“It’s just… You don’t quite seem to like it.”
Sydney sighed. “It was a job, and I was freshly out of college. I don’t hate it, but I’m not passionate about it.”
“What are you passionate about?”
“Photography, obviously, but I don’t think I’d be good enough to make it full-time. I’m thinking about going into consulting.”
I blinked. “Why would you do that if you’re not passionate about it?”
“Money,” she answered quickly. “I just want life to be… easy. And money does that. And consulting is good money.”
I guess I could understand that. Money is what kept the farm going and was something I thought about often. But I wouldn’t say it was the most important thing to me.
“You spend a lot of time working; shouldn’t it be something you enjoy?”
“I find enjoyment in other things.” Though she sounded certain, her face told me otherwise. “Besides, there aren’t a lot of other options.”
My mind was reeling. I had to stop myself from saying everything I was thinking.
Just stay with me. Take photos for the rest of your life.
I hadn’t even confessed my feelings yet, so I certainly couldn’t go around thinking about us living together. No matter how right it felt.
So for now we just continued our walk. We stopped by Cool Beans and grabbed a hot cup of coffee to drink while we roamed.
“Look at you out of your stall!” Jake said as he approached. “I never thought I’d see the day.”
“Whatever, man,” I replied playfully. “How’s the festival been treating you?”
He looked slightly annoyed. “Fine, except for all the people who want to be in my store. If I didn’t need sales to keep it open, I would close forever.”
“Then no one would get to hunt for their own treasure.”
He rolled his eyes. Though he wasn’t a fan of… people generally, he did enjoy helping them find just what they needed. And he almost always had it or knew where to acquire it. He didn’t think much of it, but it was a true talent. A few years ago, when I’d needed a part for one of our oldest tractors and everyone told me I wouldn’t find it anywhere, he had.
“So I closed for an hour and figured I would come for Boba.”
“There’s Boba here?” Sydney asked, sounding excited.
I nodded. “It’s Jake’s favorite and very good.”
“I usually have it once a week in the city. I love taro.”
“Then let’s go.”
We headed over to Bubbles and Brews, and we each ordered our own. I got matcha because I wasn’t a big fan of tapioca, but Sydney got a taro tea that was purple with white foam sitting on top, and Jake had a bright green honeydew tea he’d already slurped halfway down. I would be surprised if this was the first one he’d had today, and even more so if it was the last.
The three of us made our way around the rest of the bustling market before heading back toward our stall.
“Do you have any cherries back there?” Jake asked as we approached.
“Maybe. Only if you have a bottle to share with me when it’s done.”
“I always do.”
We went behind the booth, and I grabbed him a few cartons before he scurried off.
“What was that about?” Sydney asked.
