I spent the entire morning unloading boxes in the storage room, and the afternoon affixing price tags to the bottom of various pitchers, platters, and boxes of wine charms. Lara stayed in the front of the store working the register and dealing with customers, leaving me alone in the back, but I didn’t mind. It felt nice to have a purpose without the pressure of having to make small talk. It was just me and my box cutter, and I couldn’t have been happier.I realized that working two days a week was turning out to be a perfect summer gig. It was great to finally have a routine, and for some reason going to work in Lara’s little store gave a much-needed boost to my self-esteem. It was now the middle of June, and Newport was starting to feel like home. I didn’t get lost when I ran, I didn’t wake up in the morning feeling like I was in a strange bed, and I didn’t feel like I was still in the “getting to know you” phase with the guys. They were now officially my friends, and I hoped that once I was allowed out of the stockroom, Lara would become one as well.I figured if Ryan had called me right after we met, that would have seemed too forward, and I was convinced that after the first week had passed I’d hear from him.
