath I was holding and bring the cupcake to my own lips. I’m still staring as he walks away. Still unable to find any words to come back at his comment.

How the hell is he just back to normal at his booth?

“Still thinking about that, huh Peach? Can’t stop watching me walk away?”

Against my wishes, a smile graces my face. “Shut up, Hunt.”

I finish the cupcake in the safety of my own booth. God, it would be so easy to fall back into him.

You can’t do that. You’re on your own journey. You’re ready for this to be a fresh start, not a second chance.

I need to remember all the reasons this is a terrible idea that will only end in absolute heartbreak for me. Just like last time.

It’s my wedding day and even if it isn’t how I always imagined it would go, it’s still perfect because I’m marrying Hunter. I am waiting on a bench at the bus station for his bus to arrive. My white chiffon summer dress blows in the slight breeze off the water.

Anticipation tingles through my body, giving me butterflies in my stomach.

I haven’t seen him since before my graduation night.

And I’ve barely gotten to talk to him this week.

He’s been short with me, but I am chalking it up to our nerves.

I know I’ve been stressed out trying to keep this secret, and it’s killing me to not tell my brother.

I’m sure he feels guilty lying to Roman.

His bus arrives, and I jump up ready to see him. Standing near the door I watch as person after person files off, my nerves increasing with each one. I can’t explain the sinking feeling in my stomach.

Once the flow of people stops, the doors close and the driver pulls out. I watch him drive to the yard, and leave himself.

I pull out my phone, frantically calling Hunter. It goes to voicemail over and over again. Straight to voicemail.

Another hour passes, and still nothing. Tears start to prick at the back of my eyes. He can’t be doing this to me. The tears well in my eyes now.

When the sun starts to set, I finally trudge my way back to my car. How is this happening? Where is Hunter?

I drive home, not knowing what else to do, or where to go. I have no one to call about this, I’m on my own. Our marriage was a secret. From everyone but the justice of the peace at the courthouse that I booked our appointment with.

Walking into my bedroom already feeling defeated, I’m greeted with a familiar envelope on my bed. My heart drops. I already know it’s a Dear John letter. He’s not coming home.

I rip into the envelope, reading each word multiple times and they still aren’t sinking in or making sense. The first line, ‘I can’t marry you’ will never sink in.

Throwing the letter on the floor I sink back into my bed, tears blurring my vision.

I never thought he’d leave me like this. Break my heart like this.

Shaking my head of the memories I look back over at Hunter, and see a busty blonde sticking her boobs in his face and giggling at everything he says like he’s a damn comedian.

I roll my eyes and a stray tear drips down my cheek. Wyatt walks up to the booth, seeing the same interaction I am, only he beelines it backwards as fast as he can. Interesting.

I need to get out of here. I can’t watch him be with someone else, which is so pot calling the kettle black of me since I made him watch me with Neil.

Putting up a sign that tells people what time I’ll be back, I grab my wallet and take off to find something else filled with sugar.

That blonde is nothing but a reminder that he’s only being kind to me because Rome asked him to be.

Falling back in love with Hunter Keaton is a recipe for disaster that I should be running from far and fast.

My first stop is the truck with fried dough. My favorite fair food.

I load my piece of fluffy heaven with cinnamon and powdered sugar. The powder melting with the butter on top creating a sweet gooey glaze.

If it wasn’t weird I’d moan at the first bite. But I’m pretty sure that would be frowned upon with the amount of families nearby.

My next stop is to grab a ticket for the ferris wheel. After a day full of people, I just want to enjoy my treat alone. A quiet ferris wheel car is the exact place I need.

I get in line behind the large group of teenagers. Thankfully it isn’t their parents, because this group has no desire to talk to me.

As I shove a large bite of dough into my mouth, Hunter gets in line next to me right as the attendant opens the gate for me to get in.

“Can I join you?”

I look down at his empty hands. “You need a ticket.” The powdered sugar puffs out of my full mouth with every word.

He winks, pulling a twenty out of his pocket and handing it to the pimply teenager who could not care less if he has a ticket.

He joins me in the car, ruining my hopes of a quiet ride.

“What do you want, Hunter?” I ask on a barely-there whisper.

He moves to sit across from me, placing his long, thick legs on either side of me.

Whatever it is, it’s not something I’m ready to hear. This was his go to move to get what he wants.

I groan inwardly, shoving more fried dough into my mouth.