Secondhand secrets, p.7
Secondhand Secrets, page 7
A sharp prickle formed over the base of Chip’s neck and travelled down the rest of his body, stealing his words as he stared at the long chain of code glowing from his computer screen. All those symbols and commands held the keys to a world of financial and creative freedom he couldn’t even begin to imagine being his. “I… ahh… thank you for the call, Jay. I guess I’ll be seeing you in three weeks?”
“Sure thing. The board is looking forward to hearing what you have to offer. Until then, I’ll have my assistant email the details. See you then.”
Jay hung up, and Chip lowered his phone ever-so-slowly to his desk, his hand resting atop the device for the longest time.
After five years at MIT. His internships. The late nights at his desk. The risk of an unsightly blank spot on his resume while he worked on his own project. The risk in defying his dad’s wishes—Stonewall being what his dad dubbed “a baseless dream.” Chip now had a one-in-three chance at being the developer behind his very own multi-million-dollar product. A chance to live his life so far from anyone’s criticisms and control.
His legs worked of their own volition and lifted him from his chair until he paced the room. He kept his fingers interlaced behind his head and blew out a flustered breath, needing to get back to work but too hyped to do so.
Now, his mind raced to Ally, to her admission that she didn’t want anyone who would leave her behind. That she also had no plans of living anywhere but Harlow, while he still had little idea where his life was headed beyond pinning his mind to launching his career. Did he need to call her? Tell her what had happened? Was their relationship at the point of making phone calls? Or even sharing random good news? Probably not.
After all, she had a point. Even if he did want her more than what was healthy, it wouldn’t be fair for him to drag her down a path of no return. There’d be two broken hearts. Rather than just the one he’d had that first time he’d left town. Besides, his connection with her was way too fresh and non-committal to ask her to consider following him anywhere.
No. For all his smarts, even he couldn’t change his numbered days in Harlow. He’d have to focus on the next weeks. Ensure his future with Encode. Enjoy his short time with Ally before life pulled them apart a second time.
Eleven
The next day, the brass bell tinged above Oak Tree Furniture’s door and shifted Ally’s attention away from the receipts she tallied at the white glass counter.
“Is Blaine in?” Emilia power walked over, a standard-sized envelope clasped in one hand, her beautiful dark curls flowing in her wake.
“He’s repairing a window fitting at a house across town.” Ally waited for Emilia to reach her, glad that only one customer remained amongst the store’s sea of dining settings and beds.
If not talking to Sarah didn’t suck enough, Chip’s home visit meant Ally now had things to say and no one to say them to. But with Emilia here, well, her presence changed everything. Besides, she wasn’t Chip’s sister so even better.
“Say, how ‘bout you stick around for a cool drink?” Ally tried to offer a smile that didn’t look calculated. “I don’t think Blaine’ll be much longer, anyway.”
Emilia’s warm Mediterranean complexion sported a rosy blush, and she fanned her face with the envelope. “You know, I could do with a break from running about town. Sheesh. Summer in Harlow is hotter than I figured.”
“That’s right, this is your first summer in town, isn’t it?” She rounded the counter and hooked an arm through Emilia’s, leading her to the back, past the living room displays of oak, maple, and ash furnishings. All Blaine’s creations. The man was closer to a loveably annoying older sibling than a boss, the sale of his work enabling him to provide Ally some financial help. First with this job and then with the shelf he allowed her to keep filled with her own vases and handmade homewares. Even though it wasn’t a huge source of sales in his store. “Give it a few weeks, it’ll only get hotter.”
The small table of complimentary iced lemon water stood along the back wall, Blaine’s workshop hidden on the other side, even though Ally liked to leave the door open when he wasn’t around, so customers had a glimpse of furniture pieces mid-creation.
If she had her way, the back wall would sport a giant sound-proof window, so everyone could watch Blaine work, but being on display wasn’t his thing.
Now, she poured water from a bulbous, blue glass jug into two matching glasses. “So, how is everything?”
