Never To Forever (Blue Ridge Falls #2)

Chapter One

CHAPTER ONE

MARIE

Smack.

Ding.

“Son of a bitch!” I hiss, rubbing the spot on my forehead where the coffee shop door just smacked me.

It’s too early for this. I haven’t had my coffee, and I’m not fully human yet. Not able to focus or have any real awareness of my surroundings, which is why I just tried to open the door with my face. Grumbling under my breath, I push the door open; the bell dinging again.

The scent of fresh coffee and pastries hits me as soon as I walk through the door, causing a sigh of relief to escape me. This is what I need to really get my day going.

Travis, the barista, looks up and smiles at me as I cross to the counter.

“Hey, Marie,” he says, his brown eyes crinkling in the corners. “The usual?”

“Yes, please.”

“Coming right up.”

He turns to make my oat milk latte while I stand to the side and wait. Travis is a good kid, and he always gives me an extra pump of caramel because we bonded over his favorite fantasy book last year. I was able to get the complete series from the library, and as a result, I’ve earned free caramel for a lifetime.

While I wait, I dig my phone out of my pocket and check Instagram. The newest photo on my feed is of Haven, my best friend, holding a onesie in the air with a wide smile, announcing Baby Tallow’s existence to the world. Her brown eyes sparkle and her auburn hair flows around her shoulders. The sight forces a smile to my lips. I honestly still can’t believe that she’s where she is right now.

Can’t wait for our little one! Can’t come soon enough.

“Marie! Your latte is ready!”

Blinking, I look up to find Travis holding up my to-go cup with a wide smile on his baby face. Tucking my phone back in my pocket, I make my way over to him to take the coffee.

“Thanks.” Once the God’s nectar hits my tastebuds, I moan in delight. “It’s delicious, as always.”

“Busy day?” He asks, his smile widening as he wipes the counters with a white rag.

“Nothing out of the ordinary. Heading to work, like every other morning.”

He nods, looking genuinely interested in my answer, even though we have similar conversations most days when I stop in. I’m a creature of habit. On my walk to work as the local library’s Associate Librarian, I always stop in for my latte, have a quick chat with Travis, and then continue on my way to the library.

“Has the new book in the Dark Sorcerer Chronicles arrived yet?” he asks eagerly.

“Not yet. It should be in this week. I’ll let you know the moment it arrives, though.”

“Thanks, Marie,” he beams, excitement dancing in his eyes. I love when I see people get excited about books… especially young people. It gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling and makes me happy to walk into the library every day.

“Oh, shoot, look at the time,” I quickly say, checking my watch. “I should get going. Don’t want to be late. See you tomorrow!”

“See you, Marie!”

Strolling down the sidewalk, I enjoy my coffee and the calm before I get to work. The library is just off Main Street, so about a five-minute walk from the coffee shop. The sun gets higher and its warmth banishes away the morning chill. It won’t get too much warmer even though it’s Texas and the end of January, but it’s still going to be a beautiful day.

Those feelings dip when I cross in front of the last building on the street. Pausing, I stare at the locked front doors and dark windows of the storefront. It’s dark inside and slightly rundown, but there’s an old-fashioned charm with carved details around the front door and windows that call to me.

There’s so much potential here. It’s easy to imagine walking inside to shelves of books and the smell of coffee. Having my latte in my hand is really helping me with the visualization. People would browse the bookshelves, trying to decide on a purchase. Other patrons would sit by the large front windows at little tables, sipping hot drinks. This bookstore would have a wide selection of all genres, and there would be other seating areas with cushioned chairs where people could sit, relax, and talk about what they’re reading.

I’m filled with a mixture of longing and sadness as I stand there, imagining what this abandoned little shop could be… and what it used to be—a cute little boutique that sold women’s clothing and was as good as a playground for a little girl. When it was my mom’s store, the interior was painted white with brightly colored flowers all over the walls. Mom would bring me with her, and I would run around the place as long as I didn’t bother the customers.

This used to be one of my favorite places in the world, but now it symbolizes my disappointments and shortcomings. I have so many plans and dreams for this place, but I’ve barely done anything to it since I took full possession at eighteen. After my mom died in a car accident when I was seven, I was told the store was put into a trust for me. Apparently, they didn’t trust a child to own and operate a small business. When I turned eighteen and was old enough to fully take over, I planned on opening the bookshop that I’d been dreaming of since I was a teenager.

I mean, I never planned on leaving Blue Ridge Falls, anyway.

However, I guess life doesn’t always give us what we want.

It’s been nine years, and I’m no closer to opening my shop than I was at eighteen. Between my busy schedule and my student debt from my Master’s program, I just haven’t had the time or resources to make it happen.

Forcing my gaze away from the store, I turn and shuffle down the sidewalk, desperate to grab hold of the contentment I was experiencing right after the coffee shop. By the time I reach the library, I’ve had some success in bringing my mood back up. Yes, I wish I’d made more progress on the shop by now, but I’ve been busy. That doesn’t mean I’ll never have my shop… I just have to be more patient.

Reaching the library’s front desk, I set my coffee down next to my computer and shrug out of my jacket. As I get settled, a figure steps out of the Employee Only area behind the front desk, catching my attention.

“Oh, good morning, Marie. How are you, dear?”

I smile up at Kathy, the head librarian for the Blue Ridge Falls’s public library. “Good morning, Kathy. I’m good. How about you?”

She waves her hand and shakes her head, looking irritated.

“Oh, I’d be so much better if the city council wasn’t filled with idiots.”

