Maybe This Time(40)

“And if you don’t find it with your first shot, you have all the chances you want.” Andrew moved the frame of my hands to the corner where an intricate spider web spanned the space between two walls. I stared at it, a wisp of inspiration winding its way through my mind. The skirt, I could make it different. Unique. Webbing. I could add a lining and trim the bottom with my own design of lace. It could work.

I dropped my hands back into my lap, realizing I’d been quiet for too long.

“You’re good at that,” I told Andrew at last. “You should get a camera and make art.”

He laughed a little, as if to say it wasn’t that easy.

“Well, my mom doesn’t get to dictate my future,” I said. “I’m going to New York.” There, that sounded more convincing.

“New York is …”

“Amazing?” I asked.

“It’s pretty great. It’s a hard place to make it. It can eat you alive.”

My lips tightened. Great. The only person I’d ever talked to who had actually been to New York agreed with my mom. He didn’t think I’d survive there either.

“I better get back outside,” I said. “Those flowers aren’t going to clean themselves up.” I shook Gunnar’s shoulder until he opened his eyes and then I helped him to his feet.





Gunnar, Andrew, and I headed back toward the picnic area. The park lights were on and I watched people packing up and clearing out.

“Where’ve y’all been?” Micah asked as we approached.

“Hide-and-seek,” Andrew said, which obviously only confused Micah even more.

Gunnar thought it was funny, though. “I think I won.”

“I don’t know,” Andrew said. “Sophie found us, so I think she won.”

Micah’s gaze shifted between Andrew and me and she gave me questioning eyes. I mouthed, “I’ll tell you later.”

She nodded. “Caroline already left. She said she had a pounding migraine and that you’d have to clean up without her.”

I laughed. “I always clean up without her.”

“I know. I had to bite my tongue to keep from saying that very thing.”

Andrew nodded toward his dad, who was packing away dishes. “Speaking of cleaning up, I better go help.”

“See you later,” Micah said.

“Is the next big event really not until October?” Andrew asked.

“Are you going to miss us?” I asked.

“Not you, Evans, but Micah for sure.”

I smiled, but the jab didn’t bother me as much as it normally would have.

“You don’t have to miss me,” Micah said. “I’ll text you. Let’s do something.”

Andrew’s eyes flitted to me, like he thought I suddenly wanted to hang out with him outside of work. I just held up my hands. “Have fun, you two.”

He joined up with his dad, and Micah said, “What was that about? You two looked as thick as thieves walking out of the dark night together.”

“With my little brother,” I reminded her.

“Little brother or not, I know a happy glow when I see one.”

I made a face. “Give me a break. More like an angry glow. Andrew had just gotten through telling me that he didn’t think I’d make it in New York.”

“He said that?”

“Yes.”

Micah pursed her lips. “That was not very nice.”

“It doesn’t matter what he thinks. It doesn’t matter what anybody thinks.” At least that’s what I told myself.

“Atta girl.”

I picked up half a grape off the table and held it up. “Who puts grapes in potato salad?”

“Apparently Jett Hart,” Micah said.

“And now your dad. Is he happy that he’s doing this yet? Is it going to work?”

“He’s decided to see it through. He got a call to cater a fancy benefit dinner in Birmingham in August.”

“Birmingham? That’s almost two hours away!”

“I know.”

“I thought you guys were going to try to expand to closer areas.”

“We are. But two hours isn’t bad and people in the city are willing to pay more money.”

“Really? That’s good news.”

Micah nodded. “My parents were having a heated debate last night about whether or not Jett himself had convinced the party host to hire my dad. But either way, it’s a job, right?”

“Which side of the debate were you on?” I asked.

“I was Switzerland.” She gathered some used plastic forks off the table and put them in the trash. “Which side would you have been on?”

“Do you want me to be honest or encouraging?”

“Honest.”

“I think Jett had some pull. This town has been averse to the changes Jett’s made. So I can’t imagine that word of mouth has caused some fancy benefit host to call in.”

“You would’ve been on my dad’s side.” Micah held up a finger. “But we’ve gotten some good reviews online, like my mom pointed out. Mostly from her friends, but out-of-towners don’t know that. And my dad is hoping that because the people won’t have any preconceived notions of what the food normally is, that they won’t have already formed an opinion about it.”