He turned to me. “See? You’re not the only one who has parents who embarrass you.”

“Please,” Mrs. Redmond said dismissively. “If anything, it’s the other way around, but you don’t see me complaining.” She checked her phone. “I’m going to grab lunch. Karter, please get in the shop in case any customers come by.”

Karter huffed. “I don’t think you have to worry about that.”

She put her hand on Karter’s shoulder and squeezed. “Don’t be a pessimist. We can make a way out of no way but only if you try harder.” She turned and walked off, texting furiously on her phone.

“Business is tough, huh?” I asked.

“Yeah.” He didn’t offer anything else so I left it alone.

“Do you work every day?” I asked. “I work in our shop all the time even though my parents wish I’d go out and do something else. I think they want me to be a juvenile delinquent.”

Karter laughed. “I’m here a lot in the summer, mostly in the afternoons. It’s quiet. I got my phone and I use the free Wi-Fi from the place next door.” He unlocked the door and slid the cactus in place to hold it open. I followed him inside. “Me and my mom take turns running things.”

“And she’s a lawyer too? How does she find the time to do both?”

“She puts in a lot of hours. Too many, sometimes. She’s one of those people who’s constantly grinding, you know? She never stops.”

“That can be a good thing,” I said.

“Sometimes.” The sadness in his tone had returned. “There’s such a thing as too much work though.”

As much as I was enjoying my first trip into town, my mind drifted back to the iron gate in the forest and what might be behind it. Circe had implied it was a garden but I wanted to see it for myself.

“I gotta get back to my parents,” I said. “But listen, it was really nice meeting you.”

“You too,” he said, smiling. “Can I, uh—can I call you?” As he leaned on the counter, his elbow slipped off and his wrist hit the countertop with a loud crack.

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling.

“Maybe we can get coffee or something?” He rubbed his arm.

He definitely wasn’t flirting, but I was still trying to figure out his angle. Maybe he was just a guy with friend potential, even though dudes like that were few and far between. The thought sent a wave of panic through me. I didn’t know if me and my parents were staying and if we were, would a friendship with him be any different from Gabby or Marlon when he inevitably found out what I could do?

But he was easy to talk to even if he was awkward as hell, and my parents already liked him way too much. If I was being honest, I needed a friend. Maybe more than I needed anything else.