5. Nora #2
An oval table served as a divider between the kitchen and living area.
Beside the back entrance was a laundry room and bathroom.
A spiral staircase in the corner of the living room led up to a landing with a master bedroom with its own bathroom and a spare bedroom.
I’d made sure to install a nice soaking tub along with an excellent shower.
“It’s chicken and dumpling soup,” Daphne said as she stopped by the kitchen counter. “You can have that for lunch. I also brought you fresh bagels with smoked salmon cream cheese. Perfect for a migraine.”
The moment I met her gaze, I knew she knew I’d been lying about having a migraine.
“I don’t have a migraine,” I said with a sheepish smile. “I did have a headache, though. I wasn’t lying about that.”
After setting the container and the bag on the counter, she pulled out the bagels wrapped in foil. She also produced two distinct red coffee cups. “Oh my God, is that Cammi’s coffee?”
She smiled. “Of course. Elias brought some over for us. This cup has your name on it.”
Cammi owned Red Truck Coffee and Misty Mountain Café, the two best coffee shops in Diamond Creek.
We were blessed with frequent personal deliveries from her boyfriend and our good friend, who used to live out here at the resort and still worked with us.
Cammi had stolen his heart, and we got the plus of getting her coffee on the regular.
“Bonus,” I said, holding my hand out for the cup. “I made my own cup, but it’s not as good.”
Daphne shrugged. “My coffee can’t compete with hers either. I even tried to have her teach me. I’m convinced she adds a secret ingredient.”
I chuckled as we sat down at the table. “One for yourself?” I asked when I saw her carrying two bagels wrapped in foil.
“Of course. We’re having breakfast together.”
We sat down and enjoyed some coffee, bagels, and quiet. One of my favorite things about Daphne was she never felt the need to fill the silence. She was easy to be with.
Besides the fact that I was totally a fan of her relationship with my brother, we had scored one of the best chefs I’d ever known in my entire life for the resort due to their relationship.
I looked over at her after my third bite of bagel. “Speaking of secrets, maybe that’s why you’re such a good baker. You put something magic in these.”
The bagel was the perfect texture of chewy and light. I had no idea how she pulled it off. The cream cheese had just enough flavor not to be overwhelming. Smoked salmon required a balance because it could easily tip into an overpowering flavor.
She laughed softly. “No special secrets. I love food, and I don’t mind trying things again and again until I get it just right.
I feel like my cooking skills have improved since I’ve been here because I have plenty of testers.
Y’all are the best taste testers ever,” she said in her soft Southern twang.
“You know me, I will taste test all day. I don’t know how useful I am, though. I think my palate is biased in favor of everything you make.”
Daphne laughed again. With her lightly freckled cheeks and bow-shaped mouth, she was so pretty.
“I’m assuming there were no hitches in the flight schedule. Someone would’ve called me by now if there were.”
She pursed her lips, cocking her head to the side. “I think you forgot someone needed to go with Gabriel to deal with your plane today. I told Flynn to leave you alone. He got Trey Holden to help out with some flights. Trey was thrilled because he hasn’t been able to fly in a few months.”
“Oh, sorry. I totally spaced that.”
She shrugged slightly. “No problem. They worked it out. Trey took over Diego’s flights, and Diego went with Gabriel. Flynn says Gabriel’s the best mechanic in the bunch anyway.”
“He only had to replace that landing tire and patch that area on the wing,” I muttered, feeling sheepish. No matter how frustrated I felt toward Gabriel, I didn’t like to create extra work for anyone, even if it was unintentional.
Daphne nodded, finishing a bite of her bagel. “What’s up with you and Gabriel?”
My cheeks felt hot instantly. But I managed a breath and gathered my composure. “Nothing, why do you ask?”
“Oh, for God’s sake, stop lying,” she retorted pertly.
“What do you mean?” I ground out.
“This isn’t the first time we’ve talked about you and Gabriel.”
I took a bite of my bagel, chewing good and hard. Maybe I could chew my feelings away. Daphne was annoying me now. She patiently waited, perfectly comfortable with the silence and my delayed response.
After I finished chewing, I set my bagel down, rested my elbows on the table, and leaned my face into my hands.
On the heels of a deep breath, I gathered the courage to meet her eyes again and lifted my head, letting my hands fall to the table.
“Nothing is going on with us. He told me he never wanted to get serious months ago.”
