Page 25 of Right Where You Left Me
“Oh, sure. Thanks, River!”
He winks in response and waves me off and toward where Peyton and Sage are standing.
I swallow my nerves and move up beside Sage. “River said to start walking and he’d catch up.”
“Great.” Sage says and gives me a tiny smile. “This way then.” She gestures down the left side of the street. “We’ll do the loop.” She says when she sees the wonder I’m sure is all over my face. I’ve never been to something quite like this. I’ve been to craft fairs plenty, but this is something much bigger. My mom would say the energy here is eccentric and harmonious all at once. Each side of the street is lined with so many booths I don’t know how we’ll possibly be able to see them all.
“So, anyone here in particular you wanted to see?” I ask Sage and Peyton as we wander down the row. Each artist has their own unique flair to their tables and I’m swept up in awe over how much talent is surrounding us. This is incredible. I really want to stop at every single table, but I don’t know if Sage and Peyton would humor me in that. They seem like this is something they do a lot and are just casually walking by, doing cursory looks over everything as we wander.
“Nah, not really. I do think there’s someone here that River wanted to check out though.” Sage says lightly. “This was his idea and he was very pushy about us coming to this particular event.”
“Check out, orcheck out.” Peyton says with a smirk.
“Knowing Riv, the latter.” Sage says with a smirk of her own.
“Is he a flirt?” I ask.
Sage shrugs. “He can be, but I know there’s a certain artist here that he hasn’t shut up about. Can’t be a coincidence.” She says and laughs as River bounds up behind us.
“Here ya go, Emma.” River says, handing me my drink. It’s in a plastic cup with a lid and straw. “They don’t let you walk around with glass.” He explains.
“Ah. That’s probably for the best.” I chuckle. “Thanks again.” I take a sip of my drink, the fruity flavor floating around my tongue and I try to follow along with the group as they chat around me. I’m so fucking nervous. I don’t know Sage’s friends that well, and everyone else here is just so… eclectic? I don’t even know if that’s a good enough word to describe the vibe surrounding us. I don’t belong here and I don’t want to annoy them with my dumb curiosity. I feel like a fish out of water, and it’s like everyone here knows it. I should make an excuse and tell them I have to go home.
“Anything catching your eye?” Sage asks me, breaking me from my thoughts. “We can stop whenever you want to look at something. We literally have nothing else planned for tonight.”
I slowly blink at her. Is she a mind reader now?
“You forget that I used to know you incredibly well.” She whispers in my ear. “I know that you’re curious, and that you love this kind of shit. So don’t be nervous or think that your joy is too much for us, because we’re here to have fun. So, have fun Emma.”
“Okay.” I wheeze out. And it’s official, I have a big, fat crush on Sage Collins. I have to laugh to myself at that thought. As if the wordcrushcan accurately describe what I’m feeling right now. That the one little word can explain the way my heart is racing inside my chest at her proximity. Her perfume swirling around in my nose making me dizzy in the best way. The way my body tingles at the feel of her breath on my cheek as she’s whispering reassurances to me.
I swallow the emotion that’s clogging my throat and nod in the direction of a table that’s covered in painted bird houses. “Can we look at those?” I ask.
“Of course.” She says with a soft smile. “Oi! We’re looking at bird houses.” She calls to the others and leads us to the table.
Each is hand painted and adorable and I wish I could focus on the craftsmanship, but my mind is reeling at the fact that Sage is standing right next to me, her arm pressed softly against mine. “Your mom would probably love one of these.” She murmurs.
I nod. “Yeah.” I manage it get out. “I was thinking about getting her this one.” I say, pointing to one of the smaller options, it’s painted the same blue as her house. “She’d lose her mind over having a miniature version of her house, but for birds. She loves that kind of stuff.”
Sage chuckles. “She is one of a kind, isn’t she?”
“Yeah.” I whisper. This feels surreal. Like stepping back into the past, sixteen again, joking about my mom’s current obsession. “Can I buy that small blue one please?” I ask the older woman manning the table. She wraps it gently and bids us good night after I’ve paid.
We rejoin River and Peyton who have wandered a little further up the street and are looking at what looks like jewelry made with resin and butterfly wings. Sage jumps on River’s back, the two cackling as we move on. Peyton rolls her eyes, hooking her arm in my free one as we walk behind them and it feels good now. Like maybe I can fit here with them. The nerves from earlier are still there, but they’re buzzing deeper now, a low thrum of something exciting and different. Because when that gorgeous girl with river rock eyes turns to look at me, my heart flips, and I know that I’m in deep, deep shit.
CHAPTER 10
Sage
The street lights above us are twinkling like tiny stars, making her hair shine in the night. She looks otherworldly. Fuckingperfect. As if she actually is an actual tiny elf brought to life from a story book. She’s beaming that gorgeous smile at everyone we meet, taking the time to appreciate each artist’s work. She’s just so genuinely sweet. It’s hard to reconcile this version of her with the version of her that’s been in my mind for so long. She’s not selfish, not cruel. She’s just… Emma. Endearing, kind hearted, Emma. The girl I fell so hard for.
“Can we go look at the pottery over there?” She asks, her cheeks flushed and eyes bright. Some of her hair has fallen ineffortless little wisps that frame her face. She’s in that leather jacket again, and it’skillingme. It’s taking everything in me to not grab her hand and hold it tightly. To wrap an arm around her shoulder and pull her as close to my body as I can in public. I want to stake my claim so that all the other people here tonight know that she’s spoken for.
Which of course, is insane. She’s her own person and can see whoever she wants. She isn’t mine. Regardless of what my stupid caveman brain thinks. We’re finally over all the bullshit and I can’t ruin it. Tonight, I am just a friend. I amnotgoing to cave and start feeling things that I know I shouldn’t for her. I can do that. Easy peasy, lemon— whatever the fuck people say.
“Of course we can. Whatever you want, Em.” I say, hooking my arm through hers. Okay, so maybe I’m being too friendly. But, this is fine…
Emma swoons over a bowl she finds at the potter’s booth. It’s a large salad bowl in beautiful greens. I’m watching her enthusiastically gesture at all the different pieces on the table, bewitched by the happiness pouring out of her, when River leans down and whispers in my ear, “You have it so bad for her.”
