Chapter 17 Penny #2
“Hey, you sure you don’t want to go somewhere uptown? There’s a new rooftop bar that looks fun. They have tapas.” I grin, knowing I can entice my sister with food, but she shakes her head, eyes glued to her phone screen.
“Tempting. But no. I don’t want to risk running into anyone…” Her smile falters.
Right. Brett.
I let out a breath and nod. “Okay. Rebel Tavern it is.”
I’m not sure there’s enough liquor in all of Rebel Tavern to erase the memories of that night.
Fia and I walk over to a coffee shop after the nail salon. It’s peaceful now that the morning rush is gone and just calm enough, with the indie playlist and aroma of espresso beans.
I begin to feel my nervous system relax after the whole Rebel Tavern memory relapse. This week is truly going to be the test of my emotional stability, I already know it.
Fia crumbles the paper bag in her hand and rubs her belly.
“I feel so much better.” She smiles after demolishing her second breakfast. “Do we still have time before we need to go home?”
I crinkle my brow. “Time for what exactly?”
She swivels in her seat, staring up at the chalkboard menu on the wall. “I wanted to bring Jesse a coffee.”
Well, the peaceful feeling is now obliterated.
“Isn’t he working?” I ask way too fast.
“Yeah, a few streets away at Long Leaf Park.” She’s squinting at the menu. “He’s training there until two today, I think.”
I roll my eyes, scoffing. “He’s probably busy, Fia, let’s not bother him.”
“It’s cold out today, I’m sure he’d appreciate hot coffee,” she says, annoyingly thoughtful.
Damn it. Nan really did instill kindness into this girl.
“God, you’re such a mom already,” I tease, peeling the label off my coffee cup with my nervous energy.
“It will take like two minutes to swing by, and anyway, you said you two are cool, right?” She stares at me a beat too long, and I nod vigorously.
“Yeah, yeah, we’re two civil beings.” I clear my throat. “Go order his stuff.”
I walk up with Fia as she places the order.
“A tall latte…oh, let’s add vanilla,” she cheerfully tells the barista.
“No!” I snap, and everyone near the counter turns to look at me, including Fia. Her eyebrow arches into surprise. “He only drinks his coffee black. Or with hazelnut flavor,” I add, bringing down my voice a few decibels as heat crawls up my neck.
Fia raises her eyebrows at me. “Okay then…” She turns back and corrects the order.
I walk outside, needing cold air to breathe.
“So, you know his coffee order?” Fia questions me when she joins me on the sidewalk.
“We were best friends in high school, we drank a lot of coffee back then. It’s ingrained in my memory…” I trail off, shrugging, because it doesn’t matter. “I don’t think his tastes have changed.”
“I feel like I’m not getting the full truth.”
Damn straight you’re not.
I start walking toward the park so she can’t see my face.
“It’s normal to remember someone’s coffee order,” I say loudly.
Fia doesn’t reply, and I don’t look at her.
It doesn’t mean anything.
Ten minutes later, I spot him in the distance on the other side of the grassy field. It looks like he’s wrapping up a session with a dog, and they are heading to a bench, his back to us.
As we get closer, Jesse looks up, shielding his eyes from the sun, and smiles.
Why does his smile have to do that?
I adjust the collar of my jacket, ignoring the annoying little jab in my ribs.
Fia waves enthusiastically, and Jesse strolls toward us, a leashed dog at his side.
“Isn’t he a cutie, Penny?” Fia starts, and I glance at her with a surge of confusion until I realize she’s talking about the dog. Not Jesse.
Holy shit, I need to get out of this park. Maybe out of this state.
Is this what one kiss does to me?
Jesse stops in front of us, leash in hand, black hoodie sleeves pushed up so his arm tattoos are exposed.
Something about that black hoodie makes my heart flutter.
It’s just a memory, that’s all. Surely it can’t be the one he wore all those years ago—he’s probably got seventy-five extra pounds of muscle on him now.
“This is Lulu.” He gestures to the dog at his side. “She’s a sweetheart.”
“We were just around the corner at the coffee shop and thought you might want something,” Fia says brightly, handing him the steaming cup. “I almost got you a vanilla latte, but Penny nearly bit my head off. She said you only drink it black.”
His gaze drops to mine.
“Or with hazelnut,” Fia adds.
“You didn’t have to do this.” His brows twitch, and my cheeks get hot, so I look away.
“It was Fia’s idea.”
Jesse nods, still looking at me, and it’s like all the air has been squeezed from my lungs.
Fia kneels down toward the dog. “May I?”
“Knock yourself out, kid.” Lulu wags her tail, accepting Fia’s affection like she’s known her forever.
“Aren’t you a little lovebug?” she coos.
I watch, unable to move, unsure what to say, stuck in an unbearable standoff with Jesse.
The park isn’t busy. There are no toddlers screaming on the play gym or college students jogging by. It’s quite still, actually. Nothing to distract me.
“Oh, Jesse, do you have plans tonight?” My sister asks out of the blue.
His eyes flick between me and Fia for a moment.
“No, I was just going to hit the gym after work.” Of course, he was. “Why what’s up?”
I realize now what she’s about to ask. It wouldn’t be appropriate to wrap a hand around your pregnant sister’s mouth, though, so I’m forced to watch in slow motion as Fia ruins my night.
“Penny’s taking me out for my twenty-first birthday…something laidback, for an hour or two. Obviously, we aren’t partying hard.” She grins. “You should totally come.”
Jesse hesitates, though his green eyes light up. And I feel bad for a moment, because I’m sure he doesn’t have that many friends here in Wilmington anymore.
“If that’s okay with you?” It takes a moment for me to realize he’s talking directly to me.
My voice catches. “Uhm, sure, I mean, if you want?”
“Cool. I’ll be there.” He taps Fia’s head. “Where we going?” he asks, sipping his coffee.
“Rebel Tavern,” Fia answers mindlessly, now rubbing Lulu’s tan belly.
Jesse’s smile falters just slightly. He bites his lip, eyes on me again. “Oh…interesting choice,” he says, and I don’t say anything back.
I don’t have to.