Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
H ungry for lunch, Bex drove into Ribbon Ridge. Today was one of her two nonbrewing days this week so she was taking advantage of the opportunity to leave the brewhouse. It was much easier to wallow in her humiliation and disappointment away from The Alex and its hive of Archers, who only reminded her of what a moron she was for thinking she could rekindle something with Hayden.
She drove past The Arch and Vine. Yeah, not going there either , she thought.
Instead, she turned up Second and parked on the street. She got out and locked her truck then walked toward the little Mexican restaurant with the best salsa she’d ever had. Muy Loco was a Ribbon Ridge treasure even if it looked like a dive.
As she neared the door, her phone chimed. She pulled it out and read the text.
Emily: I’m so sorry, but the apartment isn’t going to be ready tomorrow as planned. The flooring was supposed to arrive today, but there was a problem and it’s going to be another week. You know you can stay with us as long as you like!
Her shoulders slumped. She’d been hoping that her nights sleeping down the hall from Hayden were numbered. Damn it. As soon as she ordered lunch she planned to scour Craig’s List for any rental in a thirty-mile radius.
She stepped into the cool, dim interior of the restaurant and froze. The place was tiny, with maybe ten or twelve tables. Seated toward the back at a rectangular table were Sean, Derek, Aubrey, and Alaina. They weren’t technically Archers—well, she supposed Alaina was by name at least—but they were close enough.
And they’d already seen her, which meant she couldn’t turn around and escape.
Alaina waved from the bench seat attached to the wall. “Hey, Bex. Come sit with us!”
Bex had no choice but to walk over. Maybe she could just order takeout.
Derek jumped up and grabbed a chair. He brought it to the end of the table between him and Alaina. “Here.” He held the chair for her.
“I was going to get something to go,” Bex said weakly. “I have work . . .”
Aubrey, who sat on the bench beside Alaina, smiled at her. “Oh come on, sit. You can spare a few minutes, right?”
Bex looked at the four people and wondered how they’d come to have lunch here together. That at least had to be a good story. And she could use a distraction. “Sure.” She sat down in the chair, and Derek scooted her in. “What are you all doing here?
They exchanged glances and smiled. Aubrey laughed. “Would you believe we’re a club?”
Bex hung her purse over the back of her chair. “Uh . . .” She couldn’t think what kind. They weren’t Archer spouses or SOs. Some of them were, but that didn’t account for Derek. Plus, they’d be missing Dylan and Maggie. But then they were both crazy busy up at The Alex. “What sort of club?”
“I guess our official name is the Only Child Club,” Sean said.
The server arrived with a large tray bearing their lunches. She made eye contact with Bex and smiled. “Can I get you something?”
Bex still wasn’t sure she was in the mood to hang out, but she was starving. She’d at least order, and if she wanted to leave, she’d ask for a box. “Yes, I’d like a chicken tostada salad, pinto beans, please. And I’m good with water.”
The server distributed the plates. “You got it. You all be careful, plates are hot.” She disappeared into the kitchen.
Bex looked around the table. Yes, they were all only children, including her. “Is that why you invited me to join you? Because I’m an only child, too?”
Alaina cut a piece from her enchilada. “Actually, I was just being nice, but yeah, you could totally join.”
Bex surveyed the group again and frowned. “I hate to break it to you, but there’s a key component missing here. I’m not married to an Archer.” She looked at Aubrey. “Or engaged to one.”
Derek shrugged. “I’m not either.” He flashed her a grin as he picked up a taco.
“Ha ha.” But Bex smiled anyway. Okay, this was actually making her feel a little bit better.
The server briefly returned with Bex’s water and a napkin-rolled set of knife and fork.
“But you were almost married to an Archer, right?” Aubrey asked.
And there went her escalating mood right back into the drain. “Not really.”
Aubrey winced. “My bad. Sorry.”
Alaina looked at Bex, her gaze lingering. Then she went back to attacking her enchilada like only a pregnant woman could. Bex picked up her napkin-wrapped utensils and pulled them apart. As she laid the napkin in her lap, she let her fingertips slide over her belly, thinking fleetingly of the baby she’d lost.
She didn’t want to go down that path. Not today when she was feeling emotionally vulnerable thanks to last night’s catastrophe. And not in front of these people. So she changed the subject. “How’d this club start?”
Sean and Alaina exchanged looks. “It’s kind of funny, I guess,” Sean said. “Alaina and I have been friends for a while. We met in LA.”
Alaina sipped her water. “Sean’s the reason I came to Ribbon Ridge. I needed a place to hide out, and he offered up the Archers’ garage apartment. I met Evan when I set off the fire alarm.”
Again, Bex couldn’t resist a smile. “You did what?”
“I tried to cook bacon. Luckily, Evan came to my rescue.” The love in her gaze was almost palpable. Bex’s heart twisted.
