Page 58 of When We Were Young

He grabs the back of his neck with one hand.

“But that doesn't mean we shouldn’t sit down and talk about what happened with us and⁠—”

“Please, stop.” I rest my forehead against the nearest wall and close my eyes. “I can’t do this right now. Okay?” I whisper.

I twist my neck to look at him and wait for him to respond.

He stares at me with sad eyes.

“Okay. I’m sorry. Uh, I’m just going to measure the walls, and then I’ll be out of your hair.”

I push myself away from the wall and stand upright.

“Thank you. I’m going to go upstairs to do some things if you don’t need me. When you’ve finished, lock this side, please. I’ll leave the other side unlocked so you can get your backpack.”

“Sure. I can do that.”

He pulls out his measuring tape and begins his work.

I leave without another word and go upstairs.

I have some time before I have to get Simon, so I decide a nap is in order, and as soon as I’m upstairs, I crawl into bed.

Two hours later, I’ve recharged somewhat from sleeping like a rock, so I head back to the bakery side to finish off the rest of the booths.

But I can’t. Because they’re gone. I’m only confused for a second before it strikes me that Holden must have done this.

I go to the dumpster and, sure enough, all the booths are in there. A little voice in the back of my head tells me that’s something library Holden would have done.

Chapter Twenty-One

Holden

Ihear laughter as I approach the cabin and freeze in place.

I’m not in the headspace to go in there and try to be the version of me everyone expects. With the way I’m feeling, I’m not sure I can be happy-go-lucky Holden. Or keep it light Holden. Hold it together Holden.

Nope.

Don’t have it in me tonight. I turn on my heel to leave and nearly run right into Lester.

“Hell’s bells! Sorry, Lester. I didn’t know you were there.”

“Yeah, I figured I’d give you a chance to work out whatever it is that had you standing out here instead of going inside with your brothers.”

The old man stands with his hands in his jeans pockets, and his gaze pierces me.

“Oh... yeah. Um, it’s nothing.” I look away, knowing my face might give me away.

“Hmm. Interesting.”

That’s it. That’s all he says. My eyes dart back to search his face. Damn, he’s good. Gives nothing away.

Ugh.

“Okay, I’ll bite. What’s interesting?”

“Just that I know you Aron boys rarely, if ever, miss these nights together in the cabin. Doesn’t seem like nothing to me.”