Chapter 15
15
T onight is the grand opening of Down Home Brewery’s second location in Anchor Ridge.
An old Johnny Cash song plays in the background when I walk inside. This building is larger than the one in Blue Beech, but Jax and Chris went safe the first time.
Customers are mingling and drinking.
Some are yelling their orders to the bartenders.
Smiling, I take in the space. Amelia gave me a tour a few weeks ago, but the place wasn’t finished. Long picnic-style tables and stools are the only furniture, except for the stools at the bar. She wanted the brewery to feel like a family gathering.
I say hi to a few people, shuffle through the crowd, then walk outside to the beer garden.
When Amelia told me they were putting one in, I said, “What the hell is a beer garden?”
“Just wait,” she replied eagerly. “You’ll love it.”
And she was right.
Plants and greenery provide a serene atmosphere, and the patio furniture has similar tables to the ones indoors.
I beeline straight to my friends .
“This place is incredible,” I sing out before hugging Amelia. “I’m so proud of and happy for you two!” I hug Jax next.
Amelia’s cheeks blush. “Thank you.”
Jax stares devotedly at her.
Their happiness and how they helped each other heal is inspiring.
“Hey, Sis,” River greets, lifting me off the ground in a hug.
I hug Callie, Ava, Mia, and Easton next. Easton is Mia and Ava’s cousin.
Hugs for everyone!
This is our circle.
We might have disagreements, but when it comes down to it, we always fully support each other.
Amelia and Jax leave to talk with customers and local journalists who came for the opening. A news crew is filming inside.
We order pizza and nachos, and I sit beside Callie. As soon as the server delivers our food, I snatch a cheese slice and drop it onto my plate.
“How was the party?” Mia asks, sipping her beer. She’s normally a martini girl, and Down Home is the only beer she’ll drink.
Instead of telling them about my talk with Adrian, I dive straight into the gossip. “Everything was fine until it was time to unwrap presents. Brielle and the nanny—a.k.a. Rhett’s mistress—bought the kids the same thing.”
Callie covers her mouth with her hand.
“You’re joking?” Ava asks.
I shake my head. “Literally the most awkward moment of my life.”
“Did Brielle freak out?” Callie asks.
“Nope,” I reply. “She stayed surprisingly calm until Rhett, with his big mouth, said, ‘Look at that. Great moms think alike.’”
Mia twists the gold bracelet on her wrist. “Please tell me Mistress Nanny also has children? ”
I shake my head again.
Callie gasps.
“What a scumbag.” Mia rolls her eyes. “Give me Brielle’s number so I can tell her to hook up with Rhett’s hot cousin.”
Ava holds up her crossed fingers. “Let us hope the nanny learns how lame Rhett is and dumps his ass.”
“Oh, she will,” Mia says with absolute certainty.
“On a brighter note,” Callie chirps, waving at me, “did you bring the love letter?”
River looks up from his phone. “Love letter?”
Easton—who, like River, was glued to his phone—peers at me.
I squirm in my seat. “I’ve told you a million times, it wasn’t a love letter! It was a sheet of paper with his email address written on it.”
“Refresh my memory and tell me what his email was again?” Ava stuffs a nacho into her mouth.
“I can’t recall,” I mutter. “I’m a busy woman who gets lots of emails.”
“ Give me another chance Essie at groveling man dot com ,” Ava tells the table.
“That’s pretty smooth, I have to admit,” River says. “I might need to use that line.”
Ava glares at him mid-bite. “For who ?”
“You, of course.” He puts his arm around Ava’s shoulders, but she pushes it away.
“I usually don’t partake in your gossip, but I’m here, so I might as well.” He acts out a give me more motion. “I had no idea you and Adrian were close enough for him to have anything to grovel for.” He looks over at Easton. “Groveling means you fucked up.”
“Thank you, Captain Obvious,” Ava grumbles. “Being a father doesn’t limit Easton’s vocabulary to Dr. Seuss quotes.”
“Yeah,” Easton says, rubbing his brow and feigning offense. “I’ve advanced to Dr. Seuss and Junie B. Jones. ”
“Oh my God, I loved those books growing up,” Callie says.
Mia waves toward Ava and River. “Can you two go bang somewhere so we can continue our Adrian-Essie conversation?”
