Chapter 29 Poppy
H earing the close of a car door, I’m out of my house in a flash. I’m sure my neighbors are less than enthused at the sudden, somewhat piercing squealing escaping my mouth, but at the moment I don’t care. This is the longest Andi and I have gone without talking and while it was only a couple of weeks and we’ve texted a few times, it felt like ages. Even during my recent time away we talked or texted almost every day.
Andi’s out of the car, running towards me, and also squealing. Wrapping my arms around her in a giant hug, it feels like I’m finally home. Between the whirlwind of her wedding, school starting, and everything else, it hasn’t really felt like the Honey Cove I remembered with her gone. “It’s so good to see you and god, you’re so tan!”
“Laying on a beach for a few weeks will do that.” Andi looks at me, fluffing her hair and dabbing at her eyes, “It’s so good to be home and to have you back.”
“Honeymoon not all it was cracked up to be?” I joke.
“No, that was wonderful, but you are here now and it’s perfect.” Her eyes glaze over a little more before she points and adds, exasperated, “Now get in the fucking car before I lose it and we’re stuck here sobbing all night.”
Walking around to the other side of the car, I hear Ms. Nelson from next door shout, “I thought a cat was out here dying, but it’s just you two.”
“Sorry, Ms. Nelson,” we both call out in unison.
Giggling, we slide into our seats and Andi backs out, heading to our favorite restaurant one town over for margaritas and tacos.
“Now tell me all about the Keys. Was the resort nice?”
“It was lovely. Everyone was so helpful and there really is something to upgrading for newlyweds. First-class seats on the plane, a larger suite at the resort, and free drinks. I wish it was like that every time I traveled.”
The rest of the ride over, Andi recounts every drink they had, telling me about the amazing bars at the resort, how beautiful everything was, long days on the beach, and how sweet Brandon was the entire time. Before we know it, we’ve arrived at the restaurant and are being seated.
“Here you go ladies, I’ll be right back with some chips and salsa. Can I get any drinks started for you two?”
“We’ll both have margaritas, please. On the rocks, no flavoring.”
The waiter nods, and then it’s just me and Andi again. Smiling, I think back to how much I was waiting for this while in Toronto and thinking through all my nightmare scenarios of coming back. It hasn’t been nearly as bad as I thought it would be and I haven’t even had a run-in with my ex yet, which has been fantastic.
“So,” Andi starts, “You’ve heard all about my riveting days of sunshine and massages at the spa. How has it been for you being home?”
“It’s been okay,” I pause, thinking through everything that has happened so far. “Hard in some ways, but I redecorated my house.”
“You redecorated?” Andi bites into a chip while her eyebrows raise. “Like, curtains and shit?”
“Yes. You don’t think I can decorate?”
“You just haven’t really, before. But I love that you did!”
I’ve gone back and forth on how to tell her about what else I’ve been up to and finally decided to just dive in head first.
“I may have hooked up with someone.” Looking down at the chips and my napkin, I wait for it to register.
“What?” She chokes on the chip she was chewing and a few sips of water and deep breaths later, I continue.
“The night of your wedding…”
“Tell. Me. Everything.”
I launch into my story of Owen, dancing under the stars, believing this to be my clean break from Steven before starting anew, only to find Owen at my presentation the first day back. Andi gasps and is both shocked and excited during the story, but doesn’t add too much commentary, which is odd for her. After I finish, I wait for her to berate me with more questions or yell at me for my poor judgment, but it doesn’t come. She’s just eating chips.
“Okay, out with it,” I prod her.
“Out with what?” She looks at me sheepishly.
“All your opinions. You must have thoughts on this.”
“Well, Owen is honestly a stand-up guy. I haven’t seen or heard of him dating anyone since moving here. I’ve only heard positive things about him from Brandon, aside from questionable taste in movies the one night he had the guys over, and I don’t have anything to dish.”
My eyes narrow at her.
“Seriously, you are an adult and if you’re interested in him, why not give it a shot?”
Is this really her opinion? I waited all that time to ask her about this, prepared myself for her inevitable blow up, only for her to encourage me.
“Because this wasn’t the plan. I wanted to come back and enjoy my small, quiet life on my own. Maybe get a cat.”
“And that is fine if that’s what you want to do, sweetie, but it seems like you are fighting this for some reason and I’m not entirely sure why. He’s a good guy; it sounds like you like him.”
Nodding, I glance across the dining room, unsure of what to say. Would I say I like him? He’s gorgeous. And kind. I like that you know what you’re getting from him. He wears his emotions clearly on the outside, from his yelling about that stupid bee to his babbling in the copy room, you know where you stand with him and he doesn’t seem afraid to be himself.
“Listen, Steven was a shit guy. Seriously. I will be the first to say it. But, don’t let him ruin you for any sort of relationship again. He doesn’t deserve that power over you, so don’t give it to him.” Andi reaches out and puts her hand over mine where I’ve been absentmindedly twirling a napkin over and over again.
My eyes unexpectedly water at her words. And of course, that’s exactly when the waiter is back with the margaritas. “Here we are, ladies!”
“Keep ‘em coming,” Andi calls after him.