Tea Leaves & Pine Trees: A second-chance small town romance (The Northwoods Series Book 1) by Evy Aster

Author:Evy Aster [Aster, Evy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kettle & Quill Press
Published: 2024-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19: Rose

Walking into the high school gym throws me every time—the nostalgia, the memories. Even the smell doesn’t seem to change year after year. The shine on the court has lessened a bit, and the stage curtains are dustier and have some noticeable patches, but the feeling is exactly the same. As my eyes land on Wes Stevenson, though, I’m reminded that some things do change.

I didn’t know a man could look so good in jeans and an old flannel, but he pulls it off perfectly. Damn. Our eyes lock and I suddenly can’t remember what I’m doing, awkwardly fumbling around for the nearest project to help with.

Friends, Rose, you wanted to be friends.

I glance up and see Wes walking towards me and have to remind myself to breathe. Flashes of our time in the woods play in my mind and my cheeks flush. My entire body starts to heat up. I feel him next to me before he even says anything. He stops a few feet away, but his entire body leans towards me as he says, “Hi, Rose.” Ah, that voice.

“Hi, Wes. Did you come to help set up?” I turn to face him more directly, feeling his warm breath on my cheek as I move.

“Um, yeah.” He clears his throat. “Was everything okay after Erick and I left? Elle seemed a little flustered.” He scrunches up the sleeves of his button-up, giving me a good look at how muscular his forearms are. I forcibly pull my eyes back up to his.

“Oh yeah, all fine. We talked it through.” I try giving him my best fake smile, but I know he sees right through it.

“Good, I’m glad everything was alright. Will you tell me about whatever this is?” He gestures to all the bustling activity in the gym. “I don’t think this was here when I was a kid, I don’t remember anything quite like it.” Man, he smells good too.

“A couple years after you moved, the elementary school had a flood and needed money for new classroom supplies, so we had a spring festival to help them out. But it’s just continued, year after year, and all the proceeds go to the school. I don’t remember when, but someone started calling it the ‘Spring Sprouts Fest’ and it just stuck.”

“It was probably Mabel,” he whispers, leaning down to me with his hand slightly covering his mouth, like he’s sharing a secret. The tickle of his stubble on my cheek sends a shiver up my spine and I can’t help but look into those gorgeous eyes that time didn’t change.

Laughing and taking a step back, Kate suddenly appears. “Oh there you are, I was looking for you.” Pointing a finger at me and tugging my arm, she turns to Wes, “Sorry, I need her help with a ring toss emergency.” Before I can say anything, she’s pulling me away.

“Why did you do that? You didn’t even say hi.”

“Who was that? Also, why are you wearing a dress?”

“You have to know that was Wes.

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