He eyes me again, and this time, I’m sure there’s a glint of something in the dark depths of his irises. I’d like to think I’ve impressed him. That, or I’ve drawn his attention back to our first meeting, where he wouldn’t have been able to learn anything about me from my attire.
Because I was clothes-less.
I fight the urge to cower.
“That’s me,” he says after a minute, and he’s halfway out the door. “See you around, Boo.”
“It’s not too late, you know,” I call after him. He pauses and glances over his shoulder, his eyes narrowed. “You could always change your branding to ‘Big Mack Electric’. Has a nice ring to it, if I do say so myself.”
One side of Mack’s mouth hitches up a fraction of an inch before he turns and stalks off.
It’s not much, but I’m going to count that as a massive win for today.
4
Possessive Pronouns
Mack
From: [email protected]
Subject: Email 1
Dear Holland,
Here goes nothing! Thanks for agreeing to this email-writing scheme. I’m sure after a busy day it’s the last thing you want to do, but like I said, your effort means a lot to me. I’m writing this while I’m waiting to head to your parents’ house for Sunday dinner. I’m nervous! Overall, I’ve had a good first few days in Cashmere Cove. From what I’ve seen of it, I love your hometown.
I know I’ve told you some about my background, so I won’t get into it all again, but suffice it to say, the only place I’ve ever felt like I could call my own was the tiny little bedroom in the upstairs corner of my gram’s house. The paint was the color of the sky, and there were crisp white sheets on the three twin-sized beds that my sisters and I got to sleep in. Gram didn’t have much, but she loved us fiercely. The years we got to stay with her were the safest, most at-home I’ve felt in my entire life. I miss her every day. But I already feel like I could feel at home here in Cashmere Cove. What is it about this place that ropes you in? Is it the way the sun reflects off the water? The colorful buildings on the downtown strip? The lush green trees that surround all the parks? I don’t know. Something about this town makes me want to stay awhile.
I don’t say that to freak you out or put the cart in front of the horse with our relationship or anything like that. Mostly I wanted to say thank you. Thank you for everything you did to set me up with a job here (which I love so far!) and a place for Rose and me to stay (yes, it needs work, but we’re going to make the most of it!).
I’ve always tried to look for the good in my circumstances, and right now, sitting on the deck, listening to the creek running through the backyard of this little duplex, it’s not hard to find. I hope your day has been good too. If not, take a minute to look up—whether it’s morning or it’s night. It’s impossible to feel bummed out when you’re looking up to the sky.
Sending a hometown hug your way tonight!
Xoxo,
Poppy
I’m standing on the porch outside Poppy’s half of the duplex, stalling.
As I was getting ready to come and pick her up to drive her to my parents’ house for family dinner, my phone dinged. I checked it to find an alert from the email account she set up for herself and Holland.
Before I thought better of it, I read her message.
Now I feel icky.
Uncomfortable.
Wondering how to be when I interact with her.
I don’t want to have this insider’s lens into her life and her thoughts. It’s not my place, and it’s going to make things weird between us.
Isn’t it?
I grind my jaw. There’s nothing for it. I need to rip the Band-Aid off. She’s expecting me to take her to meet the family. She’s living in Cashmere Cove. We’re bound to run into each other. I have to get over myself and—
