Page 46 of Enemies with my Bestie’s Brother
“Wow, thank you so much. I’m touched that you thought about me in this way. You may be surprised by this, but I actually want to go home to Keene. I know that probably doesn’t sound fun to you.”
I blink, processing what she’s said. I can’t believe I didn’t think about it before. Of course she’d want to go home. She hasn’t been back in months. Her family and friends are all back there, so it makes sense that she’d miss them.
“It would be a great opportunity for me to begin packing and putting away my business stuff, too, so that I can get ready for the move here. Even though I won’t be moving to San Francisco for a while, it makes sense to get ahead of the game.”
“Whitney, of course we can go to Keene. I said anywhere, and I meant it. I’d take you on a vacation to the Bermuda Triangle if you wanted me to.”
Whitney smiles at my words. The tension eases in her shoulders, and I instantly know that I made the right choice.
"I'm so excited, Grayson. I can't wait to show you some of the best places. We'll definitely have to go to Prime Roast Coffee while we're there; I've missed it so much. Oh, and I can show you my old high school and the town hall. I know it seems lame, but the town hall has a lot of history, so it's a pretty big deal. It's so different from San Francisco."
She seems excited about the prospect of going home, and I can't help but feel happy for her. She continues to ramble as we figure out the logistics.
I look for plane tickets as Whitney tells me about all the places that she wants to visit. I can't help but admire the way her eyes light up when she talks about her hometown. Her blonde hair is in a messy bun on the top of her head, and her large blue eyes sparkle with excitement. Despite the fact that she is dressed in only jeans and a plain tank top, Whitney is the most beautiful woman that I have ever seen. She turns in my direction to see me better and cocks her head at my facial expression.
"What are you thinking about?"
I suck in a deep breath and gaze into her eyes.
"I’m thinking about how beautiful and intelligent you are. How lucky I am that I got to know you at Penny’s wedding. I never knew what I was missing until I got together with you."
I can feel my heart beating faster, just saying the words out loud. Her face changes, and I know she can sense the sincerity in my words, even if they aren’t quite eloquent. Her eyes are gentle as a shy smile spreads across her face.
For a moment, we share a comfortable silence, letting the words hang there between us. Then, Whitney takes my hand in hers and looks me in the eyes.
"I've honestly enjoyed getting to be with you too. I care about you a lot, Grayson," she whispers.
We sit there for a while longer, talking about our plans for the weekend and enjoying each other's company until it's time to book tickets online and start packing our bags for the trip. As I watch her get excited and ready for the weekend away, I realize that this is what I wanted — to make Whitney happy and show her how special she truly is to me.
ThoughtheflighttoKeene is speedy, it doesn’t lessen the anticipation we both feel. As soon as we land at the small airport, Whitney grabs my hand and pulls me towards the rental car that we had pre-booked. We pile our luggage into the trunk and start driving towards Whitney's hometown.
The sun has just started setting when we enter the town of Keene. Everywhere I look, I can see glimpses of Whitney's past — antiquated buildings she must have gone to school in, parks that she must have played in as a child. I feel a sense of nostalgia and comfort, like I'm finally visiting a place that feels like home.
We make our way down Main Street, passing by several shops and restaurants until we come upon Prime Roast Coffee shop. Walking inside the coffee shop is like entering another world. The walls are covered with pictures of locals enjoying their time at Prime Roast. The pictures range from vintage shots of women in poodle skirts to a modern shot of two women standing behind the counter. I examine the wall more closely, in search of Whitney in any of the pictures.
“I’m in that one.” She points.
I didn’t even realize she noticed me staring. Whitney’s young in the photo, only about eight, just like the other children surrounding her.
“I was in third grade, and we came here after state testing for a treat. That woman on the right is the best teacher I ever had.”
“Funny, because Whitney is the best student that I ever had! I still have that teacher appreciation poem you wrote.”
I turn around at the same time that Whitney does and a big grin spreads across her face.
“Hi Anita! It’s so great to see you again,” Whitney says as Anita ropes her into a hug.
“You too. I’ve missed seeing your face every day since you went off to San Francisco. Are you back for good this time, or are you just visiting?”
“Well, I’m here for a visit. We’re packing up and working on moving my business to San Francisco,” Whitney says, a blush rising to her cheeks.
I examine the woman standing before us. She’s plump, with curled blonde hair and laugh lines embedded deep in her cheeks. I can tell that she’s the kind of person that smiles a lot, and I can immediately tell why Whitney likes her.
“So, are you her boyfriend then, here to help her out?” Anita asks.
I turn to Whitney, my eyes widening. She shakes her head before stepping in.
“No, this is my boss, the man who’s apartment I’m redecorating,” Whitney says, and Anita’s attention turns back to her.
