Page 17 of Harvest Season in Kentbury
Hearing my name on her lips does something to me—something I can’t quite explain.It’s the kind of feeling I haven’t had since I was in high school.Hell, I don’t think I even felt this with any of my exes.
“Is that concern I hear?You worried I’m going to keel over and everyone will blame you?”I tease, trying to lighten the mood.
“No,” she replies quickly, “I’m worried you’ll drop dead, but I’m not worried about being blamed.Your siblings know exactly how you are.”
I bark out a laugh—the first real, unfiltered laugh I’ve had in a long time.It surprises me, but when I look at her, I’m caught.Her eyes, her smile ...it’s like gravity pulling me in, and for the first time in forever, I don’t want to fight it.
I can’t stop staring at her.And I know she probably thinks I’m weird for it, but I don’t care.There’s something about Meadow that’s dragging me closer, like she’s got this invisible hold on me that I can’t shake—and I’m not even sure I want to.
“You think you’re so funny, huh?I’m not that much of a workaholic,” I say, half grumbling but mostly amused.
She smirks, folding her arms, clearly pleased with herself.“The first step to getting help is realizing you have a problem.”
I laugh again, shaking my head at her.I hadn’t laughed this much in years—not with anyone.Something stirs inside me, something I haven’t felt in a long time, and I’m not sure what it is.Hell, maybe I don’t want to know what it is.
My eyes linger on her a little longer than they should, and she stares right back.For a second, there’s something hanging in the air between us.It’s not physical, not something I can touch or see, but I feel it.She’s giving me something, something I can’t put into words.
It’s not just attraction—though, let’s be real, the attraction is there.It’s more than that.It’s like she’s offering me a piece of herself.Maybe it’s trust, maybe it’s connection, but whatever it is, it’s wrapping around me, pulling me in deeper.
I don’t even know how to explain it.I don’t want to explain it, because the second I try to make sense of it, it’ll disappear.So, I just stand there, taking her in, letting this unspoken thing between us simmer, even if I have no idea where it’s going.
And fuck, I’m not used to this.What am I supposed to do with it?
ChapterThirteen
Meadow
I wakeup to the early morning light streaming through the curtains, my hair a mess, and the soft sound of Whiskers van Gogh purring at the foot of the bed.Or at least, that’s what I assume until I look down and realize my traitorous cat is missing.Again.I sigh, rolling out of bed and pulling on an oversized sweater as I head down the hall to the kitchen.
As expected, Jane is already up, sipping her coffee and staring at a list that looks entirely too long for this early in the morning.
“Morning,” I mumble, my voice still raspy from sleep.
“Morning,” Jane replies without looking up.“Your kitty thinks I’m her couch, again.”
I glance over, and yep, there he is—Whiskers van Gogh, curled up on Jane’s lap, looking like he owns the place.“I swear, if we ever stop being roommates, you’re going to be the one getting him,” I mutter, pouring myself a cup of coffee.“He’s basically your cat at this point.”
Jane finally looks up from her list, grinning.“You might be right.He’s obsessed with me.Probably because I don’t try to paint him with actual whiskers like a certain someone.”
I roll my eyes, taking a sip of my coffee.“It was one time.”
“Uh-huh,” Jane says, not buying it.“Anyway, I’m drowning in flower orders.You’d think people would pick another time to get married in Vermont, but no.They’re obsessed with fall and winter weddings.Sometimes summer.Never spring.Why does no one get married in spring?It would make my life so much easier.”
“Right?”I sit down across from her.“Spring is underrated.It’s got blooming flowers, perfect weather ...and no one ever picks it.”
“I don’t get it,” Jane says, rubbing her temples.“I’m not ready for the upcoming wedding season, and here I am, already drowning in fall flower orders.I need more time.”
“People do go overboard with their fall weddings.Like, we get it—you love pumpkins and rustic vibes,” I say, shaking my head.
Jane groans.“And don’t even get me started on the winter weddings.The amount of holly and snowflake designs I’ve had to do ...I need a break before the madness really kicks in.”
“Maybe next year you can convince people that spring weddings are the new trend,” I tease.“Start planting the seed now.”
“Trust me, I’m trying.But everyone’s still obsessed with their cozy autumn aesthetics; the backdrop is so perfect for the pictures,” Jane says, glancing down at Whiskers, who’s now sprawled across her laptop like he’s the king of the house.
“I can’t believe how much time he spends with you,” I repeat, giving Whiskers a pointed look.“I’m going to lose him, aren’t I?”
“Oh, you lost him months ago,” Jane says with a laugh, scratching behind Whiskers’ ears.“He’s fully converted to Team Jane.”