“Mia!” I tear a piece of crust off my slice and toss it at her.
She shrugs.
“I personally have no issue with them arguing.” I try to sound as indifferent as I can. “Argue away, you two.”
“Because that means you’re off the hook,” Mia comments.
“Mark my words: you and Adrian will be dating soon,” Ava says.
Callie lifts her beer in agreement.
“Blue Beech is boring as shit,” Mia comments. “That has to be his only reason to be here.”
I scowl at them. “He’s here because he’s a stalker … and let’s not forget, his grandmother also lives here now.”
“He isn’t a stalker. He’s your soulmate,” Callie says dreamily.
Mia’s gaze falls on Callie with disapproval. “What did I tell you about being a hopeless romantic?”
“That hopeless and tragic are synonyms,” Callie says with a sigh.
“All love stories end in tragedy or death,” Mia adds. “No matter who you are.”
Something I love about my circle of friends is that we’re always honest with each other. Mia’s comment wasn’t meant to sound offensive. She and Callie are the closest despite them being complete opposites.
I’d describe Callie as cutesy . She wears flowy dresses, lives by positivity quotes, and is the sweetest of everyone in the group. She was literally voted Sweetest Classmate in the school yearbook.
Mia dresses in high fashion and always matches her outfit to her mood. She was voted Most Likely To Move Away From Blue Beech , which she did, but then returned.
Her hair is black, while Callie’s is a strawberry blonde.
Callie is a hopeless romantic, but Mia would rather have her inheritance drained than trust a man with her heart, per her words. And her inheritance is massive since her mom is one of the biggest stars in the world. She literally has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
River halts mid-text and lowers his phone to smirk at me. “Look at that. It’s as if speaking of the attorney summoned the devil.”
I wrinkle my nose in confusion. “Huh?”
River returns to his texting. “Your least favorite attorney is here.”
I turn in my seat, and my heart skips a beat when I see Adrian. I narrow my eyes as he introduces himself to Amelia’s parents while standing beside Foster.
Jesus, will this man ever give me a break?
He’s going to end up running me out of Blue Beech.
“How does he know Foster?” Callie asks.
“Foster is Terrance’s grandson,” Ava replies. “I had no idea he was back in town.”
“Why do you care if he’s back in town?” River raises his gaze to glare at Ava. “Do you plan on hooking up with Foster again?”
Ava rolls her eyes. “Better him than you.”
My brother is so dumb.
Ava never hooked up with Foster.
They went to prom together one year, and River is still butthurt about it.
“Definitely, because that means he’s the one who has to deal with your attitude,” River argues. “I’d much rather hook up with Daisy fucking Duck than deal with you.”
Ava rolls her eyes again, more dramatically this time. “Such a well-spoken man. I’m sure you would because Daisy fucking Duck won’t quack out that you’re a poor lay.” She glares and swats her hand toward River’s phone. “How about you shush and go back to texting whatever random girl you met online?”
There’s been plenty of talk about Ava and River hooking up, but I’ve never asked either of them if it’s true. Nor do I plan to. It’s their business, and hard pass on hearing about my brother’s sex life.
“Jesus,” Mia groans. “This is why I only hook up with randoms out of this damn state.” She exhales a long breath through her cherry-red lips. “And you need to get over yourself right now because the man Essie wants to murder just walked in. I think that takes priority over two people who randomly hook up when they’re bored.”
Mia’s comment is so Mia.
She is both the meanest and most understanding person in our group.
Whenever we’re in a tough situation and we don’t want to be judged, we turn to her.
Ava and River continue their arguing. I tune them out to focus on Adrian. He’s dressed in khaki pants and a white button-up. He pushes his glasses up his nose while easily talking with people.
A part of me hates that I love he wore his glasses instead of contacts.
It reminds me of our old days.
The longer I stare, the harder my heart races, like it’s pleading for him to come over and heal it. I want to reach inside my chest and smack at that stupid organ of mine. My heart needs to hold a grudge against him. Years ago, I was ready to share mine with him, but he left before I even fully had the chance.
I refuse to put myself in that situation again.
This heart of mine is locked up and waiting for a deserving man.
One who doesn’t vanish without so much as a goodbye.
When Foster and Adrian end their conversation with Amelia’s parents, they walk over to us. My eyes lock with Adrian’s.
His face is relaxed, while mine is rigid.
