Page 36 of When the Woods Go Silent

I used to envy Rose’s curves because in jeans and a t-shirt, she looks like a pinup and I look like a teenage boy. But something is changing inside me. Has been for a little while. Maybe it’s being halfway through my twenties, or the fact that I’ve been on my own for so long. Or maybe my confidence was boosted by the money - knowing I can take care of things for myself and Rose is pretty powerful.

And for sure, the move back to Clearwater has settled me. Whatever it is, the girl I see in the mirror tonight finally looks like the girl I see in my mind’s eye, when I visualize my perfect life.

“Welcome home, Rosey,” I whisper, and she kisses the top of my head.

“Babes before boys,” she shoots back, lessening the serious moment and letting the excitement back in. We’re going on a double date. Like the freaking movies, or something.

“And books. Books before boys,” I add.

“Well, of course. But why can’t we have it all?”

“You know, I think we can. Why choose? This is our moment.” I’ve said it a hundred times over the past several months of figuring out the store, the move, the paperwork, the thousands of details involved in setting up a business. And the more I speak it into existence, the realer it feels. Surely, having a bestie, a bookshop, and a boyfriend isn’t asking the universe for too much.

“Come on, I’m hungry,” Rose says, tugging me out of the bathroom.

“I know what you’re hungry for,” I tease, and she scoffs, laughing.

“Let’s go get fed, then.”

When we near the restaurant, I see there are one or two lights on in the dining room, but it definitely isn’t fully lit up. A blond man is standing outside talking to a group of people, and I catch the words “private party.”

“That’s us,” Rose stage-whispers, making me laugh as the guy grins at us, giving Rose a knowing little wink.

The people turn away, watching curiously as we approach. I can’t lie, I feel pretty special right now.

“You ladies look good enough to eat,” he says, raking his eyes down Rose’s figure. Oh, damn. She has him wrapped already.

“No dessert without dinner first,” Rose answers, letting him place a hand against her lower back.

“What if I want dessert first?”

“Tonight isn’t about what you want, blondie,” she says, her voice sliding down to sultry. “This one’s for the girls.”

I want to cheer and give her a fist bump, but I settle for a smirk.

Torrence appears in the doorway to the kitchen as Arlo ushers us into the dining room, where only a corner is lit up. He holds up a platter of mixed appetizers, and my mouth is watering for more than one reason.

“This is for all of us.” His other hand comes from behind his back, flourishing a bottle of their house-made pomegranate liqueur, and I happily settle into one of the offered seats, feeling like a celebrity.

This is going to be a fantastic night.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

RUBY

---