“I’m giving Home Depot half my paycheck,” Wes said, “and I never get reimbursed. You know what she gives me for Christmas and my birthday? Home Depot gift cards. It’s like she’s buying me gifts forherself. You ever heard of toilet paper math? I call this girlfriend math.”
Avery laughed, but part of her attention remained on Miles. They made eye contact, and her smile seemed to bring him out of his trance.
“Oh Wes, you’d do anything for Jeanette,” Miles said, rubbing his hands through his hair, mussing it enough to look like he had just climbed out of bed.That bed.Rumpled morning Miles used to paste gentle kisses across her bare shoulders and show up late for his early morning running workouts. These days, she awoke to kisses from Casper. And there was no lazing around. The dog needed to go out.
“Ayuh. And there’s benefits to dating the girl who owns the Lakeside Diner.” Wes patted his stomach as he walked to the bathroom to turn off the tub.
“She’s lucky to have you,” Avery said as he left the bathroom.
Wes grabbed his tools and stopped on his way out the door.
“New countertops in the bathroom would help.” He pointed at her. “Just don’t ask Miles to pick them. He takes forever.”
Miles grimaced, picked up a curtain, and unfolded it.
“You pick paint colors. I’ll do a rough drawing of the new bed and check Uncle Henry’s for leftover countertops,” Wes said. “Miles, I can’t wait for the canoe trip for Nate’s bachelor party. Jeanette’ll be out of town at her cousin’s wedding, and I’m so happy to miss that. Her family’s a piece of work.”
Lily had mentioned the guys still needed one more to fill out all six canoes for Nate’s trip. Hayes had texted he could come a couple days ago. Nate needed to find a twelfth man who liked being on the river.
“Jeanette says you haven’t stopped by the diner for breakfast in a while.” Wes elbowed Miles and gave him an exaggerated wink. “You’re everyone’s favorite customer.”
“I’ve had a lot going on.” Miles shrugged. “Tell her I’ll stop by soon.”
“What day? I want to make sure I’m there,” Wes said.
“Why?” Miles leveled him with a dark stare.
“I just thought we could grab a bite to eat together,” he said. “I’ll even buyyourbreakfast for once.”
“Aw, Wes, that’s so sweet,” Avery said. “Isn’t it, Miles?”
Miles nodded with a grunt.
“Carry on, you two.” Wes stepped outside and closed the door.
Avery handed Miles the curtain to hold up in front of the French doors facing the lake. As she considered it, he smiled at her as if remembering something. She felt her heart skip, half wanting him to finish what he had tried to say earlier.
“I forgot how a project energizes you.” He wiggled the curtain. “What do you think?”
“I love them, and with that birch tree bed”—she blew a chef’s kiss into the air—“I’m envisioning perfection.”
He swung the bottom of the curtain in her direction, and together they folded it. He made sure to keep the original creases, and she wondered if he remembered that mattered to her.
“Everything okay?” she asked as she set the folded curtain on the desk. “You got a little quiet earlier.”
“I was wondering if you still paint watercolors. Or did you get tired of it after creating design after design for the Peppered Page? Some people stop enjoying something once it becomes work.”
“I got lucky. The painting part of my job never felt like work. I still love it, but I’ve had a lot going on lately.” She gathered her car keys and the empty bags. “I brought my paints.”
“Your work has a breeziness to it that fits with the dreamy vibe you described. Your stationery had that.”
Sometime in the last few years, Miles must’ve wondered about her enough to search out her stationery.
“For the website, what about watercolors mixed in with actual photos?” he asked.
Painting Montressa had been one of her favorite activities thatsummer. The lake had moods, and she loved capturing them. She couldn’t wait to dig out her brushes and tubes of watercolors.
“That’s a great idea.” The doorknob spun in Avery’s hand. She spun it again and pulled. Twice. “Hmm. It won’t open.”