“I have a wedding to plan while building a new business.” Emilia chuckled and lifted the envelope back into view. “So, a little hectic, to be honest, but I came today with good news.”
“Ooo. What is it?”
Ally reached for the envelope, only for Emilia to snatch it back.
“This is my first cheque.”
Ally laughed and handed Emilia some water, the glass’s chill lingering on her palm, the sharp scent of lemon hanging between them. “Well then, can’t say I blame you for being possessive.”
“Exactly, but”—Emilia took a sip of water, her ensuing small sigh a hint that she’d really needed refreshing—“remember how I had you sweet-talk my friend a bit more than a month ago while Blaine was in the hospital?”
“Rochelle? Oh yah, sure.” Ally paused, her insides churning at the memory of having to fill in because Emilia’s ex returned to town seeking revenge, and Blaine had been shot trying to protect her. “She was nice enough to follow me from our display at the town fair and to the shop for a better look at our range.”
“Well, she liked you too. You did such a great job talking up Oak Tree that Blaine landed his first wholesale order… and this first cheque.” Emilia gave an excited laugh and tapped Ally’s arm with the envelope. “Since I have another idea, today’s good news isn’t just for Blaine, it’s for you too.”
“Idea?” Ally’s sole customer now headed for the door, leaving hope that the conversation she’d been eager to rope Emilia into would still happen. “What do you mean?”
“Well, during my brief stint working at the nursery, I got very familiar with your plant pots, and Ally, I think your work is something I can sell.” She did a quick bounce on her heels, the strain in her wide grin begging Ally to reciprocate her excitement.
“I… I mean, sure.” Ally closed her mouth out of fear she’d stumble on yet more words. She wanted to get all giggly over the offer, but just as fast as any joy surfaced, doubt came crashing in. What if Emilia invested a lot of effort, only to sell nothing? “But there are so many potters out there, why mine?”
“Why not yours?” Emilia laughed. “I mean, I’d been planning on asking if you’d make some glazed-heart favors for my wedding—”
“You what?”
Emilia swatted a hand as though the added request were no big deal. For Ally, Emilia’s trust in her to deliver such a personal request, one that would serve as a gift to her guests, meant everything. Probably more than any vague chance to sell her work.
“I know people, Ally.” Emilia lowered her voice, her heavier tone imploring Ally to listen, to give her first offer some genuine thought. And truth was, Emilia did know people. She’d been an L.A. socialite, after all. “The people I’m thinking of own a decor company that specializes in garden pieces. I just might be able to secure a deal to distribute your art on a larger scale, just like I did with Oak Tree.”
A seemingly endless silence stretched out, and Ally stared at Emilia, her jaw loose, and her overly dry throat failing to form words. She was experiencing an artist’s version of a near-death experience, the winding path to where she stood now flooding her brain with memories.
She’d first touched clay in junior high, her preceding time in art school giving her access to lessons from professional potters. She’d learned how to “pull” vessels into shape on a wheel. Had kilns and glazes at her disposal. So despite the huge expense, she’d returned to Harlow determined to save for her own equipment.
Oh, and bless Blaine and Aggie. They’d hatched a plan for her to work at Oak Tree and provided a rent-free studio at the nursery, also allowing her to sell her art through both businesses. This year included the go-ahead to run children’s art classes at the nursery, with Harlow town council onboard, including Ally’s classes in the town’s official summer school holidays program.
“I… ahh…” As much as she wanted to back out, that she couldn’t possibly be good enough, other people had invested in her, and they’d rightfully never let her live down rejecting this offer. “Yeah, okay.”
Emilia gave a high, happy squeak and tapped Ally’s arm with the envelope again. “Right decision. Just leave the rest with me. If things work out how I think they will, let’s just say, your life will change fast.”
As if that wasn’t happening already.
Then again, Emilia didn’t know about last night. About Chip and how things had changed. Fast and forever. Faster than Ally could keep up with. And still, she couldn’t commit to that change being one she wanted.
