Just One Look (Castleton Hearts)

“I thought you wanted us to be married first. Fuck, make up your mind,” Hollis said, banging Julia on the back until she could breathe again.

“You watch your tone,” Amanda said, but she was trying not to smile.

I finished my dessert and could barely move, so I went back to the barn with Hollis and Julia and hung out with them a little.

“Did you have a good day?” Hollis asked as I sipped on a cup of tea prepared by Julia.

“Yeah, it was really interesting. I definitely don’t think book cover design is in my future, though. I have no artistic talent.”

Hollis scoffed. “There are plenty of people who work as designers that can’t make art for shit, but that doesn’t stop them.”

“I want to do something I’m good at,” I said, and felt the truth in my bones. “I mean, I don’t care if I start something that’s new, but I want to follow something that I would work hard to get better at, if that makes sense?”

Julia nodded and stroked Lucky’s head. “I always wanted to work with kids, but I definitely needed my education to build on my passion.”

I really hoped I didn’t have to go back to school to do whatever I ended up wanting to do, but at least I wouldn’t have to worry about student loan debt. I could get a PhD if I wanted to.

“The important thing is, you’ve got plenty of time to figure it out. No pressure of having to accept some shitty job.”

I thought about that a lot. I’d never imagined this kind of freedom for myself and figuring out what to do with it felt like too big of a decision for me to make.

I didn’t want to overstay my welcome with Hollis and Julia, so I finished my tea and thanked them for their hospitality.

“People take care of each other in this town, for some reason. It’s weird,” Hollis said, but she was smiling.

“It’s not such a bad place, is it?” Julia said, pressing up on her toes to kiss Hollis’s cheek. Their height difference was really cute.

“I guess not,” Hollis said, but she was smiling at Julia. That was definitely my cue.

Sasha said she was going to work from home and that I was more than welcome to come do my shadowing at her house in Hartford.

I double-checked my GPS when I pulled into the driveway of an absolutely stunning yellow Victorian that looked like it was from a social media page of beautiful homes.

This had to be it.

At least three copies of my little cottage could have fit inside this house, and I was feeling a little unworthy as I knocked on the door.

“Hey,” Sasha said, pulling the door open and beaming at me. She had slippers on her feet and wore yoga pants with a t-shirt that said “I’m totally Booked” on it. Her hair was up in a bun.

“Your house is incredible,” I said, slipping off my shoes.

“Thanks, it’s not really mine. My fiancée has inherited wealth,” she said, and I waited to see if she was joking.

“Oh,” I said. “Um, so do I?” It sounded like a question.

“Cool,” Sasha said with a smile as I followed her into the absolutely stunning kitchen. It wasn’t my taste, but I could absolutely appreciate the design aesthetic.

“Coffee?” Sasha asked.

“Please,” I said.

“Let’s go Juliette,” Sasha said, patting the top of the coffeemaker. I knew without looking it up that it was top-of-the-line. I’d considered that exact model but had chosen a different one.

“Who’s Juliette?” I asked as Sasha got cups out and grabbed some flavor syrups and cream from the enormous fridge. I knew how much that one was, too.

“The coffeemaker,” Sasha said. “It seemed like the right name.”

I decided right then and there that Sasha and I were going to be good friends.

“So, this is me in my glamour,” she said, gesturing to her outfit. “Since I wasn’t leaving the house, I figured there was no need to be fancy. Not that I’m fancy when I work at the office, either. I hope you don’t mind.”

I shook my head and sipped at my caramel latte that had just the perfect amount of foam. Maybe I should have bought this coffeemaker instead.

I gestured at my own outfit, which was a t-shirt dress that was soft from multiple washings. After the house was finished, I’d tackle my wardrobe. Until then, I was wearing my same pulled-from-the-discount-bin clothes because I hated to waste clothing if it still had some use left.

Sasha also had a selection of pastries in a sweet basket on the counter and I ate my fill.

“Jax makes me breakfast, but I always have to have second breakfast supplies on hand,” Sasha said.

“That’s smart,” I agreed.

“Are you ready for the madness?” she asked me.

“Yes?” I said, and she laughed as she led me up the stairs and down the hall on the second floor to a room that had been a bedroom, but now it was an office and what looked like a warehouse.