Page 61 of How to Kiss a Hawthorne Brother
By the time I’m finished with my meal, I’ve made a million mental notes for the article pitch I’m going to write about Lennox’s new restaurant. Come to think of it, I could probably get two or three articles out of Stonebrook. The commercial side of the farm, the event side, and now the restaurant.
The thought starts a cascadeof thoughts, likely prompted by my morning foray into considering a more permanent life in Silver Creek.
It only takes a moment for my brain to catalog half a dozen destinations I could write about in Western North Carolina. The food scene in Asheville is big, and the brewery scene is even bigger. Plus, there are multiple national forests, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Biltmore House. There are endless hiking trails and waterfalls. There’s whitewater rafting and kayaking, and of course, the Green River Green Race.
I wouldn’t find the same sponsored trips that have been the bread and butter for my mostly European-based career, and it would probably narrow my audience. The pay per article probably wouldn’t be as good, but if I’m not living abroad, maybe making less wouldn’t be such a big deal.
It’s a risky thought. More of a career pivot than a subtle shift. But no less so than hanging up my suitcase altogether and moving to London to be an editor.
I carry a stack of plates into the kitchen, hesitating when I find Brody and Olivia standing next to the refrigerator talking. Or maybe arguing? Olivia’s arms are folded, her expression stern, and Brody has his hands perched on his hips.
“I’m not the only one who is worried,” Olivia says. Her words cut off when Brody’s eyes cut to me.
She turns her back, and Brody immediately rushes over to take the dishes out of my hands.
“Come on,” he says after setting them in the sink. “You ready to go?”
My eyes flit to Olivia, but she’s turned away from us, rummaging through the cabinet above the stove.
“I was going to help your mom do the dishes.”
“Don’t worry about it. Perry will do them. Let’s hit the trail before it gets too hot.”
I offer the rest of his family a too-quick goodbye, then follow Brody to his truck. Thereissomething he isn’t telling me, and he’s going to tell me what it is right now.
“What’s going on, Brody?” I ask as soon as he cranks the engine. “Why are we leaving so fast? And what aren’t you telling me about Olivia? Shedoesn’twant me in Silver Creek, does she?”
He blows out a sigh. “It isn’t that.”
“Then what is it?”
“They’re just worried about . . . me, I guess.”
“Because of me?”
“Because of our friendship.”
“I’m still not following.”
He turns the truck onto Big Hungry Road. “Kate, it really doesn’t matter. You don’t need to worry about it. Olivia is being unreasonable about this.”
“About what? Please just tell me. I promise I can handle it.”
He huffs out a heavy sigh. “She’s worried that as long as you’re home, I won’t date.” He lifts his shoulders in a loose shrug. “Because I’ll spend all my free time with you.”
I sink back into my seat. Honestly, I can’t fault her the worry. It makes sense. “Oh.”
“It’s not a big—”
“No,” I say, cutting him off. “I get it. I guess I have been monopolizing your time.”
“It doesn’t feel that way.I’mnot complaining, all right? I like spending time with you. I don’t mind not dating for a couple of months. It’s nice to have a break if I’m being honest.”
I don’t know why his comment stings, but it does. Maybe because he’s labeling the time he spends with me asnot dating.Even though it isn’t. There wasthe holding that happened the other night before we took things to Goodwill, and when we hugged in my grandmother’s kitchen, I felt like my entire body was wrapped in a live wire.
But I could be making all of that up.
Oh no.What if Iammaking it all up?
