Chapter 5

5

Lachlan

Both Paige and I had work responsibilities the next few days. I keep myself busy with my clients’ work but the days drag by until our evening phone calls. Each night I start a fire, pour myself an Irish whiskey, and settle down to chat with her about anything and nothing. We once even stream a show together and call it a date.

I don’t quite understand how someone so full of light is into me. Paige definitely brings out a softer, sunnier version of myself but I am still me. And it is me who she apparently has fallen hard for. A month ago I didn’t even think about dating and now here I am, absolutely smitten.

Thursday evening we make plans for Saturday. I offer to come down to her but Paige says she is fine coming here. When we hang up I see that my Friday client emailed to cancel our meetings for the day due to a family emergency. Perfect, I think. I can surprise Paige at her shop.

In the morning I head down the mountain and stop at Poppy’s flower shop.

“Well color me shocked, an Atwater brother down the mountain!” Poppy exclaims as she comes out from the back of the shop.

“Hey, Poppy, long time no see.”

“No kidding. How’s my former classmate doing? Still being a nerd with numbers?”

“It pays the bills. Hey, Poppy, what type of flowers do you recommend for surprising my girlfriend? It’s a new relationship but intense.”

Poppy’s mouth drops open as she looks me up and down.

“Down the mountain and has a girlfriend? Did I wake up in the UpsideDown this morning?”

I give her a look and she gets busy behind the flower case.

“OK, fine Lachlan. Well, since it’s all new may I suggest tulips? Perfect for Spring and very romantic for a budding relationship.”

“Deal, let’s do it.”

I park on Main Street and head to the corner I know her bookstore is on. The attached cafe is still empty but the market across the street seems to be getting good business.

Turn the Paige stands before me. It has the look of a whimsical cottage on the outside, with vines, flowers, and gnome figurines. I smile to myself. This place screams Paige to me. I love it.

I walk into the shop and a little bell jingles above my head. Paige is standing with her back to me. She is talking closely to a man in front of her who is smiling at her and touching her arm. He catches my eye.

“Can we help you?”

Paige turns, seeing me, and her mouth drops slightly open.

“I’m here to see Paige. I can wait until she’s done.”

“And who might you be?” the man gives an air of protectiveness and ownership.

Who is this guy?

“I doubt that’s your concern. You can finish your business.”

“Gary,” Paige says in a tired voice but the man ignores her and stomps up closer to me.

“It is my god damn concern, buddy. That’s my girlfriend. Who the fuck are you?!”

I look from this Gary asshole to Paige. Her eyes are huge and tears are welling up in them. Gary stands in front of me with his arms crossed. My temper flares.

“A fricken boyfriend? What is this shit?” I demand, throwing the flowers on the floor and storming out the door.

In the sunshine, I don’t know what to do with myself. I am too angry to drive so I heft it to the beach, cursing every little thing.

What a sucker I was. I can’t believe I fell for this matchmaking bullshit. Of course there wasn’t an incredible, sexy, curvy woman out there who is perfect for me. What a fool I am. Paige was just playing a game with me.

Once I reach the ocean I pick up rocks from the sand and pelt them into the waves. I shout some selected curse words into the salty wind.

“Dude, are you having an actual mantrum?” a voice yells out to me.

Murphy is sitting on a jetty in his merman form, watching me with bemusement. He swims over, walks out of the water butt naked, and throws on a robe that was laying on the beach.

“Paige has a fucking boyfriend.”

“What? No she doesn’t. Well, I mean, minus you.”

“I literally just met him, Murph. He’s a prick. I was an idiot to believe in this magical matchmaking Liora crap.”

“Listen, dude, she does not have a boyfriend. Liora and I have been in contact this whole time. Paige literally moved here to start a new life to get away from a toxic ex. Larry, Jerry, I don’t know.”

“Gary?”

“Maybe?”

Fuck. I am an idiot but not for the reason I thought.

“I got to go.”

I run off from Murphy who laughs while yelling good luck to me.

When I reach the bookstore’s door I find it locked even though the sign says Open. I bang on the door. No response but I can hear a muffled argument. I bang again and wait. Something is wrong. I can feel it in my core. I begin kicking at the door. The third kick cracks it off the hinges.

“Paige?” I shout, throwing the door to the side.

Voices are coming from the room behind the register.

I rush to the back and find Gary pressed up against Paige. I step forward to grab him when she manages to free her hands and pushes him hard toward me. Gary falls against my chest. I grab his neck and slam him to the wall.

“Lachlan!”

“Paige, is this guy bothering you?”

“Yes! He’s not my boyfriend. He’s my piece of shit ex.”

Gary tries to squirm away from my grip but I have several inches and several pounds of muscle on him. I grip his collar and drag him to the front of the shop.

“I better not fucking see you around these parts ever again, dick.”

I toss him down the front steps and he lays splayed out on the sidewalk.

“Get lost!”

Gary jumps up, runs to a beat up Chrysler, hops in, and peels out.

I turn to see Paige standing behind me with her arms crossed, looking at her broken door with tears in her eyes.

“You can leave, too, Lachlan. I don’t know why the hell you don’t trust me after the connection we’ve experienced but you need to get the hell out of my store.”

I open my mouth to protest but her face fills with hurt fury and she points to the door.

“Out! I want to be alone.”