CHAPTER NINETEEN
“What a day.”
I whisper the words to myself as I step onto the back porch of our rental house. After our emotional moment in the park when Gwen and Evan arrived, Jasper slipped into business mode, directing the couple toward the gazebo and giving them pointers about posing. Although he asked me to be his assistant, there wasn’t much for me to do other than occasionally move props or help to pose Gwen and Evan. For the most part, I stayed out of the way and watched, grinning uncontrollably until my face ached.
We packed it in shortly after sunset. Jasper called Liam, who suggested we meet for dinner at the restaurant across the street from the park. We wandered around Main Street while we waited, and I fell completely in love with Honeywell just from the small part we saw. The town truly is like something out of a Hallmark movie, with twinkling lights flickering on all over town at dusk, and autumn decorations lining the streets and adorning the fronts of all the adorable shops and eateries.
“You should see it at Christmastime,” Evan had said, laughing at the way Gwen and I were gushing and pointing things out every few feet. “You’d think you’d blinked and ended up at the North Pole. EvenIwas blown away, which is saying something considering how Jasper goes all out every Christmas.”
Over dinner, Liam told us more about Honeywell and its businesses and residents. I couldn’t help thinking how he was my usual type: charming, open, friendly. He asked all of us questions about our lives and seemed genuinely interested in our answers, especially when I told him about Cravings. Despite all of that—plus him being easy on the eyes and a bit flirty with me—my attention kept returning to Jasper all through dinner.
Now we’re back at the rental house, where we’ve been for the last hour or so. I thought Gwen and Evan might want some privacy since things have been so chaotic for them these past few weeks, but Gwen suggested we open a bottle of wine, and Evan set about starting a fire in the living room fireplace. Gwen and I snuggled together under a blanket on the couch while the guys took the armchairs across from us, and we enjoyed each other’s company along with the wine Mrs. Murphy left in our welcome basket. Between the alcohol, the fire, and the way Jasper keeps catching my eye and smiling softly, my face has been flushed for the past hour. When Gwen said she needed a bathroom break, I took the opportunity to excuse myself and step outside.
The brisk air is doing a good job of clearing my head and cooling me off—both my overheated face and my hormones. Marisol was right a few weeks ago when she said Jasper was like an onion. I’ve seen so many different sides of him—overly formal and stiff, vulnerable, thoughtful, overprotective, attentive, self-deprecating, gentle—and I’m still peeling back those layers. Seeing him so relaxed and open today, smiling and genuinely happy, cemented my feelings for him.
Tonight has felt like the best kind of dream. It’s been easy to imagine Jasper and I are a couple and this is how we’d spend our evenings.
The porch door creaks open behind me. My heart leaps, hoping Jasper has sought me out for a moment alone. A rustling sound precedes a blanket being draped over my shoulders, and I catch Gwen’s sweet, flowery scent.
“I’ll go back inside if you want to be alone, but I was worried you might freeze out here,” she says. The way her eyes search my face makes me feel exposed, as if the myriad of thoughts and feelings swirling around inside me are painted all over my face. When she reaches to tuck a loose lock of hair behind my ear and then cups my cheek with her palm, I almost lose it.
Unable to speak for fear the torrent of emotion will burst from my mouth, I step back and hold out one side of the blanket. Gwen ducks in beside me and we squish together, arms around each other’s waists.
“It’s so beautiful here,” Gwen says, resting her head against mine. “I told Evan I’d like to come back around Christmas and he promised to make it happen. Maybe the four of us can come again.”
I laugh lightly. “Maybe.”
“It could happen. I saw the way you and Jasper looked at each other today. You’re not the only one who’s feeling something.”
“I wish I could see what you see,” I tell her with a sigh. Needing to change the subject so I don’t analyze things to death, I ask, “Are you ready for this weekend?”
“Smooth, Willow.” She bumps her hip against mine. “Am I ready? Yes and no. I’m one hundred percent ready to marry Evan. I can’t wait to be his wife and I have zero doubts about spending the rest of my life with him. As for the wedding itself? I’ve done everything I can, and Ivy is doing a bunch of behind-the-scenes stuff this week. I’ve never been so glad to have such a small family and circle of friends. I don’t know how people do big weddings with hundreds of guests.”
I shudder dramatically, sending vibrations through both of our bodies until we’re giggling. “Have I told you lately how happy I am for you?”
“Yes, but tell me again,” she says.
I chuckle. “I’msohappy for you. Evan is a wonderful man and it’s clear the two of you are meant for each other.”
“You deserve that type of happiness too, you know.”
I nod slowly. “I’m finally starting to believe that.”
Gwen’s arm tightens around me. We stand in silence, our faces turned up toward the sky. In the three years I lived in Toronto, I’d almost forgotten what stars looked like. Even in Bellevue, there’s enough light pollution to prevent more than a few of the brightest stars from being visible. But here in Honeywell, the sky is blanketed with twinkling lights, and the sight of it fills me with wonder.
When the door opens behind us, I assume it’s Evan coming to reclaim his fiancée. I stay where I am, closing my eyes and soaking in the last few moments of silence and the warmth and closeness of my dear friend.
Gwen’s body shifts slightly away from mine a second before she says, “Good timing, I was just about to go back inside. Why don’t you take my place and keep our girl warm?”
My eyes pop open. Over my shoulder, I see Jasper hovering in the doorway. I expect him to say it’s too cold out or he’s heading to bed. Instead, he smiles and steps outside.
“Okay, Cupid,” I whisper to Gwen as she kisses my cheek and takes a step away from me, holding out her end of the blanket to Jasper. The wicked grin on her face is as visible as the starry sky.
“Today was absolutely perfect, and I can’t thank you enough,” she says, kissing Jasper’s cheek as he grips the edge of the blanket. “Both of you. Enjoy the peace and quiet because this weekend is going to be hectic.”
“And amazing,” I say.
“And amazing,” Gwen echoes with a smile. “Love you both. Evan and I are going to go to bed now, and we’ll see you in the morning.”
