Summer At The Store

Diner Breakdown

He swiftly hit the nail with one last thud of the hammer. Lara Jean hoisted up an old portrait in a gold frame. He slid it on the nail and let go gingerly. "Is it straight?"

"Up on the left just a bit." She watched as he tapped the edge of the picture. "Good?"

"Looks perfect." She said as she watched him make his way down the ladder. She didn't want to admit it how hot he looked holding a tool belt. Was this a new thing she was into? She shook herself out of it. "When are you heading out?"

"Once mom gets in." he shrugged. Peter had volunteered to help at a lacrosse camp this week in the afternoons with some of the other guys on his team. "I hope it's not torture."

"What? You love kids." It was one of the things she admired about Peter. He knew how to relate to anyone & get on their level.

"Not what I'm concerned about." He rolled his eyes. "Coach has been riding me so hard since I committed to UVA. It's almost like he's resentful. I don't know." He closed the ladder and slid it into its spot beside the floor to ceiling shelves.

"Maybe he thinks you're not going to put in the effort anymore?" she adjusted the whale sculpture on the table.

"Maybe, but that's so not me. I've been coached by him since I was 12. You think he'd think better of me." He ran his hands through his hair. "I hate the feeling like I'm disappointing people."

"Peter, you aren't disappointing anyone. Just prove to him you're still all in." She smiled warmly at him making him blush. "The kids will be swooning all over you & he'll see that you haven't given up on the team, even though your future is sorted."

He took a deep breath, knowing she was right. "Thanks Covey."

With her sunglasses on top of her head and a million bags laid across her arms, Mrs. Kavinsky entered the store like a tornado. "Hello, hello, hello!" she smiled while looking around frantically. "Peter, help me with these." She held out her arms. Peter did as he was told and put them out on the counter.

"Thank you, son." She huffed. "These new clients are driving me nuts."

"Hi Mrs. Kavinsky." Lara Jean smiled.

"Hi, sweetie." She smiled and turned back to Peter. "You need to get going or you'll be late."

"I know." He sighed and turned to both the ladies in his life. "See you later."

"Make good choices, honey." His mom yelled out as he was walking out the door. She turned to LJ and smiled. "I'm glad he's gone. How are you finding it so far? We can finally catch up." She reached out to touch her arm.

Lara Jean followed her to a dining room table near the back of the store. "Don't you want me to be at the register?" she questioned.

"We'll hear if the bell rings." She sat down. "Sit, sit." She begged.

LJ shook her head and sat down across the table. "I feel like I need to thank you again for giving me this job. I know with everything that went on, I probably wasn't your first choice."

"I would be lying if I said I wasn't hesitant, but Peter told me that you two are friends now, so I thought why not." She leaned back in her chair. "Plus, I know you love it here."

"I do." She blushed, starting to feel more comfortable. Peter had taken her here a lot while they were together. Most of the time he had to pull Lara Jean out of the store or she would have spent the entire day looking at every little thing. Peter's mom had a warm, calming energy to her, probably where Peter got it from. She knew just the way to bring your guard down and let you open up. LJ thought it would be dangerous if you were on her bad side. "Everything is just so beautiful. I feel like I find something new I love every day."