Page 2 of Fruit and Flash

“You could use a buddy,” Leon tells me matter-of-factly. I narrow my eyes at the implication I’m lonely. “Maybe train him to help when the animals get loose?”

“That’s an idea.” If he is part collie, they are great with herding and farm work. “Let’s get Shadow here back to the farmhouse and I’ll rustle him up something to eat.”

On the drive back, I try to keep the puppy off my lap, but it’s a losing battle when he cuddles up and falls asleep. Petting him absently while I drive slowly from the orchard around to the front of my property, I remember the dog called Shadow in one of my favorite childhood movies.

This Shadow is a puppy and not an old golden retriever, but it still strikes me as nostalgic. Maybe I could use something in my life that loves me unconditionally. My sister hasn’t let up trying to set me up, and I like the idea that training a puppy is a good excuse to beg off dates.

Leon leaves and I take Shadow inside to find a good bowl to give him some more water. I don’t know if he’s old enough for hard kibbles, and I don’t have any to give him, so I mix up leftover brown rice and pork from my dinner last night. Shadow goes at the food like a velociraptor, so it must be alright.

“Let me shower off the sweat and I’ll take you to town,” I tell him and head through the living room towards the hallbathroom. Shadow is right at my heels the whole way, and whines when I try to close the door. “This is probably starting your training off wrong, but you need a bath too. Come on.”

Starting the day, all I thought about was getting my work done and not thinking about Kai too much. Again.

Now I have a new goal in mind, making sure my new puppy is healthy, and it feels good.

Chapter one

Kai

Sometimes,lifethrowsyoucurveballs and laughs at the irony. I never expected to return to the small town of Foggy Basin, but here I am. Portland was fun for a month, then I went on to Seattle and made my way to Vancouver in British Columbia at the beginning of summer. I might have stayed there longer, loving the weather and the people, but an opportunity popped up.

When I got a flat tire on a side quest going north on the California interstate, I had no idea one of my favorite fashion designers, Ezra Strum Designs, has a shop in Foggy Basin. I was so distracted by a certain hunky farmer, I didn’t see Ezra or his shop until later. He was there in vivid color with his rock star partner at the small town pride, and I wish I’d stayed longer. Which is why I’m back.

That same cowboy-hat-wearing man I was into might have also been a draw.

When I reached out about the coincidence of my being in the town at the same time, we struck up a friendship. Now we message a few times a week and I’ve started helping him with social media for the shop and his brand. He mentioned he has a free couch in the apartment over Beauty and the Boutique, and now I’m driving into town again.

On one hand, it’s good there’s no parade today, so Main Street isn’t blocked off, but the rainbows all over had brightened it up. The dashboard of my rental car—a hybrid instead of the electric one I started with, since I don’t like relying on when I can charge—tells me it’s over a hundred degrees out. I’ve been on the coast in the Pacific Northwest through spring and half of summer, so I’m bracing for the heat when I park on the wide street and open my door.

As expected, the hot air hits me like a physical blow, but it’s not as humid as the heat in Hawai’i, so I know I’ll be fine once I’m in air conditioning, which I assume they must have to survive this. I also need the bathroom as I haven’t stopped in over four hours since my southern Oregon gas fill-up.

A bell rings over the door as I push it open under the bright yellow Beauty and the Boutique sign and am met with much cooler air. Bright, modern, and stylish, it’s the opposite of what you expect coming from the quaint, old town. There are racks of clothing and tables with beauty products, the scent of expensive cologne, a corner with lingerie and at the check-out counter is the person I am expecting to see.

“Kai?” Ezra smiles brightly and sashays over to greet me in a flowy, blue, boho romper I recognize from his recent fashion show. His blond hair is the kind of artfully messy I know takes effort.

“That’s me,” I confirm and let Ezra pull me into a hug before stepping back. His subtle makeup is perfect and I tell him so. “Love the day look.”

“Thank you,” he gushes. “Yours too!”

“Psh, I’ve been on the road all day,” I tell him while also preening. After years on social media, I live off compliments.

“Oh my gosh, you must need to bring in your luggage and freshen up? Olly, can you guys come out here?” Ezra calls over his shoulder and a hot man with tattoos comes through a curtain followed by a middle-aged woman with wild hair. “This is my partner and his aunt, Tessy. She works in the shop sometimes, so you’ll see her around.”

“I recognize you,” I say to Ezra’s man. He’s a famous musician who also pops up on Ezra’s social media. “You’re in Arcade Lake, right?”

“Used to be, yeah,” Olly replies, and I wonder if I stepped in something sensitive. I’m thankful he’s smiling as he offers a hand. “Nice to meet you. Kai, right?”

“Yep, Kai Hale. Or Hale underscore Kai online,” I add, always in promotion mode.

“You’re cute as a button,” Tessy comments and pulls me into a grandmotherly hug, making me miss my own grandma as I’m enveloped in the scent of lavender and fresh cookies. “All the available men and women in town will be clamoring to meet you.” I don’t tell her I’m gay and the women don’t interest me, but I’m glad she was inclusive. “Ezra says you’re from Hawai’i. Did you fly into Sacramento?”

“No, he drove south from Oregon, remember,” Ezra corrects and puts a gentle hand on my shoulder. “I’m going to show Kai upstairs to the apartment. Would you grab his stuff, Olly?”

Olly nods and I hold up the key fob. “White one, right outside. Thank you!”

Without another word, he marches out into the heat in his black jeans and shirt like it’s not a scorcher. I will have to show off my summer wardrobe while staying here.

“Tessy, can you man the store?” Ezra asks, leading me to the back area they came out of.