Chapter 7
Three Years Later
I hate winter.
I hate the bitter chill that leaves me wondering if spring will ever come.
I hate having to fake smiles around my extended relatives on holidays who repeatedly ask when I’m getting married and having kids, even though I don’t have a boyfriend.
I hate the shorter days and lack of sunlight. I hate flu season and ice on the roads.
But, most of all, I hate winter because it reminds me of Griffin.
“All right, besties. It’s time for happies and crappies.” Alyssa runs a hand through her blonde hair.
It’s nine at night, but she looks like she just got ready for the day, not a curl out of place. Meanwhile, I’m sure my naturally wavy hair looks more like a bird’s nest after a full day of teaching.
I settle on the couch between Shayna and Alyssa while Kelsey sits in the armchair beside us. I’m so thankful we all kept our promise to come back to Louisville and live together after our college years. I’m not sure what I’d do without my besties-turned-roommates.
Every Friday night, we have girls’ night. Typically, we watch a movie or do something fun in town if the weather allows, and we always try to do a weekly check-in with our happies and crappies.
“I’ll go first,” Kelsey volunteers. “My happy is that Tyler took me on another date to the local animal rescue, and I’m this close to persuading him to adopt one of the dogs.” She holds her thumb and pointer finger just a few centimeters apart.
Kelsey thought love was a sham until she started dating our neighbor, Tyler, a few months ago. They’ve been inseparable ever since. It fills my heart to see her this happy, even if it makes me feel a little sick.
I used to believe love existed…until Hot Cocoa Man.
“I don’t have a crappy this week.” Kelsey sighs dreamily. “I’m just really, really happy.”
“She’s been bitten by the love bug,” Shayna squeals, dancing next to me on the sofa.
“Before you break into song, I’ll go.” I pull a fuzzy pink blanket onto my lap.
“My happy is that it’s finally winter break.
” My friends all let out a little cheer for me, knowing I’ve been counting down the days until my three-week break.
I love my students, but everyone starts getting a little stir-crazy as the holidays approach.
“And my crappy is that Linda has been acting up again.”
My real crappy is that winter reminds me of Griffin, but I don’t want to burden my friends with that thought. Not when I’ve done my best to convince them—and myself—that I’m over him.
“Oh, Linda. Poor thing hates the cold.” Kelsey shakes her head.
“She really does.” I turn to Alyssa. “What about you, Lyss?”
“I’ve been waiting to tell y’all.” Alyssa leans forward. “I have enough clients now that they offered me a full-time chair in the salon.”
I reach over and hug her. “Congrats, Lyss.”
“That’s amazing.” Kelsey gives her a high five.
Shayna reaches across me to squeeze Alyssa’s arm. “We always knew you could do it.”
She pulls out four Kizito cookies—a staple dessert in Louisville and our celebration treat of choice for special occasions—and my mouth instantly waters.
Alyssa hands each of us our favorite flavor, mine being white chocolate chip.
My favorite used to be snickerdoodle, but that changed three years ago, and I have no plans of ever going back.
“To you being the best hairdresser there ever was,” I say, and my other friends nod in agreement. As I bite into my cookie, I can’t help but smile. It’s delicious, and just what I needed to start my winter break on a good note.
“I can’t focus on any crappies this week when I just feel like celebrating,” Alyssa says around a mouthful of her cookie.
“Not even the fact that I saw on social media today that Austin is dating a supermodel?” Kelsey raises an eyebrow over the cookie. It looks even more ridiculous since the cookie is pretty much the size of her head.
All of us have been waiting years for Alyssa to admit that she’s in love with her best guy friend, Austin Bradford—the star shortstop for the Louisville Mustangs. She swears they’re only friends, but we’re not convinced.
I don’t have social media, so I have no clue what she's referring to, but the blush on Alyssa’s cheeks tells me she knows exactly what Kels is talking about.
“Austin hasn’t said anything about it, so I’m sure it’s just the tabloids doing what they do best: gossiping.
” Alyssa tucks her hair behind her ears, only to untuck it moments later.
“I wouldn’t care if he was dating a model, though.
He deserves to be happy.” She gestures to Shayna, looking ready to end the conversation about Austin. “Your turn, Shay.”
“I’ll get my crappy out of the way first.” Shayna takes out her knotted pearl headband and runs her fingers through her dark-brown hair before placing it back on her head. It’s her signature look, something quintessentially Shayna. I honestly can’t remember many days I’ve seen her without it.
