Chapter 4
4
“ I need waffles smothered in maple syrup and coffee with too much sugar,” I say, plopping down across from Amelia in the red leather booth at Shirley’s Diner.
She laughs. “Already ordered for you, babe.”
I blow her a kiss. “That’s why you’re my bestie.”
Amelia’s wearing a black polo with the Down Home Brewery logo stitched on the left side of the chest. Her hair is down in long dark brown curls—her daily hairstyle—and her lips are a vibrant red.
Shirley’s has been a Blue Beech staple for decades. Her parents started the diner, naming it after her, and the diner has been passed down through generations. Now, Shirley’s daughter, Ruth, and granddaughter, Margo, run it.
I grew up eating pies, drinking milkshakes, and hanging out with my friends here. Some places just feel like home. Shirley’s is one of them.
Margo delivers our drinks. “Two iced coffees with extra caramel and whipped cream. Waffles will be up shortly, ladies.”
We thank her, and she rushes over to the booth behind us.
Amelia pushes her hair away from her face and takes a sip of her coffee. “ Soo , Tipsy Essie talked about opening her own firm last night. How does Hungover Essie feel about that this morning?”
I dip my finger in the whipped cream and lick it off. “That’s too big of a question to ask this early in the morning.”
“You used to wake up at four o’clock when you worked at your old firm.”
“And I hated it.”
“Don’t be mad at me for interfering?—”
“What did you do?” I interrupt.
“I emailed Terrance last night, asking him to give me a call about a contract he was looking over for the brewery. When he called me back this morning, I asked if he still planned to retire.” Her voice turns into a squeal. “He said yes!”
I can’t stop myself from smiling.
“When I asked what he planned to do with the firm, he said he’d either sell it or pass it down to someone.” She takes a slurp of coffee. “Did you know that he’s getting married? I didn’t even know he had a girlfriend, and that’s hard to keep secret in a town this small. He did say she isn’t from here though.”
“Calling him today was on my to-do list. I just wanted to make sure I was organized first.”
“You’ve got this, Essie.” She gives me a thumbs-up. “You’re the most determined person I know. You’ll take Blue Beech legal by storm.”
“Yes, because the crime here is booming.”
“You do family law. Crime isn’t even something you deal with.”
“Technically, I do all law. Family is just what my old firm specialized in.”
My original dream was to become a prosecutor, but that’s not an easily earned job. For years, I’ve looked up to prosecutors. They’re the reason I don’t live every day in fear.
“Family law. Criminal law. Animal law. Business law —because you can guarantee we’ll hand you everything brewery- related,” Amelia says with absolute certainty. “Not to mention, everyone loves you and your family here.”
Eh, debatable.
“ Some people love my family,” I correct.
The Lane family has had its ups and downs in Blue Beech.
People once referred to the Lane family as Blue Beech’s Kennedy family. It was meant to be a compliment, but as our family scandals spilled, we started to fall on the gloomier side of that comparison.
My grandfather caused our name downfall. It was before I was born, but gossip never dies in a small town. He went from the highly respected mayor to a disgraced one after people found out he had a secret baby, paid the mother hush money for years, and was involved in countless other scandals.
“Oh my God,” Amelia gasps, nearly spilling her coffee. “Speaking of Terrance, he just walked in. If that’s not a sign it’s meant to be, I don’t know what is.”
I turn to find Terrance speaking to the hostess as she grabs menus and leads him to a booth on the other side of the diner.
“Go talk to him,” she adds, swatting my arm.
“I’m usually not one to believe in fate, but you might be right.” I shoot her a smile before sliding out of the booth and walking his way.
“Mr. Nelson,” I say when I reach his table. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I planned to reach out to you today.”
“No interruption at all, Essie,” he says, unrolling his silverware from the napkin.
I take a deep breath. “I heard you planned to retire and are possibly selling your firm. Would you consider selling to me?”
Terrance’s bushy brows furrow. “I’m sorry, but I already have someone interested.” He smiles. “If things don’t work out, I’ll reach out to you.”
A lump forms in my throat, a twinge of hopelessness hitting me. “Is it someone local … if you can disclose that? ”
“My fiancée’s grandson. He’s not local, but the plan is for him to move here.”
There goes my hope of no competition.
“Oh, and there he is now,” he adds.
I follow his gaze, and a heaviness expands in my chest.
No. No. No.
My head starts spinning.
My heart pounding.
