Page 30 of A Bittersweet Summer

There’s a very real possibility I’ve done the same thing here, basking in whatever attention Wes gave me without realizinghow much of it had been common courtesy. He listened because I work for him, because he can’t be rude.

Oh my God.

I mutter another thanks and see myself out, letting the screen door slam behind me.

My muscles don’t ache as much when I carry the box of old books into the kitchen.

It’s a sure sign that my time at Miller Run has been well worth it. The first few days had me feeling like my body was broken—waiting to shrivel up and die like a long-forgotten house plant.

I drop the box on the kitchen table, littered with an assortment of other boxes that I dread going through. The move was swift, and so my packing was not incredibly organized.

Ellis and Lennon have taken to sitting on the floor, leaning against the walnut cabinets behind them.

The galley kitchen has them facing opposite directions, staring at each other and laughing about Griffin and Noah pretending they don’t need help getting the couch into the living room.

The house is small, but so far, I like it.

Aged wood writes a story in every corner of the cottage. With the original doors and original cabinets, every chip reminds me of those who’ve come before me. It’s not unlike the farmhouse, though the floors are more level here.

“Do you think this place is haunted?” I ask as Lennon and Ellis swivel their heads in tandem. “It seems pretty old.”

Lennon’s tone is flat when she speaks. “If my house isn’t haunted, I’m sure this one isn’t. That being said, maybe we both have ghosts.”

Ellis grins. “If I get ordained, will you both let me try my hand at cleansing the space with holy water? I imagine I’d feel pretty powerful.”

Lennon scoffs. “Just light some sage and hang a bell in the doorway. Or in Cass’s case, get the horseshoe over the frame.”

“Your other left Noah! Your other fucking left!”

We all b-line for the living room to find Griffin and Noah attempting to navigate the front entryway with half of my sectional bent around the corner. When I hear a scraping sound, I wince. More paint chips to match the rest of the farm.

“Watch it!” Lennon snaps. “You two idiots didn’t want any help, then you'd better be one step away from starting a top-rated moving company. No scraping the doorway.”

Noah turns his head to look at her, sweat beading on his temples as the glasses slide down his nose. “I don’t want to hear a word out of you,” he starts. With his hands gripping the front of the sideways sofa, Noah looks like he’s struggling to keep himself upright. “You’re the one who took a sledgehammer to the wall without so much as a plan.”

Lennon crosses her arms, one eyebrow cocked in challenge. “I pay you to make the plans, actually.”

“You don’t pay me at all.”

Lennon’s brow quirks up. “Monetarily? No, I don’t.”

“Noah!” Griffin snaps from his position outside the house. “Focus and moveleft.”

Ellis giggles next to me, her shoulder bumping mine. “Seems like they have it handled.”

“Do they?” I question.

Ellis’s nose scrunches. “Oh yeah. We can get back to talking about the bridal shower.”

Lennon sidles up next to us. “Sounds good to me. We were thinking of July for the shower, but I want to brainstormlocations. I’m not going to be sweating my ass off the entire time.”

I smile. “Air conditioning for sure.”

Ellis pulls out her phone, scrolling until her face brightens when she finds what she needs. “This is what I was thinking in terms of a dress for the actual wedding.”

She turns her phone around, flashing the image of a satin slip dress, and between the draping neckline and button details, I grab the phone.

“Oh my God, Ellis!” Gathering myself, I hand her phone back to her, shrugging when Griffin and Noah look at me questioningly. The boys walk out to get what I assume to be the other half of the sectional as I turn my attention back to Ellis. “Sorry. That is stunning. You absolutely have to try dresses on.”