Chapter 7
APRIL
Iscoop out the jellybean from my coffee. I'm sitting in Jolly Joe’s, the soda shop-styled candy store, ice cream parlor, and bakery that decided that putting jellybeans in coffee was a good idea, but it’s truly revolting.
“Surely the bean melts in my coffee, so essentially my no-sugar latte is now a sugar latte.” I highlight this fact to Piper who's sitting across from me bouncing her baby daughter in one arm and stirring her latte in the other, sporting her big shiny wedding ring on her finger.
Piper glances around the store, which is decorated like an old soda shop, including a jukebox in one corner. “It’s fun. You never know what color you'll get,” she points out.
Taking a sip of my, okay, admittedly delicious coffee, I hum an answer that maybe she is right. Setting my coffee down, though, I must point out the obvious. “I’m kind of done with the surprise train for a little bit.”
“Why?” She scouts the room then leans in to whisper, “Sex tape wasn’t enough for you?” Her humor causes me to roll my eyes because only she can get away with it since she's my best friend. “Is that freaking you out?”
“Nah. His lawyer is only the best, she works in my mother’s firm. I mean, she hasn’t lost a case in like forever. The sex tape is looking tame compared to other events. Apparently, Mr. Pain in my Ass—”
“But is he, though?” Her voice is full of doubt. “Sounds like you enjoyed the view of his ass at least once in your life.” Now she's just teasing me.
However, the image of the video plays in my head. The part when he pinned my arms above my head against the mattress, and then a flicker of the scene from last night when his eyes landed on me as I watched. Heat runs through my body, but I shake it off.
My signature unimpressed look appears, which only makes Piper chuckle more. “Must we remind me of the error of my ways?”
Piper smiles. “I’m sorry. You're right. What else has Spencer done?”
“So, after imprisoning me in his house due to his lack of understanding for how his damn phone works, I get another surprise this morning.”
“Ooh, mysterious. What could it be?” Piper looks at Gracie with a funny face.
I slide my coffee cup to the side. “Spencer is a father, apparently. A little girl just magically ran into the kitchen when I was attempting to make my crepes as a form of stress relief.”
Piper’s face turns serious, with her eyes darting in my direction, and clearly, she is studying me. Her lack of words makes it obvious.
“You knew?!”
Piper slowly nods.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I wonder.
Piper pulls Gracie close to soothe her by stroking her cute little baby hair with her hand. “It’s not my story to share. Besides, up until yesterday, I thought you and Spencer couldn’t be within a foot of one another, so I assumed you would be the last person he would want to know.”
I open my mouth but struggle to get words out until they fall off my tongue. “Now that explains why he looks like a pro at holding Gracie in the photo you sent in the family chat group.”
Piper’s brow raises, and I can see a smirk that wants to spread on her lips. “Oh, so you noticed that.”
Sighing, I blow out a breath. “The man doesn’t have many positives going for him, so the very minimal pluses are noticeable. I’m slightly confused, where is Hadley's mother in all of this?”
Piper’s face turns saddened. “Not my story to tell,” she reminds me.
My little cousin reaches her chubby little hand out for me. Piper offers Gracie to me, and I’m quick to shake my head no.
“You know I’m not great with kids.”
“You are fine with kids,” she corrects me.
My lips quirk out, and I lean into my hand on my propped elbow. “I guess I have no option, as my new roommate comes with a pint-sized girl in a tutu. Oh, crap!” I throw my hands into the air and quickly grab my phone from my jacket pocket.
“What now?”
I find Spencer’s name in a chat conversation. “I was in such a shocked state that I quickly changed and left. I forgot Pickles. See? I can’t even take care of my own dog!” I’m horrified, I never forget him.
Me
Uhm, I think Pickles may need to go outside. Sorry, I forgot to bring him with me.
I drop my head into both my hands. I feel like a hot mess.
“Did something else happen? You seem a bit flustered or out of sorts.”
I may have watched your neighbor come last night.
I look at Piper like she's crazy. “The last twenty-four hours have been a whirlwind. Oh my God, I didn’t even mention about the general store yesterday. I was there stocking up on supplies when I ran into Jett.”
“Jeff’s brother?”
“Yeah, and he made sure to let me know that Jeff is now engaged, because clearly, he found someone suitable,” I say, sarcastic.
Piper gives me a pained look. “Ouch. What did you say?”
I pause for a moment when I recall what happened. I slowly take a sip of coffee and set it back on the table. “Well, uh, Spencer might have, kind of… you know.” I brush it off.
“I don’t know,” she states plainly.
“He made it look like we were there together. I guess so I don’t look like a pathetic loser, you know.”