Adrian— yes, Adrian freaking Castillo —strolls in our direction, dressed in dark jeans and a white V-neck tee. The look reminds me more of our past rather than the expensive suits he sported at the firm. I got so familiar with the suits that I forgot how attractive he was like this.
Don’t get me wrong.
He’s hot as hell in suits, but this? It makes him more relatable.
More desirable .
It doesn’t give him that asshole-attorney vibe.
I peer down, taking in my floral maxi dress and boots. Thank God I took the time to curl my hair, pushing it back with a rhinestone clip, and brushed a few coats of mascara on my lashes before coming here.
Heads turn as Adrian passes, coming our way.
Jaws drop.
Women giggle.
Jesus .
He’s a newbie.
They’re like circus animals here, especially hot newbies.
He acts like he doesn’t notice any of it.
Instead, his eyes are glued on me, as if he’s incapable of looking anywhere else.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I mutter, my face burning hot.
Adrian smiles, not appearing nearly as surprised to see me as I am him .
This damn man .
He’s my new recurring nightmare.
Was he put on Earth to make my life a living hell?
If only I could go back to the past. I’d never spoken to him before the night I showed up at River’s dorm. If I’d fled and gone with my original plan of calling an Uber, I’d never have known what it felt like to have him rip apart my heart.
“Good morning, Terrance,” he says, offering him a head nod before returning his attention to me. “Essie, what a surprise.”
Surprise, my freaking ass .
Adrian traces his finger along his thick bottom lip. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Really?” I cock my head to the side. “Pretty sure you knew I lived here.”
If he’s trying to hold back the arrogant smirk on his face, he’s failing.
I narrow my eyes at him. “Can I talk to you in private?”
“Of course.” He glances over me to Terrance again. “If you’ll excuse me for a moment.”
Terrance, looking majorly confused and wrinkling his forehead, slowly nods.
He and his late wife worked at the firm for years. I’d job-shadowed his wife in high school. He’s always been a kind man … but now, I’m holding a little grudge against him.
He’s bringing Adrian into my space.
Adrian is stealing yet another opportunity from me.
Call him the damn job swiper.
Swiper, no freaking swiping .
Now, curious stares are on both of us as Adrian follows me toward the door. Not only is he bombarding me in my town, but he’s also making me the gossip topic for the next month. That’s another reason I need him to stay far, far away from me.
The sun beats down on us as soon as we’re outside, and Adrian pauses to hold the door open for a couple .
As soon as he steps to the side, I whip around to face him and cross my arms.
“Why are you here?” I snap.
“Meeting with Terrance,” he replies, as if it’s obvious.
Okay, it is, but it was a valid question .
I can’t stop myself from shoving his shoulder.
It does nothing. He doesn’t even fall back an inch. Instead, he steps closer into my space. The smell of his cologne seeps into the air. I pick up a faint scent of masculinity with notes of mint and cedar. It’s a smell that makes you stop in your tracks, wanting to smell more.
The smell of a professional, sophisticated man.
Not the cheap body spray of a college kid who spends too much time studying and hardly ventures out into public. That reminds me of our good times—when we locked ourselves in the library, enjoyed late-night dinners in diners like Shirley’s, and sat in his car talking for hours.
“Shouldn’t you be living your best life in your new office at Adaway and Williams?” I seethe. Saying their names puts a sour taste in my mouth.
“I quit.” He shrugs, like it’s no big deal.
I wince. “Why?”
“That’s none of your business.”
“Considering it was a promotion I wanted, I think it is.”
“No, it isn’t.” He drags a hand through his hair, and my fingers tingle at the memory of when I used to do it when my anxiety got the best of me.
“And now, you’re coming to steal another opportunity from me.”
He raises a brow.
“I wanted to buy Terrance’s firm.”
For a moment, he’s quiet, and from the look on his face, I know he didn’t expect that. It’s not like I released a freaking public announcement.
“Why don’t we partner up and run the firm together, then? ”
“Uh, I think the fuck not.”
He bites into the corner of his lip. “Damn, your mouth got dirtier and your attitude crazier. It’s sexy as hell, Essie.”
Desire bleeds along his words, and chills run up my spine.
It takes me a moment to slap my attitude back in place. “Too bad I can’t say there’re any pros to this new Adrian. Your assholery definitely isn’t sexy as hell .” I waggle my finger at him. “And don’t call me sexy again.”
“Seriously”—he spreads out his massive palms—“we can be partners. I’m sure Terrance wouldn’t mind, and I’m okay with sharing the business. Consider it an apology for what happened at Adaway and Williams.”