My breaths become shallower as he grows closer .
“Hey, guys,” Foster says when they reach us.
River rudely jerks his chin up and returns his attention to his phone.
“This is Adrian,” Foster introduces.
Callie waves at him.
Mia raises a brow.
Ava smiles. “Long time no see.”
Adrian laughs.
“Nice to meet you, man,” Easton says.
He must be out of the Adrian-and-me drama loop.
Easton is normally the last one to learn about drama and gossip. We don’t take it personally. He’s a single dad who spends most of his time taking care of his little girl, Jasmine, since her mom isn’t in the picture.
Foster sits next to Easton, and Adrian slides down the bench until he’s directly across from me.
I attempt to ignore him and act like he doesn’t exist.
He orders one of Down Home’s ales by name, which surprises me. I massage my temples to ward off a headache while Adrian makes conversation with River about their times in college and how River took nothing seriously.
Still pretty much sums up my brother.
A hint of my anxiety eases when my parents stop at our table. I stand to hug them. But that anxiety immediately returns when I sit and Adrian stands.
“I’m Adrian,” he says, extending his hand toward my mom and then my dad’s. “We met when I roomed with River in college.”
Dear God.
He’s acting like we’re on a date and introducing himself to the parents.
I stretch my leg under the table and jam my foot against his shin.
He briefly looks at me before turning his attention back to my parents .
“Adrian,” my dad says, furrowing his brows in thought. “The Adrian who took over Terrance’s law firm?”
Adrian blinks in surprise at my dad’s question.
I wildly grin, loving this.
“That’d be me.” Adrian clears his throat and swings his hand in my direction. “Did Essie tell you I offered to merge our firms so we wouldn’t be in competition with each other?”
I hold back my eye roll at his response.
It was a good one, darn it.
But hopefully, my parents will see right through his game.
“I believe Essie enjoys the independence of her own firm right now,” my mom says in her best teacher tone. She shares a friendly smile with him before turning to me. “Dinner tomorrow night. Don’t forget, honey.”
I nod. “I’ll be there.”
“Your mother and I probably won’t stay late, so we’ll see you at home,” my dad adds, smacking a quick peck on the top of my head.
“You have to see this,” my aunt Sierra says, rushing over to my mom’s side. She gently wraps her hand around her elbow, towing her across the room toward my uncle Maliki. My father follows them.
My aunt Sierra is my father’s older sister. She and my uncle Maliki are Jax’s parents.
Adrian smirks and covers his chest with both hands. “Look at me, winning your parents over.”
He’s too cocky for my liking.
I cross my arms. “I hardly call that winning my parents over.”
He settles back onto the bench across from me, and that smirk of his grows. “How’d they know about me taking over the firm? Talking about me to your parents, are you?”
Leaning forward with my elbows on the table, I lower my voice. “I talk about you the same way I talk about menstrual cramps and shredded coconut. All nauseating. ”
He mirrors how I’m sitting and gets too close, our mouths almost touching. “I guess I’ll have to change that, then.”
“Good luck,” I huff, drawing back. “My heart doesn’t believe in second chances.”
“Hearts don’t decide on second chances. Your trust is what does that.”
“Then, my trust doesn’t believe in second chances.”
“ Trust me when I say I’ll convince it otherwise.” He smirks as if he’d just stated pure, factual information.
We’re interrupted by the lights lowering in the garden, and the music softens.
“Oh my God,” Ava says, trying to see more by craning her neck over Foster’s shoulder.
Callie gasps and covers her mouth with her hand.
“I love this,” Ava goes on, and I follow her gaze to see Jax kneeling in front of Amelia, proposing.
The crowd around them has similar reactions to ours.
Jax and Amelia pay no attention to the people and are in their own world. Amelia gazes down at him, and they keep their eyes locked on each other. A silly grin is on her face as he talks to her.
“Speak up!” someone shouts since Jax is keeping his words private.
Jax ignores him.
I love that even though the proposal is public, he’s saving those personal words for only her.
What I don’t love is that I have to look away from the happy couple and search the area for whoever asked that.
Who interrupts such a romantic moment?
“Yes!” Amelia shouts. “Oh my God, yes!”
The patio erupts with people cheering and clapping.
She leaps into Jax’s arms when he stands. He holds her tight, wrapping his arm around her waist, as if she’s his entire world.
