Page 8 of Everything Has Changed
Not to mention the need to make this the best year ever, something both Mr. and Mrs. Spencer repeated over and over in the meeting, was looming over my head. Would he truly want to help or did he want to sabotage in the name of sticking it to his parents?
I nibble on my lower lip to buy myself a moment to decide on what to say. It’s not until I catch the flash in his eyes as they track my mouth that I release it. The attention makes my skin burn hot enough that I know it’s turning a shade or two pink, thanks to my pale skin.
“Actually, I have to get back to the shop.” I jut my thumb down the street and take a half step in that direction, grateful for the ready-made excuse of my business to slam between us.
“How about tomorrow, then? We can grab lunch or something.”
“Um, sure.” This was inevitable, clearly. A day should give me time to hyperfixate over this interaction and get my shit together. I move another step away from him. “How about you meet me at The Willow Whisk? About two? That should give us a little time between rushes.” And give me home field advantage if I need it.
His hands sliding into the pockets of his slacks makes him seem much more at ease than I currently feel. “I’ll be there.”
Ready to leave the conversation, I send a small wave in his direction—unsure what to do with my own hands—and turn on my heel quickly so I can put some space between us.
“Hey, Gwen,” he calls out. I stop, turning halfway to look at him again with an eyebrow raised in question.
“It’s really good to see you again.” The smirk that plays on his lips heats me up from the inside, but it’s the playful flare in his eyes that has that building fire shooting straight to my core.
I gulp to myself. How many times did I dream about Logan Spencer giving me that look when we were younger? Too often to count. But now that I was finally on the receiving end of his flirty look, I couldn’t help but feel that it was a little too late. Especially as the echo of the last time I saw him rang out in my head.
Still, that didn’t keep me from feeling butterflies. The difference between then and now, though, is I’m not the same meek girl I once was.
“Hey, Logan.”
His smile widens even more. “Yeah?”
“Save the flirting for someone who doesn’t know any better.”
His hazel eyes flare bright gold as he huffs out a laugh, confusion marring his face as his eyebrows knit together. I quickly make my way down the sidewalk before I overthink my parting words and make it awkward for both of us.
***
“Tell me again what you said to him.”
I giggle, placing my phone on the kitchen counter so I could have two hands to open the wine bottle in my hands. “I already repeated this story twice, Pipes.”
“Yeah,” her voice comes through on the speaker. “But I never would have thought there would be a day when Logan Spencer was giving his patented goo-goo eyes at you just for you to block him out.”
Releasing the cork from its confines, I pour the white wine into a glass, then top it off a little more for good measure.
“Now, if only I can keep it up for the next month.”
I take my glass, perching myself on the reading chair next to the window overlooking Main Street. My little patio twinkles with lights I definitely purchased during some after-Christmas sale and leave up all year round. Normally, I would rather end my evening with a good book and a glass of wine out there, but with how nosy this town was, I didn’t need anyone listening in on my phone conversation.
“I know it’s not ideal that this is suddenly a group project, but that’s awesome that you were picked to help plan the festival. You’ve wanted this for so long. I bet it was that adoption fair you set up for Jackson at the vet clinic this summer. That had to be what really set her sights on you.”
I blush at the recognition, something I wasn’t comfortable with, even though part of me craved the praise. I was working on making the two sides of myself mingle, even if it felt foreign right now.
“Thanks, Pipes. That was a good event.”
“Good?” She scoffs. “Honey, you helped them get all the pets adopted in one day. Take the kudos.”
As usual, my best friend knew exactly what I needed to boost my self-esteem.
I open my mouth to say something when a crash hits the opposite side of my apartment wall, sending a small shelf of books scattering to the floor.
“What the hell was that?” Piper cries out.
I sigh. “I think it’s the new neighbor. I saw a moving company hauling stuff yesterday. They must be unpacking because I keep hearing noises coming from behind the wall.” I pick up the books from the floor so they don’t get damaged from the bent angles they landed in. Another rattling bang hits the wall.
