7. Tara
7
TARA
I’m fidgeting as I walk side by side with Cruz through downtown Whiskey Run. I tried to talk him out of this, but he wasn’t having it.
“You okay?” he asks me.
I look up since he’s so much taller than me. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
He grabs my hand to stop me from twiddling. We walk hand in hand, and as we pass the big bay windows of Red’s Diner, we see that it’s packed inside and there’s a line out the door. I’m trying to figure out what’s going on as Cruz opens the door and puts his hand on my lower back to lead me inside.
Every head in the restaurant turns our way. “Hey, Kathy. It’s busy in here tonight, isn’t it?”
With a huge smile on her face, she nods her head and points to the only empty table in the restaurant. “Yes, but we have a table for you right here.”
“But…” I start, and Cruz holds my hand again. I swear there is a collective gasp in the restaurant.
I put my head down and follow Kathy to the table. Along the way, there are people calling out congratulations to Cruz for his big win last night. I’m not sure how I thought we could come here and not be noticed. I wasn’t thinking.
I slide in, and instead of Cruz taking a seat across from me, he sits next to me. I put a smile on my face even though my stomach is doing somersaults. All eyes are on us, and I can feel them judging me. Cruz must sense my unease because he turns to me, putting his back to the restaurant. “You okay?”
I nod, wide-eyed.
He puts his big hand on my thigh and squeezes. “Take a breath.”
I do what he tells me, and he nods his head. “Good girl.”
I sit up a little taller as my body reacts to his praise. He tilts his head and talks low. “I think a few people found out we’d be here tonight.”
I point to myself. “We? They don’t care about me. They want to see you.”
“Tara! Cruz! Crazy seeing you here. There’s not one table open. Do you mind if we sit with you?”
I’m shocked as my sister and my ex-boyfriend slide into the booth across from Cruz and me. “Brynn… you knew we were going to be here.”
She shrugs like I didn’t say a thing. “Cruz, this is my fiancé, Grant Dalton. Grant is a huge fan of yours.”
I swivel my head between Grant and Cruz. The differences between the two men are vast, and I’m wondering what I ever saw in Grant. He’s smirking at Cruz, and I’m trying to figure out if he’s really a fan of his or not when Cruz just nods his head. “Hey, Grant.”
I lean across the table toward my sister. “What are you doing here, Brynn?”
She is all smiles, looking at me. “Tara, you’re being rude. We had to eat, and I didn’t feel like cooking. Plus, I thought this would be a good way for Grant and Cruz to meet.”
“Sure, you did,” I mumble.
Kathy comes over. “What can I get you?”
She’s staring at Cruz the whole time, ignoring the rest of us. If this was real, I’d be pissed right now, but I don’t have that right. However, that doesn’t stop me from leaning against Cruz. “I’ll take the cheeseburger, fries, and a strawberry shake.”
“Tsk, tsk. You barely fit into your bridesmaid dress, sis. Are you sure you should be eating that?” my sister admonishes.
I gasp, and before I say something I shouldn’t, I slam my mouth shut.
Cruz looks at her. “Your sister is stunning just the way she is.”
He’s glaring, and to most people it would probably intimidate them but not Brynn. Nope, she just giggles and then puts her order in with Kathy. “I’ll take the grilled steak salad with no croutons and the fat free Italian dressing on the side. Also, please make sure the steak is not cooked with any butter. And can I please get a bottle of sparkling water?”
I swear Kathy rolls her eyes and then looks at Grant. He looks at me and then orders. “I’ll take the same as Tara.”
He folds up his menu and hands it to Kathy as she goes back to staring at Cruz. “What about you, Mr. Payne?”
Cruz isn’t paying attention, though, because he’s too busy glaring at Grant. I nudge him in the ribs. “Cruz… do you know what you want?”
He turns to me, searches my eyes, and nods before handing Kathy the menu. “I’d like a bacon cheeseburger and fries with a chocolate milkshake.”
Just as Kathy is about to walk away, I remember to tell her, “Oh Kathy, I’m allergic to pickles, so no pickles for me.”
Cruz follows up with “No pickles for me either.”
I blush at what that insinuates. Is he planning to kiss me again?
I don’t voice the question, but when Cruz looks at me with heat in his eyes, it’s obvious that is exactly what he’s planning to do. As we stare into each other’s eyes, Grant clears his throat. “So…. exactly how did you two meet?”
I roll my eyes because Grant knows that Cruz is Lexi’s older brother. “Lexi,” I answer him.
He leans across the table. “Were you seeing him while you were seeing me?”
I grit my teeth. “I don’t cheat,” I answer, even though I don’t owe him anything.
The conversation is stilted the rest of the meal. Cruz is friendly enough to my sister, but he barely acknowledges Grant, which secretly thrills me. By the time our food is served and we’re halfway through the meal, I’m completely on edge and dreading this wedding even more. Instead of Cruz and me coming up with our back story, Brynn talks about the wedding the whole time.
In the hour we’ve been here, it feels like the whole town has been in and out of the place, staring and wondering what’s happening between the four of us. I hate to be the center of attention, and right now all eyes are on us.
“So, Cruz, tell me about you. I want to know everything.” Brynn leans across the table and puts her hand on Cruz’s.
He tenses next to me and then pulls his hand away. Gruffly, he answers, “What do you want to know?”
By the tone of his voice, he is not enjoying this any more than I am, and that has me leaning into him and his arm going around me again.