Page 77 of You Found Me in the Dark
Cam was doing that thing again—subtle glances when he thought no one was watching. Only this time, it was aimed at Harper. He was trying to be cool, laid-back. But I saw the way he tracked her hands, her face, the curve of her neck when she twisted around to point out something.
Interesting.
My thumb rubbed lazy circles against Wren’s thigh. She gaveme a look—soft, knowing—and leaned her head back against the seat with a smile. This car, this morning, this feeling—it was all starting to feel like ours. Not just hers. Not just mine.
We were finding our rhythm again, slipping into something that felt steady, even with the chaos in the rearview.
47
WREN
Ithought we were all sticking together—maybe walk the booths, buy some fruit, play it cool with all five of us, and pretend not to notice the tension crackling between Cam and Harper. But the second we stepped out of the car, Harper hooked her arm through mine and Le’s, then yanked us off with purpose.
“We’ll catch up,” she tossed over her shoulder, not giving anyone the chance to argue.
I barely had time to protest. One second, I was sitting next to Reed in the car, the warmth of his hand still buzzing on my thigh, and the next I was being tugged toward a little white tent full of amber bottles and handmade soaps.
“Harper,” I laughed, breathless. “What are you even looking for?”
“Organic hair stuff,” she said, like it was obvious. “And maybe something sweet. There’s a booth down the way with homemade allergy-free lemon squares that changed my life last time.”
Her magenta hair bounced with every step, her space bunsslightly lopsided in the breeze. She looked like she belonged in a summer music video—oversized T-shirt swaying over tiny shorts, and such a perfect deep amber skin tone. As she sniffed something in a dropper bottle labeled lavender scalp tonic, she leaned in casually. “So. I was thinking—what if we had a bonfire at Marina Park Beach?”
I blinked. “Like… tonight?”
“Yeah,” she smiled, “By the water, lights strung up, maybe a few drinks. You, me, Cam, Reed, Lena. Maybe even drag Dax out of hiding if I bribe him with s’mores.”
“You girls know I amalwaysdown for a good time.” Lena chimed in.
The idea lit something warm in my chest. That park had always felt a little magical at night—waves lapping up against the rocks, the sky wide open above you. If I squinted hard enough, I could see us there already. Laughter, a blanket wrapped around my shoulders, Reed beside me.
“I love it,” I said, a smile tugging at my lips. “Let’s do it.”
Harper grinned, grabbing a jar of sugar scrub that smelled like cinnamon buns. “I thought you might.”
We moved on to the next stall that Lena pointed out, calledPretty Paints. Every color was vibrant, beautiful, and made from a different flower.
“Pick out what you want, Wrennie! It’s on me!” Le smiled, pulling out her wallet.
I knew it was pointless to argue with my cousin, so I chose three different shades of yellow. I wanted to paint something for Reed’s wall at the shop. I had so many ideas running through my head as Lena paid the sweet old lady.
“You guys are my first sale today! Thank you so much for stopping by. If you do come back, I want to see what you createdwith those colors!” She spoke slowly, handing Lena the bag of paints.
Lena smiled softly, “Thank you! Wren will be happy to show you what she creates. Do you have a tip jar?”
The lady replied, “Oh, goodie! I do, but please, you girls stopping by and purchasing paints is more than enough.”
Harper shook her head, digging through her purse to grab her wallet. She put a folded-up bill in the jar. Lena had paid for the paints but contributed to the tip jar as well. I emptied my change purse into the tip jar and gave her a twenty-dollar tip as well.
“You girls did not have to do that,” tears welled up in her eyes. “This is my first market after my husband’s passing last month, and I came for him. He loved to talk about the paint he created with fellow artists. I was beginning to think coming was a mistake. Thank you, ladies, so much. You are healing this old lady’s heart.” She walked around the booth, pulling all three of us into a hug.
When she finally let go, she dried her tears that had fallen. We exchanged names, and I even gave her my phone number. I let her know that if she ever needs anything, help at the market, help around the house, or a friend that she can call me.
After helping her pack her supplies, we went our separate ways.
“We really are good fucking people,” Lena giggled, wrapping her arms around our shoulders.
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