“And…” he draws out the word, “are you and Maisie just friends, or?” He eyes me skeptically.
“She wants to be just friends so I’m respecting that.”
“Doyouwant to be more than friends?”
“I… I know I want to be more than friends but I know she doesn’t deserve someone who’s going to leave her at the end of summer,” I reply. “Not to get all giddy about feelings but when I’m around her, I don’t want to be anywhere else. I want to be able to touch her in any way I can just to know she’s there. But I can’t.”
“Does she know you feel this way?”
“No. When we made our plan to complete her list she made it clear—after my flirting—that we could only be friends.”
“Hmm.” Miles lets out a breath. “It’s clear that you like her, hell you can’t stop smiling every time her name is brought up.”
I laugh in embarrassment because he’s not wrong, I can’t help the visceral reaction I have to hearing her name.
“I don’t know what to do. I want to do things that friends don’t do but I don’t want to jeopardize the friendship we have and ruin it,” I confess. “If being her friend is all I can have to keep her, then a friend I will be.”
“You’ve got it bad,” he says.
“You’re telling me.”
“When are you going to tell her how youreallyfeel?” Miles questions from his seat.
I let out a breath, dropping my tensed shoulders. “That’s a question I don’t even have the answer to.”
After a few minutes of driving, we arrive at the Winslows and it’s already packed, almost like Elaine invited the whole damn town which wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest.
“Do you want to grab the drinks and I’ll get the flowers?” I ask Miles as we hop out of the truck.
“Sure,” he answers as he opens and then closes the back door, drinks in hand.
I feel a jolt of nerves as we’re walking up to the party, instantly spotting the blonde I’ve been lusting over as she laughs with some people I recognize from around town.
I’m so mesmerized I don’t even notice Elaine running up to us, arms held out for a hug.
“Henry! Miles!” she says excitedly, “I’m so happy you both could make it.” She gives us hugs and then winks at me and says, “If you take a photo of her, it’ll last longer.” Miles snorts, exploiting his grumpy exterior.
Not knowing how to respond, I hand her the flowers we picked out, wishing her a happy birthday once more. “I hope you like sunflowers, I know they’re in season so I thought they’d look the best.”
“They’re beautiful.” She brings them to her nose. “Thank you both. I’m overjoyed you’re here, now the party can really begin!” She scurries off inside to set the flowers down and then it’s just Miles and I again.
“I’m gonna go set down the drinks,” he says. “I’ll find you in a bit.”
“You know where I’ll be.” I laugh because I think we all know I’ll be glued to a freckled girl's side all night.
She looks absolutely jaw dropping tonight in a skirt that fits her like a glove and a fitted tank top that has sinful thoughts running through my head.
Part of me wants to stay right where I’m standing, watching her be so effortlessly herself, surrounded by her people. I’m not able to admire her for long because I hear someone calling my name.
“Henry!” Wren yells from next to Maisie. At the call of my name, Maisie turns around and when she sees me, her smile widens. I feel a sense of pride knowing that I caused that reaction. “Get over here!”
I try to act cool as I walk over but I’d be lying if I said my heart wasn’t pounding out of my chest. Usually I don’t care what people think about me but something about the possibility of Maisie’s people not liking me has me questioning every move Imake. I know I’m just in my head so I grab a beer on my way over to help calm my nerves.
“Hi,” I walk up and wave to the small group, “I’m Henry.”
“Oh weknowwho you are,” an older guy confidently says. “I’m Kevin,” he holds out his hand for me to shake, “I’m a cook at Ruby’s, I made you the ‘Maisie’s Special’ a few weeks ago.” He waggles his brows.
A chuckle leaves my mouth over the memory of my first day here. “Those were honestlythebest pancakes I’ve ever had.”