Honestly, I know she is .
Their love is truly beautiful with everything they’ve gone through.
I sigh, dreaming of having a love like that someday.
They kiss, and when they finally pull apart, their parents shuffle toward them. Joining my uncle Maliki and aunt Sierra are Amelia’s parents, Lola and Silas.
“I can’t wait to help plan her wedding,” Callie gushes.
“I can’t wait to help plan her bachelorette party,” Mia says with a smirk.
Aunt Sierra and Lola are in tears when I get a better view of them. Amelia’s eyes are red and watery, but she’s holding herself back from fully releasing all her emotions. Like me, she likes to keep them in check publicly. We’re the cool kids who cope with our emotions privately.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were proposing?” I playfully push Jax’s shoulder when it’s my turn to congratulate them.
Jax clears the sweat off his forehead. “I kept it from everyone but my father and Silas—since I had to ask for his permission.”
I perform a zip-it gesture across my lips. “Uh, I’m great at keeping secrets.”
“I wanted it to be a surprise, and as much as I trust you all, anyone could’ve easily slipped up. Hell, I almost slipped up, and so did Silas.”
Amelia laughs and shakes her head. “Leave it to my father to almost leak my boyfriend’s proposal.”
I snatch her hand and admire the gorgeous oval solitaire diamond ring. “It’s perfect. Congratulations! I’ll be at the condo sometime this week with wine and snacks to celebrate, girls’ night–style.”
After hugging them both, I move away to make room for the next person waiting to congratulate them. Jax and Amelia’s story proves that love can be rediscovered, even by broken people. The difference between Amelia and me is that the man who fixed her wasn’t the one who’d caused the damage.
Can the same person who broke your heart be the one to fix it ?
Or do they just inflict more harm and create additional scar tissue?
Instead of returning to the table, I stroll outside the patio to the side of the building, needing fresh air and a mental break.
The sky is black and star-filled.
My favorite kind of night.
Leaning against the building, I close my eyes and sigh.
“What kind of wedding do you think you’ll have?”
I jump, and my eyes shoot open. If I didn’t recognize the smooth voice that asked the question, I’d be more freaked out.
I spot Adrian under the streetlight as he comes toward me.
“What kind of wedding do you think you’ll have?” he repeats, stopping in front of me.
I wince at not only his question but also his nearness.
It takes me a moment to reply. “Huh?”
I comprehended what he’d asked perfectly, but the response isn’t simple.
It’s personal. Too personal to share with a man who hurt me. I should’ve known venturing off alone would lead to him following me.
He rests his palm near my head against the building. “Do you have a dream wedding?”
Honestly, I’ve thought about what kind of wedding I’d want if I had one, but I’ve never been the girl who had a dream wedding in mind.
I always answer, “Marrying someone who loves me,” whenever asked that question.
“I don’t know.” I turn my head to glance away from him, and even though I shouldn’t, I ask, “Do you have one?”
“I do.”
My curiosity takes over. “And?”
There’s a pause before he softly slips his hand under my chin, causing me to whimper. He caresses my cheek with his thumb and turns my head to meet his gaze. “One with a woman I desperately care about and have feelings for. One with you .” He stops my attempt to look away from him.
“Don’t say things like that.” I should push him away. I need to push him away, yet for some reason, I can’t. That doesn’t mean I can’t hit him with the truth, though. “Especially when it’s bullshit.”
He doesn’t pull away, like I hoped. “It’s not bullshit.”
I take a deep breath and shut my eyes. Staring at him is agonizing, and what I’m about to say will hurt us both.
“We were friends.” I articulate each word slowly. “That’s it.” I casually shrug. “Then, we stopped being friends.”
He jerks his shoulder back, as if my statement had smacked him. “We were never just friends, and you know that.” His voice turns shaky. “Who was the first person I texted when I woke up in the morning? The first person you talked to?”
I tremble at his question and refuse to answer.
“I was, and you were mine. Who was the last person I talked to before going to sleep?” A laugh escapes his lips. “Hell, on the nights we actually slept and didn’t stay up all night talking to each other?”
I gasp at the reality of his words, my throat closing up like an allergic reaction.
“Y-O-U,” he spells out.
“Adrian,” I whisper.