“You know what a better apology would be?” I don’t give him time to answer. “You staying away.”
“That sounds like it’d be a half-assed apology. I like to go for more grand gestures.”
I hold up my middle finger. “How’s this for a gesture?”
He shakes his head. “Consider it a peace offering. An olive branch.”
“How about I snap that branch, then?”
He runs his hand through his hair. “Come on, Essie?—”
“No,” I say, cutting him off and holding my finger in his face. “You disappeared for years. No returned calls, texts, emails, nothing .” I drop my hand. “What makes you think I’d ever trust partnering up with you?” I shuffle to the right a few steps, away from the listening ears of customers walking into the diner.
He inches closer, and I shudder when his body brushes mine. “Don’t act like you were perfect. You completely changed after that night. Both of us are to blame.”
I turn my face, refusing to look at him as sadness hits me. “I won’t be your partner, Adrian. I’ll be your competition. I’m starting a firm here.”
“ From scratch ?”
“From scratch.”
“That’s not easy. ”
“I grew up here. The residents like me and my family?—”
“That’s egotistical to assume they won’t like me.”
“They will choose me over a stranger who walks into town with the only intention of making money off them for legal issues.”
“That’s not my only intention here.”
“What’s the other then? To make my life hell?”
He opens his mouth to answer, but I put my finger in his face again.
“You know what? Don’t answer.” I blow out a harsh breath. “Please, just stay away from me, and if you have a heart and ever cared about me, you’ll tell Terrance you don’t want his firm and never come back here.”
“I won’t do that, Essie,” he says to my back when I turn around. “I’m here to stay.”
“Then, stay away from me,” I mutter.
I don’t wait for his reply before rushing back inside the diner. People stare, and I try to return to my booth as casually as I can. Thankfully, my food has arrived.
“Um, who was that?” Amelia asks, glancing over my shoulder. “He looked familiar, and obviously, you know him. You stomped out of here like he’d told you Netflix shut down.”
At this point, I’d rather have Netflix shut down than Adrian in Blue Beech.
And this is coming from a stream queen who watches Netflix every night before bed.
I snatch the syrup bottle. “That was Adrian.”
“ The Adrian?”
I nod.
Amelia met Adrian once, years ago, but he’s changed so much. He has more muscle now that he doesn’t spend all his time cramming for exams and speaking with me at all hours of the day and night.
I peer over my shoulder when I hear someone in the booth behind me whisper, “Who is that?” in the same tone as Amelia did.
Everyone’s eyes are on Adrian as he joins Terrance at their booth. They shake hands, and he sits across from him.
Adrian looks good.
And me? I’m scarred.
“I take it him meeting with Terrance isn’t a good thing?” Amelia asks.
“He’s taking over Terrance’s firm,” I say.
He and Terrance haven’t finalized the deal, but Adrian made it clear he’s taking it.
Amelia freezes mid-bite, and syrup drips onto the table. “What? How ?”
“Terrance’s future wifey? That’s Adrian’s grandmother.”
“Oh, how the plot thickens. What are you going to do?” She finally shoves the bite into her mouth.
“What did we say before? If you can’t join them, beat them.” I smother my waffles with syrup. “I’ve made my decision. I’ll start my own firm.”
“I like it.” She wipes up her syrup spill with her napkin.
We brainstorm firm ideas while eating. It takes every ounce of my restraint not to turn and look at the back of Adrian’s head. But I still hear people around us talking about him.
Amelia asks Margo for the check when we’re finished.
“Not necessary,” Margo replies, shaking her head before smiling toward the diner’s other end. “The gentleman with Terrance paid for your meals.”
I slap my napkin on the table and start to stand. “I’m going to kill?—”
Amelia grabs my elbow, pulls me back into the booth, and shoots me a not here look.
I force a smile. “Thank you, Margo.”
She appears as confused as Terrance did.
As everyone else in this damn place.
Margo pats the back of the booth. “Let me know if you need anything else. If not, have a great day. It was nice seeing you two.”
“You probs don’t want to announce you want to kill your future competition,” Amelia says, leaning in closer.
“So, just kill him, but don’t announce it. Got it.”
“This will be interesting,” Amelia says, leaning back in the booth. “Possibly more entertaining than when Jax and I wanted to kill each other.”
I push my plate away from me. “Yes, but there will be no happily ever after for Adrian and me.”
A twinkle shines in her eyes. “You never know.”
No one knows about my past with Adrian.
And they never will.
It’s a secret we keep to ourselves.