Page 98 of A Slice of Summer
“You heard how Raine talked about long-distance relationships.”
“I did.” But Taryn was the one being asked to give up everything. That was too much at this point. She stared at the cement.
“What are you thinking?” he asked.
That they’d shared their hopes, dreams, failures. Hadn’t he listened to hers? Or maybe he didn’t care.
No, she didn’t want to believe that was it. “Look, I get that Lawson’s Bakery isn’t like the fancy ones in L.A. or as successful as your firm. But it’s been in my family for three generations. I can’t pack up and leave without fighting for what’s mine.”
“Neither can I. I’m a rainmaker. Clients hire the firm because of me. Our employees rely on us to keep bringing in business.”
“So does everyone who works at the bakery. I don’t have a company worth of employees, but Jayden, Carl, Finley, Brecken, and Mandy matter.”
“My reputation is tied with the firm.”
“I understand that, and I’m not asking you to move to Silver Falls. But I want you to understand the bakery means everything to me and why I need to be here.”
“I know that, but I can imagine something long-term with you. The possibility of a future together.”
“Same. So what if we give the long-distance thing a try?”
“Being in the same city would be easier.”
“Yes, but we’ve spent what? Four weeks together total, separated by nearly six months. It’s too soon for one of us to uproot our lives.”
He said nothing.
“Garrett?” she asked.
“You’re right.” He didn’t sound that certain. “But I’m not sure how it’ll work.”
“Neither am I, but if this really means something to us, we’ll make it work somehow.”
At least, she hoped so.
*
Sunday morning, Garrettchecked the availability of flights. He wanted to move his flight from tonight to tomorrow or Tuesday, but everything was full.
A knock sounded, and the door opened. Flynn walked in.
Garrett glared at his brother. “I didn’t tell you it was okay to come in.”
Flynn raised an eyebrow as if someone would dare complain about him. Typical of his big brother, who acted as if the world revolved around him. It did at the hospital where he performed surgery and was treated like a rock star by residents and staff. “If we were at home, I wouldn’t knock.”
“But we’re not.”
He rolled his eyes before tilting his head. His trademark move annoyed Garrett and Keaton, but Callie thought Flynn had the bored, entitled pretty-boy look down, so if being a surgeon didn’t work out, he would make a fortune as a lifestyle influencer.
“You were supposed to be downstairs ten minutes ago.” Flynn sounded put out and exhausted, as if he’d climbed Mount Rainier instead of a flight of stairs. The same as he did when he’d been young.
Even though they were in their thirties—except for Callie—some things never changed. “Why is it when we all get together, it’s like we’re kids again?”
“Because no matter how old we get, Mom and Dad still see us as teens, tweens, kids, and toddlers who never do as they’re told.”
Sounded about right. “What’s going on downstairs?”
“Mom has a surprise for us. She said it would be fun.”