We ignore the commotion and people passing us. Like Jax and Amelia, we’re fixated on each other.
“Who was the person I slept in my car for? The person who made me study harder because, half the time, I would daydream about a girl instead? It was you, Essie. It’s only ever been you.” He inches closer but maintains a safe distance, afraid to push me too far. “I’ve never given attention to anyone like that. Nor will I ever because whenever I try, it only reminds me of our connection and how nothing could ever come close to it. And, goddamn, I know you feel the same.” He drops my chin to lower his hand and rests it over my heart. “Don’t you remember? The fights over who would hang up first? The nights we sat in my car, saying nothing but everything at the same time? I care about you and want to fix what broke between us.”
His words sting.
My heart batters against my chest at the memories. They were some of the best moments of my life, and as much as I’ve tried to push them out of my thoughts, sometimes, they still continue to linger there.
But his words also piss me off.
Why is he playing these games with me?
I shove him away. “Bullshit. If you felt that about me, what was that at the firm?”
He runs a hand through his hair. “I went to the firm because I knew you worked there. I had no idea they’d choose me for the promotion. So, when you quit, I quit.” His broad shoulders slump. “I just want to have a conversation with you, Essie. Please . Let me explain everything to you.”
“I needed your explanation years ago. Like I told you before, it’s too late now.”
He hangs his head and inhales a deep breath.
I push myself off the wall and move around him. “I need to go. I’m missing my friend’s engagement celebration.”
“Can we meet up later?” His voice drips with defeat.
“Of course.” I fake enthusiasm. “Absolutely.”
“You’re lying.”
“Maybe. Maybe not.”
“You definitely are.”
“Consider it more of an I’ll change my mind later thing.”
“Please.” He clasps his pleading hands together. “Five minutes. That’s all.”
“Fine.” I check the time on my watch. “Five minutes, Adrian.”
“I know I saw my attorney come out here!” a woman yells, interrupting Adrian before he gets the chance to speak. “Essie!”
Brielle rounds the corner, storming toward us with Rhett behind her. They must’ve been inside since I didn’t notice them on the patio. She halts, glancing around.
“There you are,” she shouts, her voice slurred. “Call the cops on Rhett for me.”
“Call the cops?” Rhett spits through his teeth. “I haven’t broken any laws.”
Brielle faces Rhett, shoving her finger so hard into his chest that she almost falls into him. “Stalking is against the law, asshole.”
“Stalking?” Rhett raises his voice. “I ain’t no stalker!”
“I’m so ready to get rid of these two,” Adrian grumbles next to me, rubbing his temples.
Our moment is gone as we watch Brielle and Rhett argue like two children.
Rhett is pissed Brielle is on a date with a guy he gave swirlies to in middle school. Brielle tells him it’s better than screwing the nanny.
They go back and forth until I say, “Come on, Brielle. I’ll take you home,” in exhaustion.
Adrian icily stares at Rhett.
I grab Brielle’s hand and refuse to look at him while we walk by.
Brielle sobs as I guide her away from Rhett and toward my car.
“He’s here to give me a hard time because I’m on a date,” she says as I help her into the passenger seat. She imitates Rhett’s voice, and I can’t help but laugh. “ You’re a married woman. You shouldn’t be on a date . Even more embarrassing, my date left me in the middle of Rhett’s scene.”
“I’m sorry,” I tell her while backing out of my parking spot. “I wish I could say it’ll be over soon, but you have many years ahead of dealing with him.”
The car falls silent until she asks, “Are you having some kind of affair with Rhett’s lawyer?”
“No. ”
“It seems you’re always alone together, and you two always seem stressed at the other’s presence.” She softens her voice. “Essie, I know what heartbreak looks like. I lived it day in and day out. Hell, I still live it, even after leaving Rhett.”
“We have history, sure, but that’s over now.”
She lays her hand on my arm. “You love him.”
I shake my head repeatedly. “I don’t.”
“And he loves you.” She pats my arm once before pulling away. “I could see that as a conflict of interest.”
Great. Another job lost because of Adrian .
“But I won’t because I know you have my best interests at heart.” Brielle slouches in her seat and wipes her face. “Words of advice from an almost-divorced woman: The heartbreak will never disappear. It will cling to you and sometimes suffocate you. You can put a Band-Aid on it, but there’s no cure.”