Chapter 11
11
PIA
“Hey, girl,” Delaney said, coming up to our table.
I’d arrived earlier, so I stood up and gave her a hug. She seemed to be in much better spirits than the last time we spoke.
“Is this place amazing or what?”
Delaney sat across from me just as the soft jazz started. This time, it was live, the sax player pretty surprising for a small town like this. “It is. And actually my second time here already,” I said. The Big Easy was becoming my favorite dinner spot. Although, aside from takeout, I hadn’t actually gone anywhere else in Cedar Falls. Unless O’Malley’s counted, but that was just bar food.
“Get out. When were you here?”
“Last week.”
With my boss. Who I was pretty sure I had a very inappropriate crush on. Not only had I gone and blurted that stupid question last night, but at one point we’d exchanged a look that nearly had me ripping my clothes off in the middle of the bar.
“We’re gonna need drinks for this, aren’t we?”
“Um, definitely.”
Thankfully the waitress came by just then and we both ordered French 75s. Though gin wasn’t usually my go-to, it was apparently a popular New Orleans drink, and who didn’t love champagne?
“Sooo?” I prompted.
“I kinda, sorta got back with my ex.”
Based on what she’d told me of him so far, that didn’t seem like the greatest plan in the world. But in matters of the heart, we all did pretty stupid things. Myself included. So I would be the last one to judge.
“You say that like it’s a bad thing?”
Again, Delaney scrunched her nose, my bubbly new friend making me laugh. “Because it probably is.”
At least she recognized the fact.
“First of all, he broke my heart, and usually I don’t think the person who broke your heart is a great candidate to fix it. Second of all, now that I’ve moved back, we’re long distance. And third, my gut is saying it’s a really bad idea.”
Which meant it probably was a really bad idea. “One you’re doing anyway?”
She sighed. “Yeah. I’m also madly in love with him. I swear every text he sends is like a little cocaine rush. Not that I’ve ever had cocaine,” she added. “But I just can’t explain it. He lights me up in a way no one ever has before. When we broke up, I was devastated. And now I’m on cloud nine despite the fact that it could easily all come crashing down again.”
“What about the whole engagement to the ex thing?”
“Just rumors.”
Our drinks arrived.
Lifting mine, I tried to make the best of her situation. “Well, you know what they say. Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. Hopefully, it will work out this time. But if it does come crashing down, at least you can say you tried.”
We clinked glasses. “Tell me what you’ve been up to,” she said. “I’m sorry we couldn’t get together before now. I’ve been swamped at my new job.”
“I don’t think you told me what you do?”
“I’m a pharmacist,” she said. “And I honestly had no intentions of coming back to the area. But a position opened up, and I did miss my family, so…” She shrugged. “Here I am.”
“Funny, I don’t see you as a pharmacist.”
Delaney laughed. “Everyone says that.” She cocked her head to the side. “Do I give off more artist vibes?”
Actually… “Yes. You do.”
“That’s my first love. It started with painting pottery when I was little, and then I started sculpting my own pieces. One thing led to another”—she stuck out her wrist—“and I started painting and designing jewelry. This is mine.”
It was one of the most unique bracelets I’d ever seen, and I immediately wanted one. “Please tell me you sell those.”
“Someday, maybe. Happy to make you one though.”
“Why don’t you sell it?”
“I dunno, it just feels weird to charge people I know. I’m not good at that sort of thing. I guess I could do something like a craft circuit or something, but there’s not a lot of time for that with work. I’ve thought a lot about selling online or something, but there’s a million places to buy jewelry there, and it just seems like a dime a dozen. And pieces like this take so much time, I’m just not sure it’s worth it. Maybe it’s better to keep artistry as a hobby.”
“I get that.”
“But seriously, enough about me. How’s it been going so far? I couldn’t believe it when you told me you were going home. What happened?”
I told Delaney all about my arrival and Mason’s change of heart. And about the job, my old boss and why I wanted to succeed at this one so badly. She listened intently but nearly spat out her drink at one thing I’d said.
“Beck Claymont?”
I’d told her about Mason’s friends and how well I surprisingly got along with the one that I thought I’d dislike most.
“Actually, I didn’t even know his last name.”
“Dirty blond hair, sort of surfer-ish style? Tattooed arm? Super hot and extremely flirty?”
“Good description. That’s the one. You know him?”
“Know him. Dated him. Well, sort of. It was middle school, so I can’t say we went on any actual dates. In my defense, Cedar Falls isn’t that big. The pool of men is pretty pathetic.”
“I could totally see my younger self having done the same, before recognizing his type.”
“Heartbreaker, you mean?”
“Exactly.”
“I don’t know Parker though very well.”
“He and Mason met in college, so he’s not from here.”
“Ahh, makes sense.”
When the waitress came, we both ordered red beans and rice. “Speaking of men, and the small pool of them in Cedar Falls, has anyone else caught your eye yet? One of Mason’s other buddies that isn’t Beck, maybe?”
I swallowed, knowing I should not answer that question, as if saying it out loud made it less true.
“Pia?” she prompted.
I looked at her guiltily through my eyelashes, choosing to take a sip of my drink instead of answering.
“It’s one of them, isn’t it? The cute professor?”
I shook my head.
“The sexy construction worker, Parker.”
“No, not him.”
“Oh no.” Her eyes widened. “Pia.”
“I’m not doing anything about it,” I rushed to explain. “And I certainly didn’t ask to be attracted to the same guy who pretty much tossed me out on the street. But…” I thought about him leaning against the wall last night after we danced. If I could have stopped staring at his strong jaw or forearms, I would have. Never mind his ass in jeans. “There’s just something about him. I can’t explain it.”
She put her drink down and leaned forward, as if getting ready for a speech. “I totally understand and probably should have warned you about him. Mason Bennett is a certified hottie. And no, I didn’t date him. But I have a friend who did in high school, and that guy is as emotionally unavailable as they come.”
“I can tell. But also just plain old unavailable too, being that he’s my boss and all.”
“That too.”
“You asked,” I defended myself. “Was just being honest.”
“And I’m glad you told me so I can talk you out of it.”
I shook my head. “No need. I will not be acting on that particular impulse. I’ve had enough heartbreak to last a lifetime, and I’m pretty sure he’s not a commitment kind of guy.”
“He’s not.”
“And let’s reiterate, my boss.”
“That too.”
“So completely off-limits.”
“Completely.” Delaney looked over my shoulder. “Just making sure we’re on the same page.”
“Absolutely we are.”
“Good. Then you won’t care that he just walked in.”