Page 102 of Everything Has Changed
My leg bounces under the table with anticipation. “But what, Camila? Spit it out.”
“It all hinges on how well the Harvest Festival does. Think of it as an audition. If the people of this town can prove that their storefronts are worthy of being associated anywhere near their company, they will let it go. But if not…” She shrugs. “You better hope sweet little Gwenny can pull this off.”
“Why are you telling me this? Why hasn’t my father given me this information?”
“If you want my honest opinion,” her long manicured fingers swirl her glass around. “I think he wants them to fail, Gwen most of all.”
“That doesn’t make sense. These are his people; this is his town. Is he really that money-hungry? What does her and her business have anything to do with the millions he is going to make from this deal?”
Camila laughs, but there’s no humor behind it. “This is when you are thinking too narrowly, Logan. It’s not about the money. It’s about the control.” She shakes her head softly. “It’s about you.”
I swallow back the bile rising in my throat. “It’s about Jake.”
Camila takes another sip of her wine, eyeing my reaction. “I know you want to paint me as the villain in your story. And, yeah, I probably deserve it to a point. But you have to understand your father is holding most of the cards, and the best thing to do is shut up and play.”
I shake my head, my index finger slamming into the table for emphasis. “That can’t be the only option, Camila. You have to see that.”
Her head tilts to the side, angling just enough to send a curtain of her chestnut hair falling over her shoulder. “Maybe I can be persuaded.”
“What do you mean?”
“Do you really think I’m so dumb, so naive to believe you would come quietly and play the game our families have laid out for us? You used to know me better than that. Then again, I did a lot of growing up and learning while you’ve been away. A lot of watching quietly in the wings. I’ve seen how these things work. I have an idea of how we can white knight this town in the way you want while still playing their game.”
“But?”
She smirks, and I immediately regret asking.
“But it’s going to come at a price.”
I look around the restaurant. The midday lunch rush is dying down as I realize how long we’ve been here. My phone vibrates on the table. I pick it up to see a text from Gwen, and I can feel my body relax just at her electronic words.
Thank you for the surprise. You didn’t have to do that, but I am so grateful for it. If you’re not too tired after work, I would love to show you just how grateful I am. ;)
(I mean sexually, if you didn’t pick up on the winky face)
I type out a quick reply, unable to keep my grin at bay.
Anything for you. ;) I’ll see you tonight.
“Gag me,” Camila pretends to do just that. “Would it make you more interested if I told you I know exactly what your father has planned if you don’t fall in line? And it has to do with the reason you’re making goo-goo eyes at your phone right now.”
“What do you have in mind?”
36
Gwendolyn
Standing in the gazebo, right smack in the middle of the town square, my feet slowly spin me around as I look out at the festival set up before me. The air is cool in the early morning mountain air. The sun barely sneaks out over the crest of the surrounding peaks. I snuggle into my oversized sweater and soak up the quiet blanketing the town.
The streetlights are still on, dimly lit as they start their routine of turning off for the day. I came out here early this morning to do one more test of the lighting, that includes large bulbs going from post to post around the perimeter, and smaller twinkling ones connecting all of the booths. My vision was very Hallmark movie dreams, and it warmed my heart to see that I did it.
The warm glow of all the lights shines against the autumnal curtains fitted against each booth to give everyone their own comfortable area. Fake strands of leaves wrapped around every pole. Massive pumpkins sit on hay bales around every corner with tinier versions of the same on every table. The gazebo is decorated in the same manner, tying it all together to give the perfect stage for the date auction later.
I turn around to look out the back of the structure, silently counting all the tables and chairs set out for people to sit and chat or enjoy one of the various food options we would have today.
Not a single area as far as the eye could see, from the square to the sidewalks on the opposite side of the road, had been left out in the planning and decorating. It was everything I had ever dreamed of and then some.
“There’s my girl.”
