Page 19 of Starry Skies, Stolen Kisses, and My Best Friend's Brother

I slip off my sandal and reach my foot over Deka until I find Seth’s.It’s definitely the most forward I’ve been with him, but I’m getting tired of waiting for something to happen.He’s wearing laced dress shoes that supposedly cost a ridiculous amount and his avocado socks.

Seth doesn’t even know I’ve found his foot.I slide my bare foot to his ankle, and his chin jerks up.He doesn’t move his foot, so I creep my toes up his ankle until I find bare skin.His eyes don’t leave mine, and the desire there makes me want to slam that blasted door shut and let him take full advantage of me.

He reaches down and grabs my ankle, pulling my foot into his lap.I squeak.He gives me a look that says, “Quiet.”

I drop my eyes and pretend to be absorbed in my computer, but I don’t even see the screen.Instead, all I feel are his strong thumbs massaging the ball of my foot.It’s all I can do to stop from groaning.That man has magic hands.I didn’t even know I needed a foot massage.

“How are things going?”

Seth drops my foot and straightens up.Terry stands in the doorway, coffee cup in hand, a grin on her face.No one would’ve been able to see what was going on under the table, but I still feel like a kid who was caught making out with her boyfriend.

I rub my eyes.Never have I spent so much time in the summer indoors.I’m tired of staring at a screen, and I miss the sun.

“Good.We’re starting to trend on social media.The influencers we booked for the hideaway gave us a hashtag already called hidevibes.”I look at the spreadsheet on my screen with the food requests and the newly added name.“I hope the caterers are flexible.I’ve had three people asking for vegan and gluten-free.”

“That’s to be expected,” Seth says.“But I want there to be lots of options.People who aren’t vegan don’t want to eat that.If we don’t have a decent variety, we’ll turn off more than half of our customers.I’m also a little concerned that these local caterers don’t really know how to prepare vegan and other substitutions very well.”

“I agree.My roommate in college had every food allergy under the sun, and she always complained that no one bothered making sure the vegan or gluten-free options tasted good.”

Terry gracefully settles into a chair beside Seth.She usually stops in at least once a day, which is always a great break.

“Why don’t you let the caterer know what’s going on?Mae, send them some recipes that your roommate adored, along with other recipes for various kinds of diets you know your clients will request.Then you two can take a drive out there and do some taste testing.The alternative options do need to be just as good as everything else.”

Terry looks between us.I know what she’s doing.She’s been a second mom to me, and I know she loves me, but I’m certain that her motives here are purely because she’s hoping if Seth and I hook up, he’ll stay.His and my relationship seems so daunting, and I can’t exactly talk to Terry about it.I wish I had my own mom here.

“Of course.Maybe we can steal Abi as well.The more people that taste test, the better.You could come along if you want as well.”

Terry waves her hand.“I’m not sure if Mark can spare Abi, and I have things to work on here.”She stands.“Speaking of, I should get back to it.”She kisses Seth on the cheek and hurries out of the room and then pokes her head back in.

“By the way, with all these changes we’ll need to have another map made.Todd’s mom made the first one and I penciled in new additions, but this is too much.”

“I love that map,” I say.It was done as a watercolor and so adorable.“Let me do the next one.I want it to have the same vibe.”

Terry grins at me.“That sounds perfect.”Then she disappears out the door.

“Your mom is the best.My life would’ve been so different if mine had been like that.”

Seth’s face twists a little bit.“I wish you knew more about why she left.Then maybe it wouldn’t be so hard.”

I shrug.“It was a long time ago.I don’t know if I miss her as much as I miss the idea of her.”I hesitate for a minute before changing the subject.If it’s okay for him to ask me about my mom, then I can ask him his big question.“Why didn’t you come back sooner?If I had a family like yours, I would never run away.”

He sighs and runs a hand along his face.“It’s not my family.I love them a lot, but I don’t like it in West Virginia.I had a rough time growing up here.School was hard, and I constantly felt trapped.After I left, I tried to get my family to come visit me, but Dad and my brothers refused.Then I got upset because I felt they weren’t being understanding, and it escalated to sixteen years of estrangement.I still can’t explain that it’s the place, not them.”

I don’t fully understand because I love this place.“That must’ve been hard.I’m glad you’re back now and mending those relationships.”

Seth’s lips twitch into a small, tight smile.“Me too.I hope it’s enough.”His eyes flicker with uncertainty.

A chat bubble pops onto my screen—an Instagram influencer asking what kind of materials we use in our sheets and pillows.

Seth and I both get absorbed back into our work.Neither one of us mentions the foot massage.Once I put out a few more fires, I check the style of videos Abi has uploaded, and then I post a couple on our socials.

Seth’s voice breaks the silence.“The caterer says we can come on Thursday.He sent me the menu and said he’d try to add in some of our suggestions.You want to see it?”

I nod and move over to his side.The urge to touch him again overwhelms me, so instead of taking the chair, I stand behind him and press up against his back.

I expect him to make a comment, but he doesn’t, so I quickly read through the menu options.Every single dish makes my mouth water, though that could just be Seth’s head pressed into my breasts.

“They also said they can mix and match.So if someone is pescatarian and gluten free, they would get the salmon instead of stuffed butternut squash.”

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