The tension in her throat forced her to swallow, her eyes strained under the effort to keep focus on Emilia. “Can we talk?”
Emilia’s smile collapsed, and she gave a hurried nod, like she read Ally’s darkening mood. “What’s happened?”
“There’s this boy—”
“Another one?” Emilia slapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes moon-shaped with visible embarrassment and regret.
Ally laughed before rolling her eyes, unable to blame Emilia. There had been multiple crushes, and every single one of those a failure.
“I’m sorry”—Emilia lowered her hand—“please, go on.”
Just to punish Emilia, Ally did a half turn and placed her glass down on the small, white table beside her, taking her time to wipe condensation from her fingers. Although the enlarged pause punished her more since she’d have to admit to something she’d never figured she would. “Well, this boy is different. Very different.”
“Oh, you mean the guy from the ball game?” Emilia’s smile grew into a full-scale beam. “Sarah’s brother.”
“You know?”
Emilia chuckled and gave a big and repeated nod. “Even Blaine noticed the energy pinging between you two at the game.”
Cheeks turning hot, Ally veered her gaze, the muscles in her throat still thick and hard to speak through. “Was I that obvious?”
“When aren’t you, Ally?” Emilia held a pause, her words and the ensuing silence prompting Ally to look to her. “You wear your emotions all over that beautiful face of yours, like right now. Why do you look so worried? Chip Overton is one cute guy and, by all accords, nice too.”
A manic energy stirred within Ally, and a derisive laugh shot past her lips. “Because he’s more than just Sarah’s brother, which is bad enough now that we don’t get along. Chip and I grew up together, were even in the same grade at school. Worst still, up until he left, we were best friends.”
Emilia shrugged. “I’m struggling to see the problem here.”
Ally spluttered another sarcastic laugh, thankful she’d lowered her glass. Otherwise, she might have accidentally spat water all over the shop floor. “We were too close. Heck, when we weren’t in school together, he was at my house, and everyone in Harlow would call him my unofficial brother.”
“Oh. Ewww.” Emilia wrinkled her nose. “Wow, yeah, that is awkward.”
“Right?” Ally bit her lower lip, delaying the next thing she had to say. “And seeing him again… He’s so different… and then last night, I don’t know how, but… but we kissed.”
“Wait. What?” Emilia’s voice shot higher, and she lashed out her hands, grabbing Ally’s arms and tugging her in. “You kissed him?”
“Well, yeah, though he didn’t much appreciate me admitting the whole thing was weird.”
Emilia let loose with a series of stupefied blinks, her lips parted in a way that confessed an inability to know what to say.
So, Ally stared at the ground and spared her friend by offering further explanation. “But it wasn’t the kiss that was weird, it’s that I’m even attracted to him in the first place. And I know I’ve been here countless times before with other guys, but this one really does feel different.”
“Because you two were so close?” Emilia’s lowered tone indicated her shock had settled, but Ally shook her head again, still trying and failing to process her feelings.
“That, but there’s more too. For so long, he was everything I didn’t want.” She lifted her gaze, catching the small and confused twist of Emilia’s brow. “We’ve both changed so much, Emilia. And Chip, he’s different and scary. As in, so smart and sure of everything he does while having this unexplainable intuitive grasp of what I’m thinking. I wouldn’t know where to start with a man like that. Jeez Louise, even if I did, there’s just no going back if things don’t work out. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do here.”
A gentle smile played at Emilia’s lips, her fingertips curling into a reassuring grip around Ally’s arms. “Sounds like you had a solid decade to disassociate from whatever bonds you two had. Things feel different because they are different. You could start with getting to know the man he is today.”
“I don’t know if I want to.”
“Why?”
“Because ever since I’ve known him, he’s had this bright future mapped out. I, on the other hand—”
“Shine bright in your own way”—Emilia reached up and tapped the tip of Ally’s nose—“and don’t you forget that.”
She released Ally from her hold and dipped her head, her stance denoting a moment of thought. “He’s not in town for long.”
“Yep, which is why I told him nothing can happen between us.”
