Chapter 24
CHAPTER
TWENTY-FOUR
Lizzie
What a week!
Ever since last Saturday night’s band, we’ve been busier. The after-work crowd is growing, and the regulars have noticed. They’ve been making daily comments about the uptick in traffic, telling me it’s because Cade danced on the bar.
Lord, I hope not, because I don’t want to seem like I’m recreating or copying my dad’s business.
Collin had worked Sunday through Tuesday, and while I got to see him a bit Tuesday night, I’ve barely seen him since.
He was supposed to work Thursday but ended up sick.
He was going to power through, but his stomach wasn’t having it.
So, I covered his shift, which did not make him happy because I worked that afternoon too.
But I don’t mind. It’s my business, and my responsibility to step in and fill the gaps when needed.
Was I exhausted at the end of the day? Sure, but nothing too terrible.
If anything, it didn’t give me an opportunity to help Collin when he was under the weather.
I did leave a care package on is front porch on Friday morning, and we’ve texted a lot throughout the week, but I haven’t been able to see him, throw my arms around his neck, and kiss him the way I wanted to.
He was adamant about me not coming over until he was better.
The last thing he wants is for me to get sick, especially when I have a business to run.
Things have been…good.
So good, really, despite not physically seeing him much this week.
Our conversations are deeper, more meaningful, and it feels like we’ve taken a giant step over that little line we drew in the sand all those weeks ago.
I still recall him telling me he loved me when he thought I was sleeping last weekend.
And I was sleeping, but not deep enough that I couldn’t hear him.
Or remember. Neither of us have brought it up, nor has he said it again, so that makes me wonder if he really did mean to say it.
I mean, I was asleep. I very easily could have dreamed his words, but I truly don’t believe I did. It was so clear, so real.
Tonight is paint night, and Jani is working behind the bar, but I’ll be there to help her.
My focus will be on making sure the attendees are taken care of and having fun and the food is restocked.
Keeping busy will definitely help me not think about Collin or the fact he left for work this morning, finally feeling better, and I won’t be able to see him again until Monday.
Almost a week after the last time I laid eyes on him.
So, yeah. It’s been a long week.
I have the food set up on the table and made sure to make plenty again for the regulars.
This time, I didn’t have to do any desserts, because Aunt Lyndee insisted on sending them.
She was supposed to come tonight, but she and Aunt Madelyn both had something come up.
And BJ is working tonight, so it’s just Mom and Em coming over.
The good news is, earlier in the week, I posted about the three cancellations and someone came in within a few minutes of the social media post and filled the spots. So, once again, I’ll have a full class this evening, and I couldn’t be prouder.
Mom and Em arrive first, carrying in boxes of sweet treats. “You better take these before I eat them all,” my sister announces as soon as she steps inside the bar.
“Hey! Little Lizard!” The regulars have taken to my sister as quickly and easily as they did me, and I can’t help but smile at their reaction to seeing her.
“Friends!” Em replies, walking over to where they sit and offering high fives as she passes. “I brought amazing, yummy desserts from my aunt Lyndee’s bakery. Come over and get some before the good stuff is gone.”
Because they were instructed by the mini-me, all four of them get up off their stools and follow her to the table. First they help her unload, then snatch a few treats from the boxes.
“She’s been talking about coming back here all week,” Mom says, stopping beside me.
“Funny, so have they,” I reply, nodding to the regulars as my sister jokes around and catches up with them back at the bar.
“I’m glad you have a good group of customers to keep an eye on you.”
I stick out my tongue, earning an eye roll from my mom. “Don’t give me that look. You’re a capable adult, but we still worry. That’s what parents do.”
“I know,” I state, taking the few boxes she’s carrying and heading over to the table. With her help, I start arranging desserts with the rest of the food.
Anita arrives and gets everything set up, including the sample painting she did earlier in the week so everyone can see what it will look like—or what it’s supposed to look like.
Mom and Em take a table for four, and before long they’re joined by Charli and her friend, Sommer.
Before long I have the rest of the attendees checked in, with the exception of the three additions I added earlier in the week.
“I’m gonna use the restroom before we start,” Charli states.