Sean swallowed a bite of his lunch and wiped his mouth with his napkin. “Anyway, we were having lunch one time—this was after Alaina and Evan got engaged—and Derek happened upon us. Just like you did today. We’d been talking about how to navigate this huge family when we were both only children.”
Derek drank from a bottle of Dos Equis. “So I offered to be their guide.”
“How helpful of you.” Bex narrowed her eyes at him. “Where was this club when I was living in town?”
“It was different then.” He arched a brow at her, and his mouth curved up. “There was a much smaller number of Archers.”
She rolled her eyes. “I see. For the record, that’s a lame excuse.”
Aubrey shared a sympathetic glance with Bex. “Totally.”
The server brought Bex’s lunch then looked around the table. “How is everything?” Everyone offered positive comments, and the server left.
Bex picked up her fork. “That’s it? That’s how the club started?”
Sean nodded. “Pretty much. When Liam and Aubrey got engaged, we invited her to join us. We meet every few weeks.”
“Yeah, see, I can’t join.” She displayed her unadorned left hand to the group. “Not engaged.”
“Well, you can be our special guest today,” Aubrey said. “You have a lot of experience with the family that might be useful.”
Alaina polished off the last of her enchilada and started in on her chile relleno. “Especially with Hayden. I don’t know him very well.”
Bex ate a bite of salad, glad that she couldn’t respond immediately. Or maybe she could avoid responding altogether. She wasn’t sure she knew him anymore either. His aloofness this morning had been a shock. She hadn’t expected him to fall to his knees and profess his undying love, but she’d hoped for something more than just a one-night stand.
“Derek knows him better than I do,” Bex said after she swallowed. “You guys worked closely together at Archer for a long time.”
Derek nodded. “That’s true. He was COO to my CFO for four years. He and Alex and I were sort of the three musketeers for a while.” Derek looked down at his plate briefly. “Now it’s just me. I miss them.” He smiled sadly.
Alaina reached across the table and touched his hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to open up a can of worms.”
“It’s fine,” Derek said. “It’s not like we can’t talk about Alex. It was hard at first, but it’s become a lot easier. It helps to have this amazing legacy about to open.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to know him,” Sean said.
Alaina withdrew her hand to her lap. “Me too. You knew him, right, Bex?”
“I did.” He’d had a very dry sense of humor, and he was wicked smart. And attractive, despite his illness. He was thin and always seemed to look a bit sickly next to his healthier brothers. She knew that bothered him and that it bothered the others that he looked physically different. She didn’t really want to talk about her time with the Archers. At least not today. “Aubrey, you got to know him well, I imagine.”
Aubrey washed down a bite of her chimichanga with a drink of water. “Yes. He hired me to set up his trust. He told me his life expectancy wasn’t great, and he just wanted to be prepared.” She shifted on the bench, and Bex sensed her discomfort.
Bex wanted to hug everyone at the table. “His suicide was just as shocking to you then as to everyone else.” She’d been devastated when she’d heard. For herself and the relationship she’d had with Alex, but mostly for the Archers, for Hayden. She’d called him and left a voicemail, but he’d never returned her call. She’d taken that as a clear message that their relationship—even as friends—was completely gone. Knowing what she knew now, that he’d been hung up on her, she realized that her call might have just complicated his grief. He was despondent, and here was his ex calling and dredging up old feelings. No wonder he hadn’t called her back.
Aubrey exhaled. “It was. The whole thing was an ugly mess. Last year was tough for the whole family.”
Sean shook his head sadly. “Almost broke up my marriage. Tori was a wreck.”
Bex thought of Tori and how she’d been less visible on social media last year. Despite that, Bex hadn’t picked up on the depth of Tori’s emotions. Now she felt like a terrible friend. “Is that right?”
“Yeah, but we pulled through.” Sean smiled. “It’s all good now.”
Derek lifted his beer bottle. “To everything on the up-and-up. This year is like a total flip what with all the weddings and a baby.” He grinned at Alaina.
They all joined in the toast and drank. The conversation continued and when the bill came, Derek picked up the tab. Bex protested, but he said it was his turn to pay for lunch.
“But I’m not even in the club,” she said.
“Doesn’t matter.” He looked around at the other three. “Does it?”
“Not to me,” Alaina said. “I think almost married to an Archer counts for sure.” She winked at Bex. “I need to use the restroom. Don’t wait for me.” She waved before taking off to the back of the restaurant.
Aubrey smiled at Bex as she stood up from the table. “I’m glad you could join us today. I’ll let you know when we meet next. Us only children have to stick together. Plus, you and I have some crazy parent stories to swap, I think.”
Bex had enjoyed lunch, and was glad for the pick-me-up. She’d needed it. “Definitely. Thanks.”
Derek touched her arm. “See you, Bex.”
Sean kissed her cheek. “Bye.” She looked at him, surprised. He laughed. “I’m from Europe. We do that. Also in Hollywood.” He chuckled on his way out.