Even though she’s one of my best friends, Shayna is the complete opposite of me—the eternal optimist whose personality shines brighter than the sun.
“My parents told me they’re going skiing in Colorado for Christmas.
They’re taking Reagan with them and offered to take me too, but this is a busy time of year at Shirley’s Florist, and I can’t leave her alone to deal with all the orders.
So, it looks like I’ll be here alone for Christmas this year. ”
“No, you won’t. You’ll come to my family’s celebration. You know my mom wouldn’t have it any other way,” Alyssa says matter-of-factly.
That’s one of the things I love the most about my friends: none of us ever has to be alone because we’re each other’s family.
Kelsey shrugs. “I’d offer for you to come spend it with me and Tyler’s family, but it looks like you’re covered.”
I nod. “Same.”
“Y’all are the best,” Shayna coos, her ever-present smile brightening. “Okay, now for my happy. You know how I told y’all a few months ago that Shirley was going to retire soon and leave me her store?”
We all nod, intrigued.
“She set a retirement date. March sixth. That means your girl will officially be a flower shop owner in a little under three months!” She says the last words an octave higher, her shoulders lifted in excitement.
I reach over and squeeze her hand. “Congrats, Shay. That’s amazing.”
“You’re going to be the most kick-butt flower shop in town.” Kelsey pumps a fist in the air.
Alyssa gets up and pulls Shayna to her feet, right into a big hug. They rock back and forth until Kelsey and I join.
Once we retake our seats, Shayna grabs the remote and turns on the television. She opens our streaming cable network, and the handsome, smiling face of none other than Griffin Reynolds appears on the screen.
You know what else I hate aside from winter?
Actors.
Actually, one actor in particular. I suppose I shouldn’t lump them all into the loathing category. I’m sure there are plenty of lovely people in Hollywood.
But Griffin Reynolds is not one of those people.
He’s the worst kind of person who just up and ghosts a wonderful woman after they’ve had the best date of their lives.
The interviewer’s smile is so exaggerated that it looks disingenuous. “Tonight, on the red carpet, we have a real treat, folks. Griffin Reynolds is here with his costar, Brittany Clearwater.”
My friends all turn to me, and I’m sure my face is as pink as the fuchsia blanket on my lap.
Always the empathetic and sweet, positive friend, Shayna pauses the show. “Do you want me to change the channel?”
I shake my head. “No.” My voice is barely a whisper. “I need to get over seeing his face everywhere. I can’t avoid it forever.”
“Griffin, tell us. How does it feel working with someone as talented and beautiful as Britt? I bet it makes those kissing scenes a little bit easier. Am I right?” The interviewer nudges his shoulder, and the enchiladas I had for dinner roll over in my stomach.
“Definitely.” Griffin smiles brightly.
Kelsey throws a piece of popcorn at the screen. “Boo.”
I laugh while Alyssa shakes her head. “I can’t believe he’s the new rom-com guy.”
“Me neither.”
Deep down, part of me was happy for Griffin when I saw that he finally caught his big break. But the fact that I found out from my friends accidentally turning on a rom-com with him as the leading man last week wasn’t ideal.
It would’ve been nice to find out by, oh, I don’t know, him telling me if he’d ever had the decency to call me after our date. But I guess he got too big for his britches once he became famous to think about little old me ever again.
After I learned his last name, it was all too easy to type his name into an internet search engine.
I discovered that he starred in a lesser-known rom-com movie two years ago—likely the one he auditioned for when he ghosted me.
What that film lacked in success, it must’ve made up for him in auditions to have landed this big role that started the rise of his career.
The interviewer nudges Griffin. “Come on, your relationship has been pretty hush-hush in the media. Can’t you give us a little bit more than that?”
“Maybe for you, Silas.” Griffin chuckles, but his laugh sounds unfamiliar to me. Not at all like his real, unrestrained laughter that I can still hear playing in my mind like a favorite song. He hooks his arm around Brittany’s waist. “What do you want to know?”
“There’s so much chemistry between you in the movie. Does that chemistry extend beyond the screen?” Silas raises his eyebrow, a wry smirk on his lips.
“What movie do you want to watch, Mal? I think you should pick tonight,” Kelsey says above the sound of the television, like she’s trying to save me from hearing his answer.
I can’t answer Kelsey’s question. Apparently, I’m a masochist now because I can’t tear my eyes away from the screen, holding my breath as I wait to hear if Griffin is dating Brittany.