“I’ll grab fresh drinks,” Sommer chimes in, asking my mom and sister if they want anything from the bar. Even though Mom could probably drink, she and Em are both enjoying one of the nonalcoholic options I created for tonight’s girls’ night paint night.
“Sorry we’re late.”
I spin around and find the woman who signed up for the remaining spots tonight. “It’s fine, Keira. We haven’t started yet,” I tell her, offering a friendly smile to all three.
“This is Emily and Whitney,” she says, introducing her friends.
I nod to both, noticing instantly how…intently they’re staring at me. Clearing my throat, I add, “Well, grab a drink if you want one. There’s some food over on the table you can help yourself to throughout the evening.”
They all nod before turning their attention to the bar. They’re smiling and carrying on as they go, so I assume I must have just imagined what felt like a touch of hostility.
Anita asks for everyone’s attention and starts to talk about the steps they’re gonna take to paint their picture. I head toward the food to see if anything needs refreshed, and as I’m adding a few more pastries to the platter, I sense someone step up beside me.
“What the hell?”
I glance to my left and find Charli standing there, staring at the group with her mouth gaping open. I can practically feel the anger radiating off her. “What?”
“What is that bitch doing here?” she practically growls.
I spin around, my eyes darting around the room, trying to figure out who in the hell she’s talking about. “Who?”
“Whitney.”
I scan the crowd once more, landing on the three newcomers who just arrived at the last table. As if sensing our eyes, the woman I just met as Whitney looks our way and smiles. No, that’s not accurate. She smirks.
“I can’t believe she’d have the balls to come here, after everything she did.”
“What’d she do?” I find myself asking, wondering if these women used to be friends once upon a time.
I know what it’s like to have a falling out with an old friend.
I had one in high school with a girl who was a pathological liar.
Junior year, I couldn’t take it anymore and ended our friendship.
I no longer knew what was real and what wasn’t.
When I turn to face Charli, she’s standing there with a horrified look on her face. “You don’t know?”
Trying to scan what I know from my short time here, I come up empty where a woman named Whitney is concerned. Finally, I shake my head.
She huffs out a deep breath. “Of course you don’t,” she grumbles, almost to herself.
“Maybe we can talk about it after the class?” I suggest, mostly because it’s already started and Anita is showing everyone how to paint the background.
She turns and gives me a pointed look. “You need to talk to Collin.”
My eyebrows shoot toward my hairline. “Collin? What’s wrong?” I ask, even though something that feels like dread starts to churn in my stomach.
“It’s not my story to tell,” Charli finally says, clearly having a hard time finding the right words. I can tell she’s upset, maybe even a bit angry at that Whitney woman.
I steal another look toward the woman who has suddenly upset the apple cart, even though I don’t even know why she had the power to.
She has long, gorgeous dark hair she keeps flipping back over her shoulder, as if she’s made that very move a million times in her life and just does it naturally.
Her clothes are expensive, in a cowgirl sort of way.
She’s wearing fitted blue jeans and boots, and her top is western and shows a ton of cleavage, as if she’s perhaps had the girls done and wants them on display.
And all I keep wondering is why Collin would have anything to do with this situation, but the nagging feeling I have in the back of my mind tells me the answer.
They were together.
He’s mentioned a difficult past, a break-up that almost killed him, and now I can’t help but feel like it all revolves around this woman.
Sadly, I can’t even ask him about her. He started his shift today, and they got called out on a big fire earlier this afternoon.
At least that’s what he texted moments before it went radio silent.
I know their job doesn’t end when the trucks pull back into the station, so there’s no telling when I’ll be able to speak to him again.
Not to mention this feels like a face-to-face conversation, not something you ask via text.
“Why don’t you go join the table and catch up?”
She narrows her eyes at Whitney, as if shooting invisible daggers all the way across the room. “I hate her.”
I reach up and place my hand on her arm, grabbing her attention. “Thank you.”
She looks at me confused. “For what?”
“For being…you. For being a friend.”
She pulls me into a huge hug. “I’ve got you, girl. And I’ll be the one kicking my brother’s ass all the way to the state line and back if he ever fucks this up with you.”
I bark out a laugh. “Something tells me you will.”