“Can you stay for dinner, Olive?”
I glanced up at Lars. “I have to go get more supplies, so I won’t be here,” he said. “But you should stay if you want to, sweetheart.”
“You’re sure it’s okay?” I asked Lucy.
“We want you here! It’s settled.” She took me by the hand and started pulling me out of the room. “Bye, Lars! Have fun with your electrical wire!”
I giggled and glanced over my shoulder in time to catch Lars’s wink.
29
OLIVE
I bikedmy way down Main Street. The gas lights were on, and twinkle lights illuminated the shops. Lars’s moms had tried to get me to let them drive me home, but it wasn’t a long bike ride, and I was scared they would ask to see my house. One day, I would have a home I was proud to show off… and less anxiety so I could trust more people to come inside.
“Ms. Harvest!”
I slowed down, trying to figure out who was shouting, and saw Stanley jogging down the street towards me, holding a clipboard aloft.
Shoot. Should I do what Summer said and just ride away?
I groaned. I couldn’t do it. I slowed to a stop and moments later, a panting Stanley stood before me.
“Ms. Harvest, I really must get details on your Autumn Harvest craft booth.”
“Look, I’m really not good at crafts.”
Stanley waved his hand, dismissing my answer. “I’ll put you down for knitted goods. I’m sure you can pick that up in no time.”
“No, that’s not?—”
“Thank you!” he shouted as he quickly made his way back up the street, the shadows swallowing him up.
I turned back around and let out a scream when I saw Felix sitting in my bike basket. “Oh my god, announce yourself next time.”
Felix fixed his gaze on me like he was staring deep into my soul. I huffed. “Stanley wants me to learn to knit.”
Felix stayed silent.
“Okaaaay. You want a ride back to the lighthouse, then? Looks like I’m on my own for tonight.”
That got a reaction from Sir Cat. He sat up straight and cocked his head.
“Lars had to cancel our date,” I said, my voice a little too frosty. I didn’t want to go back to a cold, dark house. I hadn’t figured out the fireplace yet, and the evenings were getting cold. “Why am I explaining this to you? You’re a cat.”
Felix leaned forward and batted my arm before leaping out of the basket.
“No, come back,” I called after him. “I didn’t mean it.”
But Felix was gone, and I was furious with myself for chasing away the only person who wanted to hang out with me this evening.
I resumed pedaling. As I approached the path to the lighthouse, I cursed when I realized I’d forgotten my flashlight. I hadn’t expected to be out for so long. The thought of trying to navigate the rocky path in the dark made me feel even more pity for myself. I fumbled with my phone—the light wouldn’t do a whole lot to illuminate the way, but it might be better than nothing.
I made the final turn to the path and saw all my worries were for nothing. Short lights had been inserted into the ground, illuminating the entire way to my cottage.
“Oh my god.”
Tears sprung to my eyes. Had Easton done this for me this afternoon? I squeezed the handles of my new bike, the one I kept forgetting to thank the guys for. As I made my way to my home, the soft lights cutting through the darkness, I felt cared for in a way I hadn’t since my parents died.
