Chapter Eighteen
“I’ll get details from you, and I’ll get them today,” Annabelle pressured Devlin as they sat at a table in their favorite lunch spot, The Olde Town Eatery, waiting for Prudence.
“I promise you there aren’t any details.”
“I don’t believe you for one second. Neither Pru nor I have heard from you since we’ve been back in town and there must be a reason for that.”
Devlin evaded Annabelle’s accusing stare, toying with the menu in front of her. She did want to share what was happening with Gabe to Annabelle and Prudence, but intuition told her that if she tried to explain the connection between her and Gabe the magic would be gone, and she’d never be able to get it back.
“Ladies, ladies, I’m sorry, I’m here,” breezed Prudence, swooping into a seat and exhaling hard enough to flutter the petals on the flower in the middle of the table. “Greyson—”
“Needs to get a life,” Annabelle interrupted.
“Not fair, AB,” Prudence shot back.
“Oh, I know,” Annabelle soothed. “I was just kidding. For as long as it took for you two to get together, you deserve to be as saccharine as you want to be.”
“Yes, let’s talk about you and Grey,” Devlin insisted, ignoring Annabelle’s accusatory glance as Prudence continued.
“We’ve been going through the guest list for the wedding and we’re at an impasse at one person.” Prudence paused, letting the suspense build. “Wyatt Reed.”
“The golden boy himself,” Annabelle stated.
“Why would you not invite Wyatt Reed?” Devlin asked. “He does seem like a great guy.”
Prudence took a sip of her wine before explaining. “You know that before Grey and I got together, he had quite the reputation as a loose cannon.”
“We know now that wasn’t true, though,” Devlin clarified.
“Yes, for the most part, but Wyatt and Grey ran in the same circles until one day Wyatt stopped being a hellion and overnight turned himself into this…paragon of society. He started acting like a monk, serene and unflappable, and the press couldn’t understand what was happening, so they took it out on Grey, making everything he did seem one thousand times worse than it was all while letting Wyatt wear a saintly halo.”
“You are still sound miffed about this,” Annabelle pointed out.
“A little,” Prudence shrugged. “On Grey’s behalf, since once Wyatt did his one-eighty Grey’s life got a lot more complicated.”
“It doesn’t seem fair to blame Wyatt for how the press treated Grey. He, after all, was not a saint.” Devlin took a sip of her wine, savoring the break in Annabelle’s scrutiny.
“I know all this,” Prudence affirmed. “I tried to explain it to Grey but he still doesn’t want to invite him.”
“Is there a reason he has to?” Annabelle asked.
“Not one in particular. I do want him to move past all that and bury the hatchet before he gets too far removed from Hollywood and spends the rest of his life nursing this one beef.” Prudence waited a beat before continuing. “Plus, I’d like to be able to watch a Wyatt Reed movie without the guilt or getting a lecture on how everything he does is just for show.”
“Yeah, but it can’t be just for show,” Devlin stated. “The tabloids would’ve found something on him if there was something to find.”
“I think that’s what kills Grey the most. That he did change.” Prudence picked up her menu and flipped it open. “I’ll talk to him again tonight, since we need to get the invitations sent ASAP. Now, I’m starving, are their new lunch specials out?”
Devlin’s mouth started to water as she looked over her menu. “Yes they are, and I’ve been waiting for them to put the rib-eye on the menu.”
“You haven’t been eating enough meat this last week, Dev?” Annabelle questioned just as their usual waiter, an old man named Jason, sidled up to the table. Jason had started around the time Prudence and Greyson had gotten together and he was more than used to walking up to the table just as one of them dropped a ribald comment. The only thing that gave away that he’d heard anything was the slight uptick to his mouth, just as it was doing now. They turned into polite misses as they ordered, mimicking Jason’s overly formal way of speaking.
“Ladies, what a pleasure to have you back. Have you had a chance to peruse our new lunch menu?”
“Jason,” Prudence started, “as sad as I am to see my usual walleye sandwich go, this crispy salmon salad is intriguing me.”
“A wise choice indeed.” He turned to Annabelle. “And you, madam?”
“Jason, dear, I don’t have a big appetite today, so I’ll just go with the seared scallops and a scotch on the rocks.”
“Of course. It wouldn’t be lunch without some scotch.” He wrote down the order and looked expectantly to Devlin. “Is there anything that caught your eye?”
“I’ve been dreaming about the rib-eye since I heard rumors it would be on the lunch menu, and I’d be daft if I didn’t order it.”
“The cut of meat is rather large, ma’am,” Jason remarked, winking at Annabelle, who snorted with laughter.
“Jason, I’m going to have my steak and eat it too,” Devlin stated.
“Well done, well done. I’ll be back with your food.” He gave a short bow before retreating to the kitchen.
Annabelle turned to Devlin and said without preamble, “Time to dish, Dev. I said I was going to get the info out of you, so let’s have it.”
“Can you please tell AB to stop threatening me?” Devlin implored Prudence.
“Are you threatening her, AB?”
Annabelle shot Devlin a look. “I wouldn’t say threatening, just pressuring her to explain herself.”
“I don’t have anything to explain,” Devlin insisted.