Bex didn’t leave with them. She wanted to get a giant Diet Coke to take back to work with her. She flagged the server and put in an order for a to-go cup.
While she was waiting, Alaina came from the bathroom. It was still a bit strange to see this mega movie star in such an everyday place. But why should it be? Alaina was just a person. A super famous person. Her dark blonde hair was pulled back from her face, and she wore very little makeup.
She smiled at Bex. “I said you didn’t have to wait, but I’m glad you did.”
The server came back with Bex’s drink. Bex tried to pay her, but the server only smiled. “Pay for it next time.”
“Thanks, I will. With tip!” Bex sipped her drink as she turned with Alaina toward the door.
“You headed back to work?” Alaina asked.
“Yes. I need to check the gravity in the tanks this afternoon and prep for tomorrow’s brew cycle.”
Alaina sighed. “I miss beer. Rob’s making me a small batch of nonalcoholic.”
“Aw, that’s so nice. And so Rob.”
Alaina pushed open the door, and they stepped out into the heat of the afternoon. “You know him pretty well?”
“I interned with him for six months after college, so we worked together. Plus, I was with Hayden for three years.”
Alaina pivoted, and they stood beneath the overhang of the building in the relative cool of the shade. “That’s a long time. What happened? If you don’t mind my asking.”
“I don’t mind. It’s just . . . It was a long time ago.” And she’d been thinking about it more lately than in the previous five years. “We were really young.”
“College, right?”
“Pretty much.”
“I worked with a writer in my early twenties who said young love was the deepest. Granted, that was the point of that particular film, but I think he meant that emotions are maybe rawer when we’re young.”
Bex agreed with that. Except her emotions felt even more vulnerable now. She sensed something wrong with Hayden, something she wanted to help with, but couldn’t. Because they weren’t a couple, and they never would be.
“Is it awkward being back here together?” Alaina asked. “You guys seem to get along great. Very adult of you.”
Bex laughed. “Yeah, right. It’s a bit weird sometimes.” Like when you wake up in bed together and realize it had been a mistake. “But we’re managing.”
“That’s good, especially since you’re living in the same house right now.”
Crap, Bex still needed to peruse Craig’s List. She was doing that first thing when she got back to the brewhouse.
Alaina’s gaze softened. “I hope you’ll join our group. I like you—you’re cool. It sucks that you aren’t going to be an Archer. Sure we can’t fix that?”
Bex tried not to be flattered that Alaina Pierce—Archer, whatever—said she was cool and failed miserably. But her question gave Bex pause, and not just because of her now-complicated relationship with Hayden. As much as she loved the Archers, she’d found them overwhelming when they were all together. That hadn’t happened very often when she’d lived here, but now it was the norm. She was an only child. Of parents who didn’t give a rat’s ass what she was doing. She was quite used to being on her own and answering to no one. Having a family meant having responsibilities that she wasn’t used to and wasn’t sure she could handle.
She cocked her head to the side. “What makes you think I want to be an Archer?”
Alaina shrugged. “I don’t know. I get a vibe from you, like there’s unfinished business for you here. With Hayden. But maybe I’m wrong.”
No, she was completely right. Bex knew that sharing a baby with him, even though they’d lost it, would tie them together forever. At least in her heart and mind. For the first time, she considered confiding in someone. Alaina would get it. She was pregnant herself. And she likely valued discretion more than anyone Bex knew.
“You’re not wrong.”
Alaina’s eyes lit. “Oh, well then. Let’s make this happen.”
Bex laughed, but there was a bit of unease in it. She suddenly regretted saying anything. She couldn’t do anything about it—about Hayden. Last night, they’d had sex. He’d said it was a one-time event. It was pretty clear to her where things were headed: nowhere. She was glad she hadn’t mentioned the baby. What a stupid thought that had been.
“There’s nothing to make happen. Not anymore.” She hastened to soften her refusal. “But thank you.”
Alaina narrowed her eyes briefly. “I’m not sure I buy that. If I’ve learned anything in my life it’s that if you want something, you have to fight for it. I clawed my way out of a cycle of drugs and poverty. I did that.” She smiled warmly and touched Bex’s arm. “Don’t be complacent. Life’s too short.”
Fight for what she wanted . . . What did she want? Did she truly want Hayden back? To what end? Were they going to get married this time? Would there be another baby? Her brain sputtered and started to shut down. Emotional overload. He was over her, and she needed to let him go.
Bex fished her sunglasses from her purse and put them on. “Thanks, Alaina. I appreciate it.”
“I’m glad you found us today,” she said. “See you next time!” She turned and walked in the opposite direction from Bex.
Bex went to her truck and set her drink in the cup holder before climbing inside.
Next time. There wasn’t going to be a next time. She wasn’t a part of the Archer family or their club, and she never would be.