That was another thing I’d learned during our first round of drinks. Not only was Nessa on the town council—because Rose City was too small for a mayor—but she also owned and operated Smutty Buddies, a bookstore dedicated to romance novels and erotica. I could practically hear my God-fearing, Southern Baptist mother screaming, “No, you can’t read those filthy sex books,”three-thousand miles away.
“Alot'schanged in Rose City over the last few years,” June added.
“Especially since 2020,” Nessa said.
She didn’t need to explain further. A lot had changed for everyone during the Covid-19 pandemic. I’d finished the final days of my college career from my living room couch. Finding a job had proven next-to-impossible, and by the time I started dating Walden in early 2021, my priorities had shifted.
“We’ve had an influx of almosttwo timesour population since 2021," June bragged like a proud parent. "Most of whom are folks under forty. It seems like there’s a new business popping up every day.”
“And now, we have the Roasters,” Nessa grumbled. It was clear she wasn’t thrilled with the latest business to grace Rose City.
“That's a good thing, Ness.”
“It’s only a matter of time before our sleepy little town turns into a condo-covered tourist trap,” Nessa argued. “Not that I’m not thrilled you moved here, Clarke. Just saying.”
“Well, I’m happy to be here,” I told them, bringing a smile to Nessa’s face. “And for what it’s worth, I think Rose City is lovely as is. As my gran always said, the rest will all come out in the wash.”
Nessa’s smile fell faster than one of Gran’s chocolate soufflés. Gran was always better with savory eats, not sweets.
“What I mean is, these things tend to work themselves out.”
Nero brought us our food after that. We’d all decided to forgo dinner in favor of some smaller, shareable plates. Roasted brussels sprouts with a lemon-garlic aioli, an assorted spread of meats and cheeses, and something so sinfully delicious that it could only be the work of the devil himself called fried cheese curds.
Never had I felt so at home in the company of other women. Viv and Ellie were the only exceptions, and even then, I’d always functioned more like a third wheel than a friend. It was clear to me now that I’d spent the first twenty-seven years of my lifecompetingwith women. For what exactly, I didn’t know. Approval, maybe. Or affection. As if either of those were a prize.
I scoffed into my Long Island iced tea. Nero had long since replaced the bitter glass of wine with my drink of choice.
“How about you, Clarke?” Nessa asked, sloshing her wine.
“Sorry?”
“Are you single?”
“Nero’s free, if you want him,” June added around a wink.
“Oh, please,” Nessa begged. “Please take him. That would make my life so much easier.”
“Well, I don’t—"
“Actually, no. I like you and I want to keep it that way. My level of respect drops exponentially for anybody who fucks my brother.” She leaned over, gently knocking herself into June’s side. “Just ask this one.”
Woo boy. Smells like trouble.
My eyes flicked between June and Nero. “The two of you—”
“In high school,” June said, following it up with an exasperated sigh. “It’s a small town.” She leaned over to knock Nessa back, only this time with a little more force. “And you have a big mouth.”
Nessa giggled. “Only when I drink. Oh! That reminds me.”
She reached for the oversized purse at her feet and rummaged inside. Mama had been strict about my movie watching habits growing up, but one I was allowed to watch wasMary Poppins.I waited with bated breath to see if Nessa would pull out a magical measuring tape or coatrack.
After a moment, she found what she was looking for, and much to my disappointment, it was a candle, not a coatrack. “Check out the new candle I’m stocking at the store.”
June’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Oh, Clarke, you’ll love it. Seriously, Nessa gets them from a local artist, and once you try a Rose City Candle, you’ll never step foot in a Bath & Body Works ever again.”
Nessa deposited the glass-wrapped candle in my lap. It was beautiful, that was for sure. A deep magenta adorned with flower petals and small crystal shards on either side of the wick. At one point in high school, my sister had gone through a “woo woo” phase, as my mama called it. From then on, Viv had taken the label of the “weird sister” and worn it like a badge of honor. I knew that every crystal had some kind of special meaning or power. You know, if you believed in that kind of thing.
I turned the candle over to read the label on the side.