Emilia whipped her chin up and leveled a death stare Ally’s way. “Not with that attitude, it won’t.”
“I don’t need another soul-destroying crush.”
But Emilia swatted a hand at Ally’s husky admission, her attention dropping again, as though she returned to whatever plan she hatched. “Look at Blaine and I. We bridged ten years apart as well as my temporary plans in Harlow and my being fresh from my first marriage. Plus, don’t forget, I even had my ex literally gunning to end me. So in comparison, getting you and Chip to work will be easy.”
“Except if it isn’t, then I’m lumping you with my therapy bill.” Ally held a flat tone and stare, even though the light fluttering in her tummy said the woman’s logic already took effect. “What if this goes all wrong? I’m not on great terms with his sister. If things go bad with Chip, she’ll probably make friends with the syndicate just put a hit out on me .”
Emilia gave a light chuckle. “But you like him, don’t you?”
Wanting to escape the weight of Emilia’s scrutiny, Ally stared down at the white floorboards and offered a weak nod.
“Great.” Emilia’s enthused tone had Ally lifting her chin. “And are you tied to living in Harlow forever, or would you consider relocating for love?”
She scowled at Emilia for a bit, not happy to confront her old habit of throwing herself all-in for a man, much less consider sacrificing her ties to her entire family. “I want to see the world, but leave Harlow and my family altogether? That’s a major leap of faith, dontcha think.”
“And yet that’s not an outright no.” The woman’s gaze swept over her. “Where’s your phone?”
“In my pocket…” Ally pitched a frown. “Why?”
“Don’t even stop to hesitate. Send Chip a message right now. Just tell him to meet you tonight.” Emilia crossed her arms and gave a resolute shrug. “You haven’t got all that long to decide how you feel, and the only way to do that is to spend as much time with him as you can… while you can.”
“Nah-ah.” Ally shook her head, pressing a protective hand over her phone tucked in her short denim skirt’s only pocket. “That’s not going to happen. I can’t—”
Emilia shot back a hard scoff. “Yeah, well, you already have. You kissed him, and it was clearly good enough to leave you all tied up and confused. I’d even wager you’ve barely thought about anything other than Chip since.”
Ally narrowed her eyes into a half-hearted glare. “No comment.”
“Yeah, exactly.” Emilia matched Ally’s expression. “So, get your phone out of your pocket. Now.”
For the first time ever, Ally saw what Blaine meant when he complained about his fiancée’s stubbornness. Still, not quite ready to surrender, Ally slipped the phone from her pocket and clutched it to her chest.
“Damn it, Ally.” Even as Ally shook her head and backed away, Emilia lunged forward and snatched the phone from her fingers. “Fine, I’ll do it.”
Stuck between wrestling this smaller woman, or allowing Emilia to take over where Ally lacked courage, Ally just gawped and muttered a weak sounding question, “What are you doing?”
“Saving you from regret.” Emilia tapped away at Ally’s phone, occasionally peering through her lashes to shoot Ally a stern stare. “Chip is all grown up now, so give the man a chance to prove himself. In a few short weeks, you’ll know if he’s your dud of the decade or the man of your dreams.”
Twelve
Ally knocked at Chip’s front door, a mild ache lingering across her knuckles as she eyed the pale, beveled wood plane before her. Footsteps grew louder from inside, signaling his approach and causing her to back away on the porch’s crackling aged timber.
Before long, he appeared at the threshold, his lips the slightest bit parted while his gaze did a slow glide down her body. “I thought you were joking.”
She peered down at herself, at her sheer blue wrap shrouding her orange and pink polka dot bikini. “You got my message?”
She lifted her gaze to him leaning a shoulder onto the doorframe, his arms crossed while an all-too-knowing smile curled his lips. “Yeah. I just kinda ignored it, though, because—”
“You thought I was joking.” Her voice held an embarrassing huskiness, and she took to staring blankly at a side window. One she recalled led to his living room while she debated whether to tell him the message wasn’t hers so much as Emilia’s.