I fight to keep from smiling in amusement. There’s nothing that can piss Kathy off faster than the town’s city council. It’s even funnier because she’s usually such a kind, loving woman with the patience of a saint. She looks like a stereotypical librarian with a sweet, softly-wrinkled face and warm brown eyes. Her hair is even pulled back into a neat ballerina bun, and she wears silver spectacles, which are usually parched on the end of her nose. She’s cute, approachable, and doesn’t look like she’s got a mean bone in her body… which she doesn’t.

Unless you try to fuck with her library. Then she’ll cut you.

“What’d they do this time?” I ask, plopping down in my chair. “Try to trim our budget again?”

“They wouldn’t dare,” Kathy growled. “No, no, nothing like that. They want to put a statue out front of the building… some explorer that had a hand in founding the town or some such nonsense.”

That makes me chuckle. “A statue? You’re pissed off about a statue?”

“Of course!” Kathy exclaims, hands on her hips. “Why should they choose the library, of all places, to put the statue in front of? What do we care about who founded this town? This is that Fred Wallace’s doing, mark my words. He’s still sore that I convinced the council to shut down his proposal of selling off half our collection to pay for new computers in city hall. As if such a thing makes any sense! That man goes out of his way to be a pain in my backside.”

“Keep fighting the good fight, Kathy!” I cheer, knowing it doesn’t really matter what I say right now. She’s in library-protection mode, which means she might as well be the Terminator. Nothing will distract her from her mission.

To kill Fred Wallace… Well, his political career. Not Fred Wallace himself.

Probably.

“Thank you, dear.” Kathy releases a long breath and then shakes her head. “I don’t want to talk about that curmudgeon anymore.”

“Then who will we talk about?” I tease, waiting for my computer to boot up.

She claps her hands together, “Oh! I know who. Garrett Young.”

I instantly tense at the name and my heart drums harder against my ribcage.

“What about Garrett?” I don’t bother hiding my blatant curiosity and excitement. Kathy is all too aware of my massive crush on Garrett Thomas Young.

“I saw him yesterday.” Kathy waggles her eyebrows as she eyes me knowingly. “Such a handsome young man. Tall, dark, and my-oh-my, those green eyes of his! A girl could get lost gazing into them.”

She gives me a wink and I can’t help but chuckle.

“I’ll win him over one way or another,” I joke. “He can’t resist this forever.”

Running my hands down my sides, I wiggle a bit and give Kathy an exaggerated duck face. She laughs and I join her, though deep down, I feel a pang of longing thinking of Garrett. I’ve had feelings for him since I was eighteen, and I tried to ask him out when I was getting my Masters, thinking I was finally mature enough for him and that our age gap didn’t matter anymore, but he turned me down. It hurt so bad, and I was so embarrassed, I never asked him again… but my feelings for him have only grown through the years.

Which is pretty pathetic if you ask me, but I can’t help myself.

There’s just something about those green eyes that make my heart race.

However, it’s pretty clear Garrett has no interest in me and doesn’t see me as more than Haven’s best friend. I’m nothing but a kid in his eyes, and the ten-year age difference between us doesn’t help that fact at all.

My thoughts are interrupted when my phone buzzes. I push all thoughts of Garrett out of my head and, seeing that it’s my dad, answer the call.

“Hey, Dad.”

“Marie, Meredith and I need you to watch Josie today,” he says.

Ah. Yes, I should’ve guessed. Dad doesn’t just call out of the blue to check in and see how I’m doing. He always needs something, or rather, my stepmother, Meredith, is making demands.

“Dad, I’m at work…”

“She can hang out in the kid’s section. She’ll be fine.”

No actual discussion. No care of what I already have on my plate for the day. I wish I could say I’m surprised, but there’s rarely any consideration of my life or schedule when a free babysitter is needed. I’m always tempted to say no when Dad and Meredith just shove their responsibilities onto me, but I don’t. It’s not my step-siblings' fault that our parents hoist them onto me whenever they want. I adore those kids, and I never want them to feel like an inconvenience or a burden.

And, I suppose, I have some sympathy for Dad and Meredith. Five kids is a lot, especially when several of them are under the age of ten. I can’t really begrudge them the desire for help… I just wish they’d actually ask me instead of telling me I’m watching kids.

“All right, Dad.” I sigh, shaking my head. “I’ll look after her today.”

“We’ll be there in twenty.”

Just like that, he hangs up the call. No goodbye, thank you, or show of affection or gratitude whatsoever.

Typical.

“Everything all right?” Kathy asks as I set my phone back down.

I force a smile as I look back up at her. “Yep, everything’s fine. My Dad is just dropping Josie off soon. Is it okay if she hangs out? She’ll mostly be in the children’s section.”

Kathy frowns at my question as if I need to even ask her. “Of course, it’s okay. You know that.”

“Thanks, I appreciate it.”

Kathy stares at me, and I can practically hear the unspoken questions rattling around in her mind.

Why do you put up with this? Why don’t you say no?

She doesn’t ask the questions. She and I know what my answer would be—I love my family, especially my step-siblings, and I’ll do just about anything to help them grow and learn and become their own people. I wish I’d had the same support growing up. To have someone in your corner who loves you unconditionally and wants you to meet your full potential is something a lot of people take for granted.

I lost my person when I lost my mom, and then again when Leilah died. Which has made me more determined when it comes to my siblings. I refuse to let any of them ever feel that level of loneliness.

Turning to my computer, I get started on my work for the day. No use lingering on dreams and what-ifs—the here and now demand my full attention.