Page 26 of Somewhere You Belong

“Nice. Are you planning on climbing him like a tree?”

“Not why I called, Shauna. Can we focus, please?”

She chuckles. “Sorry. I just thought maybe you could kill two birds with one stone and get laid while you’re down there, too.”

I laugh. “He’s not the one I would want if that were the case.”

Her excitement is palpable, even from miles away. “So you’re saying thereisa man that you want to get it on with?”

“Yes. I mean, no.” I slap my hand to my forehead. “We’re getting off topic.”

“Sorry. Please continue, but you’d better tell me about the man that has you all flustered.”

“There’s no man.”

“Sure…” she draws out.

“Back to the house,” I say, tearing open the plastic on the pale blue shower curtain I chose for the bathroom. “So, Penn showed up today, we did a walk-through, and he determined that most of the issues are cosmetic. However, he insisted the roof be redone and advised that Ireplace the water heater. It’s working for the time being, but given the age of the house, it would probably have to be replaced upon selling it anyway. He checked the foundation, electrical, and the air conditioner and heater, advising I get them serviced, but also asked if there was anything I’d like to change structurally. I really want to put a cut-out in the wall separating the kitchen from the living room to open up the space, and then the more we spoke about things to fix or change, the more energized I got about watching everything come together.”

“You sound invested.”

“I can’t remember the last time I got excited about something like this, Shauna,” I reply honestly. “Probably when I started Marshall Advertising and worked my ass off to make it what it is today. But it’s been years since anything new has happened, and even though that’s typically how I like things, a part of me also knows this isn’t permanent. My goal is still the same—fix the place up, sell it, and return to my life as I know it. But, I figured I could at least stay here for the time being and maybe enjoy the change of scenery...”

Just saying it out loud makes the situation more real by the minute. But my heart likes the sound of this idea the more I entertain it.

Be careful, Willow. You sound like you just might enjoy yourself.

The house needs work, obviously, but it’s all manageable. Deep down, I guess I resonate with it—like me, it’s a little worn down, with flaws I’m not sure can ever be completely mended. With some effort, though, both the house and I can find ways to mask these scars, even if they never fully disappear.

This is my way of trying to make up for my mistakes.

The words from the letter that started all of this cross my mind as I thread the hooks through the holes in the curtain and situate it on the shower rod.

Despite being here against my wishes, something about this place is stirring up a feeling in my chest that I can’t name and, oddly, the same feeling pops up every time the man from the restaurant is near.

It’s a complicated mix of being cautious yet curious, wanting yet holding back, and annoyed but somehow still intrigued.

Still, the fact remains, that man is justanotherdistraction, and that’s the last thing I need to pile on the already chaotic mess that is my life right now.

“That’s a huge decision, Willow. What about your company?” Shauna asks, bringing me back to the conversation.

“I’m going to still be involved, obviously, working remotely until the house is done. Katrina and I will figure out how to manage everything, but—”

“I’m proud of you, you know,” Shauna says, cutting off my thought.

“Why do you say that?”

“Because I know going down there wasn’t easy for you, and now you’re facing this head-on instead of running away.”

“I don’t run away from things,” I argue, feeling immediately defensive, but it’s probably because I know deep down that Shauna is right.

“Willow, you know I love you, but let’s not rewrite history. You weren’t sure about going down there in the first place, and as soon as you called me the other day, I was convinced you’d throw money at this and run. But you’re not. And that’s huge.” She pauses, and then lowers her voice. “I really think you need this, babe. You need an adventure. You need to do something out of your comfort zone for once.”

I stare at the shower wall, one half of the curtain hung up, the other still in my hands. “Part of me agrees with you, Shauna. But hell…I’m questioning if I’m being responsible about it. In the past week, I’ve dealt with a penis palooza within my company, inherited a house froma random stranger that knew my parents, fought off a gaggle of rabid geese, and then the sexy bar owner that acted like I didn’t belong in his town came over just a few minutes ago and asked me to sell this house to him.”

“Geese can’t get r—” she starts before I cut her off.

"I know, I know! It’s an expression,” I huff.

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