Page 79 of Everything Has Changed
I peek up from the corner of my arm. “I looked happy?”
She nods with a small grin. “Now, tell me what had that giddy, yet constipated look on your face when you came in.”
I stand straight up so fast I fear I might lose my balance while glaring at my grandmother.
“I did not look constipated.” Then something dawns on me—the sense of worry that was weighing heavily in my gut at the proposition Logan had presented me with. “Did I?”
Ophelia chuckles, but doesn’t say anything, waiting for me to tell her what had me simultaneously giddy and worried.
“He asked me to go to Asheville with him Saturday night.”
I always thought my grandmother had expressive eyes, but nothing could top the glittering excitement in them right now. “A date with Logan?”
“His mom got us a connection with Frederick Jacobs–-”
“The singer?” Ophelia’s eyes widen. “How does Margot know him?”
I shrug. “Something about college. Anyway, he is going to donate some merch and tickets for his upcoming tour and instead of shipping everything, leaving us at the mercy of the shipping gods, his band invited us to come see them play. That way we can make sure the items get here in time.”
My grandmother purses her lip and hums. “Sounds like a fun date to me.”
My body warms at the thought. Because, yeah, this was totally going to be a date no matter which way I wrap it up. “He offered to get us a room to stay the night. Since the show isn’t until late.”
She nods slowly, her brow pinched in thought. “That sounds completely reasonable to me.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re thinking of the one bed trope, aren’t you?”
Finally, her grin splits open on her face. “Absolutely, my girl.”
“What about a stern warning that I shouldn’t go on overnight dates with boys?”
“Is that what you want me to do? Because I can muster up something if you want.”
I groan, tossing my head back. “No, I don’t want that. It’ll make me want to do it even more.”
She giggles, her arm going over my shoulder as the front door opens to an older couple. We greet them with wide smiles, and I hope mine doesn’t look too manic as the thoughts swirl in my head. While they peruse the menu, Ophelia twists me to face her. Her warm hands went to my cheeks.
“Gwen, you are a grown woman with a good head on your shoulders. You can follow whatever path you want. But if you want my advice…” She trails off, waiting for my consent to continue, which I give in a small nod of my head. “Go for it, my sweet girl. I see the way you two look at each other. The way you sigh wistfully at the mere mention of him. Something is there. And if everything has indeed changed, so be it. That’s part of life. Though I definitely think these changes could do you some good. You’ve been living for everyone else. Be a little selfish and have some fun while you still can.”
There’s a bit of pain tightening my grandmother’s eyes at those final words. Something niggles at my mind as I try to place why. I take a quick stock of her face, beautiful still, but layered with a tiredness I can’t place.
“Are you okay, Grandma?”
A sheen layers over her eyes, but she blinks them away quickly while placing a smile on her mouth. “I’m fine, Gwenny. Just having a bit of a flashback of when your father was courting your mother.” She swipes a thumb under my eye, grabbing the tear I had not realized wasbeginning to fall. “Think about going. You never know what could happen.”
With her final piece of advice, she lightly nudges me over to the register where the couple stands pointing to the specials of the day. There’s a playful banter between them over which treat they would split today.
“Are you sure you’re okay, Ophelia?” I ask as she takes a couple hurried steps toward the kitchen. She glances back at me, a watery smile on her face as she blows me a kiss and a wink to say she’s fine.
I can’t help the feeling that’s rooted in my chest.
***
The knock on my front door sends my heart into a rapid beat. Not that it wasn’t already, because it definitely has been working overtime since I woke up this morning. Actually, ever since Logan invited me on this mini-trip, if I’m being honest. But up until today, I was able to dive headfirst into work and spend time with Rowan in the evenings since Jackson had the late shift at the clinic, which kept my focus elsewhere.
Today was a different story.
Ophelia and Stacy ran the show at the cafe while I headed to the warehouse converted from an old barn that housed the town’s many-years-old seasonal decorations and random furniture. It was on the outskirts of town, leftover from when Masterson Grocers moved to their new location. The festival booths were located there, and it gave me the perfect excuse to get away from people for a little while to make sure they were still in good condition. If I were going to have a minor (read: major) freak out about going on an overnight date with Logan, I was going to do it away from watchful eyes.