Daphne circled her hand in the air, looking bored. “Right. I knew that. You’ve been working the cold routine on him mighty hard. But something happened yesterday. You faked having a migraine this morning, and you never call out of work. Meanwhile, Gabriel looks like a lost puppy.”
My heart gave an achy thump, and tears stung my eyes. I hated how emotional he made me feel. I knew no one else could make me feel anything, but whatever.
“He wasn’t supposed to pick you up yesterday. Did he tell you that?” she asked softly.
“I thought he and Elias switched up the schedule. What do you mean?” My heartbeat was galloping in my chest while confusion and sadness and the usual storm of emotions that Gabriel stirred up swirled through me.
“It was going to be Elias, but Gabriel asked him to switch when Elias mentioned you needed to hitch a flight with someone. Elias was happy to do it because it meant he got home earlier. Gabriel called Flynn after that.”
All I could do was stare at her. “He made it sound like Elias asked to change the schedule. That’s crazy,” I said slowly.
“Is it? Elias said Gabriel was all freaked out when he happened to mention he was changing his route for the afternoon. What happened with Gabriel? And don’t you dare tell me nothing. I saw him this morning and now you.”
“He told me he loves me, and us not being together made him realize how he felt.” My words came out in a rush.
Daphne’s impatience was showing when she circled a hand in the air again, her eyes widening. “That’s it?”
I pursed my lips and cast her a glare. “That’s all that happened. Well, then I had to sleep with him in the back of the plane because of the stupid wind. Oh, and he kissed me,” I mumbled.
“Isn’t this what you wanted?”
“Before, but not now. I had time to think too. Gabriel and I have opposite baggage. He’s got commitment and trust issues because of his mother, and I have them because of my father. It’s a bad combination.”
My friend narrowed her eyes. “I think you’re being ridiculous and looking for excuses.”
“I only talked to you about him before because you promised you would keep your mouth shut. Don’t start on me.” I was feeling defensive and maybe overreacting, but I was trying to keep my shit together over Gabriel.
“I promised I wouldn’t gossip,” she insisted, her eyes flashing. “I didn’t promise not to call you on it when you’re doing the equivalent of cutting off your own nose to spite your face.”
I felt like I was being scolded by a schoolteacher as she looked at me across the table. To add to the image, she lifted her napkin and dabbed at the corners of her mouth.
I sighed. “I know, I know. I need time to think. We already had our own baggage that had nothing to do with each other, and then he went and made some more for me. He was crystal clear he never wanted to get serious with anyone, and now, all of a sudden, he does. With me?” I snorted at that. “What does Flynn know?”
“I don’t know what he knows today. He knew you guys were fooling around before.
He thought it was ridiculous, but he let you think it was a secret because he knows how private you are.
I think he might’ve given Gabriel a little hell when you cut things off, but that’s all I know.
As far as whether or not Gabriel’s talked to him today, I doubt it.
There wasn’t time. Flynn had an early transport run, so he was gone before we even had breakfast,” she explained.
I shook my head. “I don’t know why Gabriel suddenly thinks he’s in love with me.”
“Because he’s had time to think. Sometimes we have to screw up before we realize what matters. That’s not exactly a problem specific to him.”
I swallowed through the thickness in my throat and rubbed my knuckles over my breastbone as if I could somehow smooth away the pain in my heart. It didn’t make a bit of difference.
“Maybe you could try to talk to him again,” Daphne said, her tone gentle.
“Are you going to nag me about this?” I jammed another bite of bagel in my mouth, annoyed she was ruining such a good breakfast.
“No. I mean, maybe. I care about you. I hate to see you throw a good thing away just because you’re angry.”
“I’m not angry,” I lied.
She pursed her lips, her eyes taking on a knowing glint as she looked at me across the table.
“Okay, maybe I’m still a little angry,” I fessed up.
“Ya think? Honey, you’ve managed not to speak to the guy for months. It’s remarkable, really. It’s been impressive.”
I couldn’t help the laugh that slipped out. “Fine. I was going to anyway, even without the lecture.”
“Was that really a lecture?” Her tone was warm as she looked over at me.
“No, it wasn’t. Thanks for being a friend.” I offered a sheepish smile.
“Come up to the kitchen with me? I’d like some company, and all the guys are gone. Nobody’s gonna be back before tonight, so you’re in the clear. We can have a girls’ day.”