through me. “Well those died eventually too.” Later.
“I’m sorry,” he said, and the empathy in his voice was so very clear that a lump formed in my throat.
I managed what I hoped was a bright smile and shrugged. “Anyway, gardening wasn’t really a possibility anymore, but I did get this job at a health food store. It was halfway across town, so I had to take three buses there and back for every shift. But . . . like I said, we didn’t have stores like that in my neighborhood and regardless, without the garden, we couldn’t afford that kind of food. Even with the employee discount at the health food store, I still shopped off the discount shelves. I . . . got that job and I was able to bring home fruits and vegetables . . . eggs . . . so the commute was worth it.” Nourishing food. Food that made us healthy and strong, not sick and still hungry all the time. Food that I sometimes went without so my skinny, little brother would thrive.
The group had come to a stop in front of what had to be Clarice’s booth, a rich velvet blue curtain enclosing the small space, gold moons and stars sewn onto the fabric. Travis and I joined them.
“Who’s up first?” Burt asked, and it had to be noted that his words were markedly slurred.
“I’ll go!” Betty said, pulling aside the curtain and heading unsteadily inside.
Travis raised his brows and gave me a look and I laughed, the heaviness of my memories about the Kims and the rooftop garden that died melted away by the warmth of the sun, and the mildly numbing effects of bad beer.
A dark head of perfect hair came into view, moving above the small group he was walking with.
Gage stepped out of the crowd, a woman next to him saying something and laying her hand on his arm. He stopped and listened to her for a moment, his eyes meeting mine.
I smiled and so did he, even as the woman continued to chatter, oblivious of anything except him. Gage’s gaze moved to Travis and he gave him a small chin lift, his brows lowering slightly as he looked between the two of us.
I felt Travis’s gaze on me too and glanced his way. He appeared to be wrestling with something. But then his expression cleared and he leaned in, his breath at my ear as he said, “Look at me adoringly, Haven.”
“What?”
“Look at me like I’m the only man here at this festival.”
I blinked, tipping my chin, our faces close, those golden-brown eyes catching the sunlight as he smiled that slow grin. I stared, mesmerized, and suddenly, it did feel like he was the only man at the festival. I swallowed, pulling my gaze from those spellbinding eyes to where Gage stood, his brow lowering further as he watched us. The woman talking to him swatted at his arm as if he’d neglected to answer or comment on something she’d said. Gage startled, responding to her and, evidently satisfied, the woman continued talking.
Travis took my hand in his and leaned in again, mock whispering. His hand was warm and enveloped mine. Small sparkles danced up my arm. “Men are simple,” he whispered. “Add a little challenge, a little healthy competition, and the interest increases tenfold.”
I turned to him, my hand still held in his, “Is that true of you too, Travis?”
“Of course. I’m a man, aren’t I?”
“You are definitely a man. I can’t argue with that.”
He laughed softly and those sparkles danced again.
Gage stepped away from the woman he’d been talking—or rather listening—to, and headed our way. I let go of Travis’s hand, feeling a strange loss.
“Haven.” Gage smiled, his straight, white teeth gleaming. “Travis,” he muttered, not moving his gaze from me. “You look like you’re having fun.”
“I am.”
“We are.”
Travis and I both spoke at once, our heads turning toward one another. With a smile I turned back to Gage. “Yes. We both are. Having fun.” I gave Travis a grin. “It’s been a wonderful day.”
Gage’s eyes grew warm, his gaze lingering on me. “Good. You look beautiful.” His eyes moved from my face to my toes and I felt a warm flush of happiness at the attention from him. My crush. The perfect guy I’d been hoping would look at me in just such a way since the day I’d first seen him.
In a way that suggested he was perfect for some harmless, summer fun.