A satisfied smirk appears on Piper’s face again. “Really?” Oh gosh, it’s one of those incredibly interested reallys.
“Can we stop talking about him?”
“You know, Hudson thinks you two would be kind of good together,” Piper points out as she grabs a toy from her bag.
“Hudson is kind of positive about most things.”
My phone pings a sound.
Spencer
Figured. It’s fine. He finally moved when Hadley went outside to play. He doesn’t seem to run far, so I didn’t bother with the leash.
The photo he attached unnerves me for some reason. Pickles is lying on the driveway with his head perked up. Thick chalk crayons are scattered around him, as he is next to Hadley who is drawing.
Oh. Thanks.
I tap my long fingernail on the screen, as I’m just not used to this interaction with Spencer. It takes some getting used to.
“So, what’s the plan for while you're hiding out in Lake Spark? Babysit your favorite baby?” She sounds hopeful.
“No. But I will accompany her if her mother is present.” I smile sweetly.
Piper shuffles in her seat. “But seriously, what are you going to do?”
“Actually, the only bonus of this situation is that Spencer has an amazing kitchen, so I can practice all my recipes. Maybe I’ll start that blog I keep talking about.”
“That’s a great idea!”
“Yeah, figured that I should probably start a new career chapter soon. My mother’s daily texts are starting to sound concerned.” I lean back in my chair.
Piper is now shaking a little rattle. “When I talked to Catherine last night, I played dumb and said the last I heard from you was that you had a date with some doctor, which got her a little excited.”
“It really sucks my mom is your sister-in-law. I sometimes wonder if your loyalty has changed,” I say, entertained.
“Nah, you have my full loyalty. I haven’t even mentioned this situation to Hudson yet, but that is pure luck. I would never break news before a game. But after the game…” She rolls her eyes.
I wave her notion off. “He is the least of my worries.”
“So, are you ready to head back home?” Piper flashes her eyes at me.
Looking into my empty cup of coffee, I growl a sound. “Guess I can’t hide forever. Besides, I wanted to make pasta from scratch, and that’s time consuming.”
“I won’t hear you screaming at Spencer from across the street?”
“No.”
“Good. You never know what will happen.”
“Nothing.” I stand and grab my jacket from the back of the chair. I can tell Piper doesn’t believe me, but we don’t talk about it, as we are too busy getting Gracie bundled up and into her stroller. Piper is going to check on her boutique where she sells pajamas and lingerie.
Coincidentally, I was wearing her pajama design this morning when a little girl ran into my life and her father stood by, visibly ready to share another insight into his life with me.
Returning to Spencer’s house, I immediately hear Spencer and Hadley when I walk through the door from the garage to the hall near the kitchen.
“I don’t eat that!” Hadley sounds frustrated.
“Well, you have to, otherwise no apple sauce.” He has an authoritarian tone.
“Grrr.” Hadley actually just growled at Spencer like an animal, and it causes me to smile to myself.
I pass Pickles who is sleeping on a bed of blankets that I don’t remember putting there. I lean down real quick to pat his head. Walking slowly into the kitchen, I see Hadley sitting at the kitchen counter and Spencer attempting to put a sandwich on her plate. All eyes turn to me.
“Hi,” I hesitantly greet them and wave my fingers in the air for a little greeting.
Spencer sighs, and for the first time ever, I don’t think I am the cause. He looks like he is exhausted.
“Hi.” Spencer rubs his temples. “I guess you are owed a proper introduction. April, this is Hadley. Hadley, you remember April from this morning.”
“Dog lady,” Hadley announces.
Spencer chuckles. “I think you mean Pickles’ owner?”
“Well, if Pickles likes me more, then maybe I can keep him.”
I lean over on the other end of the counter, a good distance from everyone. “Let me guess. You made a bed for him?”
She nods her head.
My eyes slide to Spencer. “I guess I have competition.” There is a moment’s pause. “So, what’s shaking?”
What’s shaking? Yikes, I’m clueless how to communicate.
“Hadley isn’t really a fan of food. She only eats apple sauce, donuts, and fries.”
“Solid food groups,” I comment.
He throws a kitchen towel to the side. “Yeah, I’m sure the pediatrician would agree.” There is a lack of assurance in his voice.
I crawl my fingers on the counter as I debate what to say or do. “Well, if you don’t mind, I’m going to get to work on my pasta.”
“Is that what I bought yesterday?” He indicates his head to the cardboard near the sink.
I walk straight to the box. “Yep. A pasta maker.” I begin to work on the box.
“What’s a pasta maker?” Hadley asks.
I focus on my task as I speak. “It helps me roll out the dough that I’m going to make.”