“That’s bullshit and you know it. After what happened at the cabin, you can’t expect me to not want to know more.”
“How on earth did you know at the cabin, anyways, at least before we told everyone?” Devlin asked. “We were hiding it pretty well.”
“Ha!” Annabelle exclaimed, “I knew it! And you weren’t hiding it well at all.”
“It’s true, she has a gift,” Prudence confirmed. “She knew when Grey and I first kissed. And that was just a kiss.”
“A kiss is more intimate than full on sex,” Annabelle explained. “A subtle shift happens with a kiss, a release of pheromones or something.”
“Ok, well Gabe and I have been releasing pheromones all over the place since we got back from the cabin,” Devlin admitted.
“All over the place?” Prudence asked.
Devlin buried her head in her hand and her words came out muffled. “We’ve had sex in every place with a flat surface. Or a horizontal surface—or any surface, really.”
Jason showed up just then with their drinks and plates of food and deposited them without a word before giving a slight cough and leaving.
Annabelle looked to Prudence after taking a sip of her scotch. “I don’t want to say I told you so but I sure as hell told you so.”
“I figured that whatever happened at the cabin would be the end of it,” Prudence said.
“That was the plan, but we decided that neither of us wanted to let go of whatever was happening between us quite yet, so we’ve continued seeing each other.”
“Sorry for pouncing on you earlier, Dev,” Annabelle offered, “but why didn’t you tell us? We could’ve helped you navigate whatever is going on.”
“I know I messed up before, but I was hoping that you trusted us now,” Prudence added.
“No, you guys, that’s not it. I know I’ve kept things from you in the past, but I think that what it comes down to is that I’ve never had anyone that cared enough to want to know what I was going through, or how I was handling things.”
“You didn’t have friends in Boston?” Prudence questioned.
“Not like you two,” Devlin admitted. “Co-workers or acquaintances. Friends of boyfriends.”
“That sounds like a lonely existence.” Prudence speared a fork into her salad.
“I held everything in for so long that I’m still having a hard time thinking that people here care about me and want me to succeed both personally and professionally. I seem to duck back into my shell whenever I feel a hint of happiness, sure that someone is going to sabotage it.”
“All we can do is to keep being here for you, Dev,” Prudence told her. “If that means annoying you until you open up and let us in, so be it.”
“So…” Annabelle prompted. “How is it going?”
Devlin busied herself with cutting her steak while figuring out how to answer. She did want to let them in, but she was still having a hard time with it.
“Everything is going great. He’s kind and generous and—” She stopped, not sure how to continue to open up to her friends. “I don’t know why this is so hard. I’ve already admitted my shortcomings when it comes to friends, why can’t I just say it?”
“Let’s start small,” Annabelle compromised. “Do you like him?”
Devlin smiled—she couldn’t help herself. “Of course I like him.”
“Okay, that’s a good start.” Annabelle resumed her line of questioning. “Do you like him for more than just his body?”
Devlin pretended to think this question over. “Maybe? I mean, he is spectacular.”
“Oh jeez,” Prudence muttered. “I’ve known this kid since he was in diapers.”
“Get over it,” Annabelle sighed. “We have our friend to help.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Prudence waved her hand for Annabelle to continue.
“Okay, time for rapid-fire questions,” Annabelle insisted. “Does he make you orgasm?”
“Yes.”
“Multiple times?”
Devlin felt herself getting warm. “Yes.”
“Do you mind his odd hours?”
“No.”
“Does he mind your odd hours?”
“No.”
“Do you like all the shiplap he’s used in the renovations?”
“Well—”
“Don’t think,” Annabelle barked, “just answer!”
“Yes!”
“Do you love him?”
“Yes.” Devlin gasped as she clapped her hand over her mouth. “Wait, what?”
“Rapid fire never lies,” Prudence remarked.
“The truth always comes out during rapid fire,” Annabelle confirmed.
“Hold on,” Devlin exclaimed. “Don’t use that witchcraft on me! Nobody said anything about love.”
“Sorry, honey, but you just did,” explained Annabelle.
Devlin’s heart slammed in her chest. No, this wasn’t love. A heavy dose of lust, sure, but love?
“No, it’s not possible,” she sputtered.
“Ok, let’s try this,” Prudence started. “What was the last real conversation you two had?”
Devlin tried to remember. “Before the chili cook-off. We talked about his woodworking.”
“Interesting,” Annabelle murmured. “He doesn’t talk about that with most people and when he does, he explains woodworking like a hobby, but it’s much more personal than a hobby.”
“I gathered that,” Devlin said. “He was so passionate about it. I got chills listening to him explain his process for creating a piece.”
Prudence and Annabelle exchanged a glance. “I almost hate to tell you this based on how you responded a moment ago, but I think his feelings for you are mutual,” Annabelle pointed out.
Devlin pushed the remainder of her meal away, her appetite vanishing. If Gabe has ruined rib-eyes for me I’ll never forgive him. A laugh formed out of nowhere at this ridiculous thought.
“Are we missing something funny?” Prudence accused.
