There’s a rawness in the silence surrounding us. It’s unfamiliar and daunting but she was sobrave to show me who she is. Eyes sparkling in the moonlight, she raises her other hand and hesitates over my shirt. My lips part, but I don’t stop her.
We could both feel it. The threshold we crossed into uncharted territory. But no one backs down and we stand together in this new space we’ve carved out of our fears and insecurities, filling it with fragile trust and something warm I can’t define.
Chapter Twenty-One
ELIZA
Carter’s face is priceless when we pull up outside Thomas’s old hardware store. I promised to show him my favorite spot in Silver Lake Falls and take him for walk around the town because it’s part of the deal.
It also might have something to do with the constant guilt gnawing on my insides. He’s usually uncomfortable any time he lets slip anything personal, but he looked in pain letting go of this big secret. Carter wouldn’t have shared the story if I hadn’t stumbled on him shirtless.
Tension lines the curve of his shoulders. He acts like I now have ammunition to hurt him, and it stings.
“You and I have very different views on sightseeing,” he says in that dry and detached tone he uses as a shield.
“The entire town knows what happened with Jared. If I have to swallow the embarrassment of facing a ton of people who pity me, you can bear to spend five minutes here.” Quinn is right, I’m hiding. I can’t avoid meeting people who know me forever.
The old man is at his usual place, smoking and reading his paper.
“Morning, Thomas!”
He doesn’t bother with pleasantries. Usually, he lets me roam around and pick what I need. “Check out the back for new colors,” he grumbles behind the newspaper.
The shop has all kinds of supplies for fixing furniture, plus construction materials and an owner with a heart of gold. More than once, I was short for change and he’d write it in a notebook for next time. I always made sure to bake an extra pie for him on Thanksgiving.
“This time I’ll need your help.”
Thomas looks over his newspaper and I flash him my most charming grin.
“Finn gave me a list. Can you call me when you pack the materials?”
“So, you two get along?” he grunts, getting up.
“Yeah, he’s been great. Helped me a lot.”
“He’s a good boy, that one. An’ no wife,” he says, cheerier than ever on his way to the counter. “Maybe bake him one of your pies.”
I burst out laughing at his surprising and relentless meddling.
“It’s no laughing matter, young lady. He’s one hard-working man and you’re not bad on the eyes. He can build you a house and fill it with babies.”
“Thomas, you’re an excellent wingman,” I coo, playing along.
“Can we get on with it?” Carter’s icy voice wipes the smile off my face. I hadn’t even noticed he’d followed me into the store. He’s tense. A deep vertical crease on his forehead darkening his gaze. We haven’t been here too long. So impatient.
Thomas gives him a once-over and winks at me. What’s that about? I give him my list and scurry outside, Carter following me closely.
“I’m done, you needn’t be so rude. I come here often,” I say, irritation lacing my words.
“Why is he pushing the foreman on you?”
He sounds angry but he schools his features when his palm wraps around my arm and turns me around. The energy surrounding him is different, something new.
“He’s just being funny.”
“What’s so funny about pawning you off to a middle-aged man? He probably has kids.”
“Finn?” I ask, distracted by the fact my back is now pressed against the truck, Carter’s chest a hairbreadth away from mine. “He’s my age, what’re you talking about? No kids and single, as Sam constantly points out.”
