I raise a skeptical brow, but at this point I notice Gavin’s interest is piqued.
“Really?” He leans in. “What kinds of food come from here?”
“Mayor Beecham and his wife have a dairy farm that provides milk and cream, and then Jean has the most amazing garden and chickens that lay not only the best-tasting eggs you’ll ever eat but the most beautiful ones you’ll ever see. And my family has a bee farm. Our honey is used in everything from yogurt parfaits tohoney-baked hams.” Callie smiles proudly. “We’re in a co-op that sells our products to the local store and this cafe, but we also take them to a farmer’s market in the nearest town every Saturday to raise extra funds.”
My face falls sympathetically. “Is it because you’re poor?” I extend a hand and place it on hers.
“Elena! Don’t be so insensitive!” Gavin chides me.
“Iambeing sensitive.” I was trying to let Callie know that if she’s fallen on hard times, she’s in good company. I mean, who are we to judge? But leave it to Gavin to assume the worst of me.
“No, it’s okay,” Callie responds, more amused than offended. “I wasn’t very clear. What I mean is that since most of the people in Blaire work for the observatory, many of our town’s resources are allocated to maintaining it. But I’m sure you’ve noticed that the town needs maintenance, too—unpaved roads, overgrown fields, and buildings that have seen better days. A few months ago the town council agreed to let us sell any leftover resources to use the proceeds for beautifying our town.”
“Thank God you said that. I was beginning to think everyone had lost their will to care. But now that makes sense. It’s not that you’ve given up; it’s that the town is po—” I rethink my word choice, lest I get another scolding from Gavin. “I mean, because this town is underfunded.”
“From what I saw yesterday, the locally sourced items are severely underpriced,” Gavin says, surprising me. “You could charge three times what you are now, and it would significantly increase your profit margins.”
I crane my neck to face Gavin. Since when does he know so much about food prices?
“I’m sure you’ve noticed that Blaire is a small community. Weknow our consumers personally. And we’re not looking to profit off one another. But we do sell our products at a slightly higher price point when we go to the farmer’s market every month. Everyone, not just the co-op, pitches in.” She nudges Brennan. “Including this guy.”
“Just doing my civic duty.” He blushes in that aw-shucks kind of way.
“He’s being modest. When we first went to the market, we didn’t know we had to bring our own booth, so we had nowhere to store our supplies. Poor Brennan here had to go back and forth to the truck so many times. If it wasn’t for him, we wouldn’t have been able to sell much.”
“Happy to help,” he says. “I know I’m only here for a short time, but I love that I’ve found a way to give back to the town that’s given me so much.”
Good looks and a good heart? I’m finally starting to see a silver lining in this town, and it’s in the form of a six-foot, brown-eyed, ruggedly handsome do-gooder. Brennan might be the one redeeming quality about this godforsaken town. And since we won’t be here long enough, it can’t develop into anything serious. Besides, what’s wrong with a little harmless flirtation?
“I can relate.” I lean in, fluttering my lashes. “Charity is something that’s near and dear to my heart.” I place my hands on my chest.
Gavin’s eyes narrow. “Since when?”
“Since forever. I’m quite charitable,” I say through gritted teeth. After events I always donate my gowns to auctions for nonprofit organizations, and that time I did a GRWM collab withSeventeen’s prom issue, I negotiated the terms to have the magazine cover the cost of the venue for our junior prom in lieu of payment. If that’s not charitable, I don’t know what is. But I can’t tell him that withoutrevealing too much of ourselves in front of Brennan and Callie, so I’m forced to grin and bear it.
“That’s something you and I have in common, then,” Brennan says with a smile that reaches his eyes.
“Maybe there’s something we can work on together while I’m here,” I suggest. And who knows? Maybe we’ll discover we have more in common than charity.
“I’m sure there will be plenty of volunteer opportunities while you’re here, even if it’s only for a short time,” Brennan says. He leans toward me with a smolder-y look I’m more than familiar with. As the object of many people’s affections, I know flirty when I see it.
“Yes, I’m sure Elena would love to volunteer. What about the next farmer’s market?” Gavin suggests.
I know he’s trying to pull one over me, but little does Gavin know that he’s helping me with my master plan to spend more time with Brennan. “I’d love to come.” I lean closer to Brennan, showing off all my teeth.
“That’s perfect.” Brennan flashes a wide smile that confirms he’s as happy about this idea as I am. “You can take my place next Saturday, since I won’t be able to make it.”
As soon as my face drops, Gavin’s lights up. “Sounds just perfect for you. Since you’re such a charitable person,” he says with sarcasm that only I can detect for some reason.
There’s actually a word for this exact behavior Gavin is demonstrating:Schadenfreude.It’s when a person experiences joy in response to other people’s misfortunes. And, boy, is he Schadenfreude-ing hard now.
“You won’t be able to make it?” In a last-ditch effort, I make sad-puppy eyes at him.
“Yeah, I’ll be in LA.”
“LA?” I almost gasp. This would have been useful information to knowbeforeI offered to volunteer at the farmer’s market. I’d give anything to go to LA with Brennan.
“My parents are coming out here, and we’re going to meet in LA since I’ve never been there before.”
