Page 51 of The Mistletoe Bluff
Blasted Brit.
I didn’t miss Oliver’s pleased smile before he dug into his own food.
After too many moments of chewing in silence, I blurted, “Why did you come back to Meridel?” in typical blunt Maya fashion.
He hesitated for a brief second, his fork frozen in the air, before he popped a bite into his mouth. Was he avoiding my question?
Finally, he swallowed and said, “I prefer Meridel over England.”
I blinked at him. “How could you like this tiny town better thanEngland?”
He gave the smallest shake of his head. “London is busy and loud and it’s too easy to feel insignificant and lost. At least here, people know your name, give you a smile, and wave as you pass by on the street. It’s easier to feel likesomebodyhere instead of just another number in a crowded city.”
His words resonated so strongly within me that they stole the breath from my lungs.
“I also much prefer the company of those in Meridel,” he added with a wink.
Did he meanme?
I scrunched my nose. “Why would you enjoy the nosiness of this small town over the invisibility that a big city affords you?”
Oliver shook his head. “Invisibility is overrated.”
“Why?”
“Imagine living in a place with thousands upon thousands of people, all completely enamored with their own lives. When you walk through the city and pass people, they just lookthroughyou instead ofatyou. They don’t care at all what you’re going through—whether you’re on top of the world or at the end of your rope. You could live day-to-day with no interaction with people—no sign that anyone cares or values your existence.”
His words made my heart ache. Was that how he truly felt? Underneath that cocky, tough exterior, was Oliver Lewis just wanting to be seen and valued? To feel like he mattered to someone?
The thought cracked straight through my deteriorating hatred of him.
Maybe we were more alike than I ever imagined.
I took a sip of wine. “But your family is in England.”
An unamused laugh puffed from his lips, and he took a sip of his own. “My mum is from Iowa and was quite young when she married my father. They lived in England for most of my life, but a few years ago, she started spending half the year here to see her family more often. My father, being the type of person he is, had no qualms about it. He travels back and forth every few months, but primarily stays in England.”
“That sounds miserable.” The words were out of my mouth before I could filter them. I couldn’t imagine being married to someone, only to spend half the year away from them and beokaywith it.
Oliver shrugged. “My father is not the easiest person to be around, so I don’t really blame my mum for wanting to be here more often. That’s why I came to Meridel last year in the first place—to visit her. I didn’t expect to fall in love…”
He trailed off and every nerve within me prickled. He coughed and quickly added, “with the town. I fell in love with thetown.” Oliver cleared his throat. “It’s charming and I quite enjoy it.”
I swallowed hard. “Right, of course. The town.”
A blush colored his cheeks and he seemed to be scrambling to come up with something to say.
“Um, tell me something about you,” he tried before sipping his drink.
I cocked my head. “You think you’ve earned my secrets, Brit?”
One of his shoulders lifted in a partial shrug. “I’m doing my best, Maya.”
The breath whooshed out of my lungs at his honesty. Hedidseem to be trying to earn my trust. As much as I always thought he was a bad guy, he hadn’t given me many reasons to continue thinking that way—even if I hated to admit it.
I thought for a moment, struggling to come up with something to share with him without beingtoovulnerable.
“The photoshoot I did with Elsie and Jameson…that was the first time I ever felt like photography was something I could really do—something I could succeed at,” I said. “It even inspired the name of my business, Sunflower Fields. I had worked so hard through that last semester of class, trying to improve my skills, and it all just seamlessly fit together by the timeThe Heart Shotcame around.” I paused, taking a breath, and staring at my plate.
