Page 44 of Love Notes
“Why don’t you both use story sticks?Elena can put measurements on hers if she wants.”He’d shown me the story sticks he used instead of a measuring tape.They were simple and ingenious.Each stick was cut for each project.It didn’t matter what length they were, as long as he used the same one for each project.“My grandma used to make all the cousins Christmas sweaters every year, and she’d measure us with a piece of yarn.And I don’t think she was dyslexic or anything.It was just handy.”
Ryan tipped his head back and looked at the stars.“I guess.”
“Ryan, she thinks you’re agenius.”
He snorted.“Maybe.”
He sounded like he didn’t believe me, but I was right.I’d spent enough time in the workshop when Elena was there to know there was nothing he could do that would make her think less of him.She had a serious case of hero worship, and she lit up whenever he told her she was doing a good job.It was only a trial period at the moment, but I had no doubt Ryan would employ her officially once she finished high school.He was already talking about how he could increase the number of orders he took if he had Elena to help with the workload.
“Honestly, the only thing you could do to ruin her opinion of you would be if you launch that boat when it’s done, and it sinks straight to the bottom of the lake.”
“Don’t even joke about that,” he said with another snort.“It could happen.”
It wouldn’t.
It was peaceful on the lake at night and cool.The breeze rustled in the trees and whispered up little waves that lapped at the lakeshore.The temperature had gone down with the sun, but it wasn’t quite cold enough to go inside for a coat.Not when it was so nice sitting here.
The cat sashayed along one of the logs on the other side of the fire pit.Then, deciding it was her seat, she sat and gave us both an imperious stare.I clicked my fingers for her, and she ignored me.
“I sent my draft off to Anita today,” I said.
“That’s great!”
“I think she’s going to like it.Leo, her assistant, keeps sending me gifs of guys kissing, so he’s obviously already had a sneak peek.”I glanced up as an owl flew overhead.“I feel pretty good about it.And Ben went nuts when I sent him the chapter with the kiss, so at least one fan is going to buy a copy.”
“More than that, I bet,” Ryan said.
I hummed.“Well, hopefully.Otherwise I’ll be looking for a new job real soon.Have you got room for another apprentice?”
“I know you too well to let you near power tools.”He watched me rub my hands together.“Are you getting cold?”
“A little, but it’s too nice to go inside.”
“Stay here then,” he said.
He pressed a kiss to my cheek before standing up and heading to the cabin.He was back a few minutes later with the blanket from the couch, and he draped it around my shoulders.He stepped over the log and sat beside me again.
I pulled the edges together, warmed by more than the blanket.
“I could start a fire if you want.”
“It’s fine,” I said.“Though, for the record, we should do that one night soon.We can invite the guys and make s’mores.I’ll bet Haider only lets you use fancy chocolate for s’mores, right?”
Ryan ducked his head and grinned.“Maybe.He has strong opinions about grocery store chocolate.”
“As he should,” I said.“Compared to what he makes, can you even call the stuff from the grocery store chocolate?”
My time at Harmony Lake was almost at an end, but I wasn’t too upset about it.Mostly because I’d already decided I was coming back as soon as I could.There were things I needed to sort out at home, like how much of my stuff I’d be bringing with me and how to get it here, but the last month had proved how many of my possessions I didn’t actually need.It turned out that I was just fine living out of a suitcase as long as I had my laptop, although admittedly I was missing some of my books.I’d expected to feel at least a small tendril of panic worming through my guts when I’d committed to the idea of moving, but I hadn’t.It felt right.I’d signed up for a lease at a small apartment in town because I figured Ryan and I could use a little space to make sure this wasn’t just the honeymoon period, and he’d agreed, but I also figured that I’d still be spending most of my time out here at the cabin anyway.Ryan had already asked me how many books I had and was building a shelf for them in the downstairs bedroom, which he said could be my office when I came to live with him at the cabin.Harmony Lake, as long as Ryan was here, was already home.
“Have you told Rebecca I’m coming back yet?”I teased him now, knowing he’d been avoiding that conversation.
“She’s gonna be mad she made so many cookies,” he muttered.
“Hey, you still did her a huge favor!”
He grinned at me.“Taking my side against my sister already?I like that.”
“I think it’s in the terms and conditions when you sign up for a new relationship,” I said.“‘Have your boyfriend’s back, even if he’s a giant scaredy cat who’s afraid to tell his sister you were together this whole time.’”