“No. No, nothing funny.” She glanced around the restaurant then back at her friends. “Except that everything about all of this is funny. The universe is playing a joke on me, that’s the only explanation for any of this. I leave Boston to get away from everything just to land smack dab back in Gabe’s lap. The whole thing is comical.”
“Maybe the universe is trying to tell you something and you’re not listening to it, Dev,” Annabelle said.
“You always need to listen to the universe,” Prudence philosophized. “I believe divine intervention was the reason that Grey came home just as a job opened up at the college. You ended up in Amber Falls for the same reason, and I don’t think you need to figure out why anymore, but how to make it work.”
“It might be time to talk with Gabe about the whole proposal thing,” Devlin admitted.
“Wait.” Annabelle held up her hand. “You’re telling me that you haven’t discussed the one thing that adds the drama to this whole situation? You’re banging each other’s brains out, but not using those brains to figure out what the hell you’re going to do?”
The sound of a throat clearing broke Devlin from her despair.
“Of course, Jason, you’re back. I’d expect nothing less,” Annabelle deadpanned.
“Just the checks, ladies.” He deposited them on the table and did an about face with military precision before gliding off.
“Devlin, please tell me that you and Gabe have discussed your proposals or the art gallery?” Prudence echoed Annabelle’s earlier words.
“Umm.” Devlin tried not to give the outward appearance that she wanted to avoid the question.
“What are you going to do when one of you gets the property and the other one has to give up on their dreams?” Annabelle asked.
“I’m trying not to see it that way,” Devlin explained. “We have time before anything needs to be decided.”
“One day is not time. You do know the proposals are due Friday, right?” Annabelle pointed out.
“Of course I do.” Devlin grew frustrated. “You don’t think I know all of this?”
Seeming to sense Devlin’s unease, Prudence tried another tactic. “I don’t want this to come between you, but I can’t think of an outcome where one of you doesn’t get hurt.”
A silence settled over the table, which was rare with this group. Devlin felt a stab of guilt at her irritation with her friends and tried to summon anything that would ease them back into being their easygoing selves, but was cut short when Prudence downed the last of her wine and looked at her watch.
“I’ve got a meeting in ten minutes, otherwise we’d continue this conversation.” She sighed as she grabbed some cash from her wallet and deposited it on the table. “We’re not trying to be hard on you, Dev, we’re trying to help you.”
Annabelle nodded, agreeing with Prudence. “Do you remember when Prudence completely overreacted at the Fall Festival street dance?”
“Hey!” Prudence exclaimed. “I had my reasons.”
“They ended up being terrible reasons, but my point is that Devlin and I helped you talk it out.” Annabelle laid her hand over Devlin’s. “We weren’t trying to prove anything or to be right about it, we just want to help, and the best way to do that is to talk it out and see the situation from all angles. A ladies lunch doesn’t give us enough time to get into it, since I’ve gotta go, too.”
Prudence and Annabelle stood and said their goodbyes, waving to Jason on their way out. This left Devlin alone in their corner booth, ruminating on the situation she’d gotten into but not yet sure how to extract herself from it.
Devlin remembered Prudence’s misery from a few months ago and tried to convince herself that her situation wasn’t the same. She and Gabe were adults who’d made the joint decision to pursue a relationship despite knowing the outcome. They were so wrapped up with each other that she was sure neither of them was letting reality sink in and they weren’t thinking about what would happen when one got the shop and not the other.
Oh yes, it had crossed her mind more than once, but she’d gotten good at shoving it back to a place where it didn’t need immediate attention. That place no longer existed. That place was now a cavernous hole where thoughts pinged around with a speed and clarity that made her lightheaded.
She hadn’t let herself dwell on the fact that Gabe had been able to break down her walls in a matter of weeks, or what that meant. She recalled his poetic talk about his craft and wondered if that also applied to her. Maybe he saw her unfinished self and just knew what she should be, what her final shape would end up as.
The bastard from Boston dared to sneak back into her thoughts at this exact moment of clarity. He’d done a number on her, she knew that, and the fact that she was still letting him anywhere near her mental state was concerning to her. She’d been practicing mindful meditation since she moved to Amber Falls, and was starting to think she needed to kick it up a notch.
After Annabelle and Prudence had broken down her defenses, they’d made her realize that Gabe was the most exceptional person she’d met. Everything she’d told them was true. He was kind and generous and giving. She could go and make her business a success anywhere, she knew that, but she could go through the rest of her life and never find another Gabe . What they felt for each other might not go any further than where it already was—hell, it might not last until next week—but she was determined now to try.
Devlin sat there with the sounds of the restaurant creating a background symphony. The clink of silverware on plates, a bang from the kitchen and the murmur of voices all somehow quieted her mind.
She knew what she had to do. Gabe worked late tonight so she wouldn’t see him until the next evening. She’d talk to him tomorrow and tell him that she’d decided not to submit her proposal. The time they’d spent together had given her a new outlook on her time in Amber Falls. Expansion could happen at any time but she felt like she needed to tend to her budding relationship with Gabe now, like a seed that needed water and sunlight. Devlin hoped that Gabe understood and felt the same, and that he’d let the building in between go to let their relationship grow without their businesses being involved.