Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
RONIN
Amelia Baker stormed into my life sixteen years ago in a whirlwind of teenage angst. The prettiest girl I had ever met and she was into the same nerdy shit as me?
I was smitten from the very start. From that day on, I was both blissfully happy…
and absolutely miserable. I was in love with my best friend, and the feeling was most certainly not mutual.
As Mel and her mother approach the diner counter, her scowling face is a harsh reminder that I ruined years of friendship after confessing those feelings one too many times.
I’m determined to make it right. I just need to figure out how.
“Ronin, dear! Good morning,” Mrs. Baker greets warmly, reaching a hand out to pat my arm. Mellie’s scowl deepens at the interaction.
My heart twists, but I give them my best grin. “Good morning, Mrs. Baker.” I meet Mel’s gaze, letting a smirk play across my mouth. “Good morning, Mellie. Sleep well?”
The scene of Evan practically carrying her out of the bar last night flashes before my eyes, and I have to stifle a laugh. I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen Mellie that drunk. Not that I’ve seen any of her in years.
Mel’s features soften from the scowl twisting her lips, her mouth melting in a smirk of her own.
“Like a baby,” she drawls, focusing on the menu board behind me.
“May I please have a gingerbread latte? And whatever Mom is having.” She steps off to the side to let her mother order, pulling her wallet out of her bag.
Gingerbread latte… That’s a new one for her. Must be this new California version of Mellie who I don’t know anymore.
I busy myself with making their drinks, my mind racing. Mel and I used to know each other inside and out. Every flaw, every passion we had. It was like we were completely in sync. Seeing her here, a stranger to me, I hate it. It feels alien in its wrongness.
After finishing up their coffees with a flourish that is definitely unnecessary, I turn to place them on the counter.
Mel’s stare bores into me, her amber irises flaring before she flits them away, her cheeks pinking ever so slightly.
I clear my throat, feeling off balance but needing desperately to be back in control.
“It’s on the house, for my two favorite Bakers.” I run my hands through my hair, which is long enough to constantly fall in my face these days. I tuck a loose strand behind an ear.
“Thank you, Ronin. You didn’t have to do that.” Mrs. Baker gives me a knowing smile as she takes her coffee cup.
My heart stutters at the intense expression on Mellie’s face. Her eyes are focused on my fingers where they rest on the countertop, and my hands fist in reflex.
Silence hangs in the air for a brief, awkward moment. Mrs. Baker clears her throat, and Mellie startles as she returns from wherever her mind had just wandered. I stare back, waiting.
“Oh. Sorry, how much?” Mel digs through her wallet for some loose change.
“I said it’s on the house this time, Mel.” I can’t help but chuckle.
Her face flares and she nods before grabbing her coffee and pulling hard on her mother’s arm.
“Bye, Ronin!” Mrs. Baker calls out as she’s yanked toward the door. “Thanks for the coffee, dear!”
“Anytime, Mrs. Baker.” My voice trails after them as Mellie and her mother are swept up into the bustling Main Street crowds.
I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. That went…okay. Could have gone better, but at least she isn’t scowling at me anymore. I’ll take my small wins.
Holiday season means lunch and dinner rushes almost daily, so I head into the kitchen to check on lunch prep and help where I’m needed.
Time slips by, and before I know it, we’re slammed with customers.
It seems as if everyone in Blue Fields is here, weighed down with shopping bags.
I glance outside toward the crowded sidewalks for what feels like the hundredth time since seeing Mellie earlier, and I can’t help wishing I will catch a glimpse of her each time.
“You got a hot date tonight or what?” William, the owner, grumbles from behind the counter, wiping a glass with a towel before placing it on the rack underneath the bar. “You’ve been distracted all morning, Ro.”
“Does anyone ever actually have a hot date when someone asks that?” I retort.
I’m serving and busing tables, and I push my way through the swinging doors into the kitchen with a bin of dirty dishes.
After placing them by the sink for the dishwasher to take care of, I spin around and grab the two plates waiting for me underneath the food warmer.
Burger and fries, and a chicken finger platter—table two.
The door swings closed behind me as I re-enter the dining area, making my way across the room to deliver the guests their meals.
As I come back to the bar, William picks the conversation back up with, “I heard Mellie is back in town. This wouldn’t have anything to do with her, would it?” He eyes me over the top of his glasses which are precariously perched on the edge of his nose.
I lean onto the countertop, pulling away when I realize how sticky it is. Will hands me a clean rag from behind the bar.
“What do you think, Will?” I wipe furiously at the sticky residue.
“It’s been four fucking years.” My harsh words hang in the air and I scan the bar with wide eyes, making sure there are no families or little ears nearby that overhear my language.
“Sorry.” I lower my voice. “I ran into her last night. And this morning.”
William cocks a brow at me. “So that’s what’s got you all twisted up like a damn pretzel, then.”
I throw the rag I’m holding at him and he catches it easily. “There’s a lot of history between us that’s unresolved. It’s just been…tense each time we’ve seen each other.”
“Oh, I remember. The whole town remembers.” William chuckles, not unkindly. There’s warmth in his voice even as he teases me. “You were moping around here for months after Mellie left.”
“It wasn’t months,” I grumble under my breath.
“You know, I always thought you two would get your heads out of your asses and get together,” Will says. He pauses to take a drink order before coming back and continuing, “After Mellie left, I figured you’d move on, but you didn’t even date around, did you?”
I tried, sort of. I let my mother set me up on a blind date with someone she worked with, but I canceled the day before.
I just couldn’t bring myself to see anyone in that way besides Mellie.
And she left, so where had that left me?
Spending the last four years pathetically alone, filled with regret of letting her go.
And now I’m about to be thirty years old and the ache in my chest at her choice hasn’t dulled.
The life I envisioned for myself still sits unfulfilled.
And seeing her again has reminded me how much I just miss her.
“No,” I reply. “I didn’t.” I don’t want to keep discussing this, so I deflect. “What about you, old man? It’s not like you’ve dated anyone since Kate left. What about Mary over at the bakery? She always has a sweet smile for you when she comes in.”
William turns his gaze to me. “Nice try, kid. You can’t fool me into changing the subject that easily. Don’t project your own loneliness onto me.” He scoffs. “And who are you calling old man? I’m not even twenty years older than you.”
“Who are you calling kid, old man?” I shoot back.
Will spears me with another glare, so I back off.
“Fine, fine,” I surrender, putting my hands up. “You know, once you finally sell this place to me, you’ll have all that time for dating. Think of all the places you could take Mary—”
I’m cut off as he whips his towel at me, stinging my arm. It’s an on-going back and forth between us these days, me wanting to buy the diner and Will not ready to part with it. I’ll wear him down eventually.
The bell chimes as more people make their way in. This rush feels like it’s never going to end. Groaning quietly, I check my watch once more. Only a few more hours and I’ll be out of here.
Pasting a smile on my face, I grab the notepad out of my apron and walk over to greet our new guests.
“I’m taking my break, Will,” I call out, ducking my head into William’s office. Even though I’m off soon, I’m starving after the lunch rush. “Sorry it’s so late. You’ve got the floor ‘til I’m back, okay?”
“I’ll be right out,” William replies from behind his computer monitor, waving me away.
I enter my own office, gathering up my wallet, keys, and phone before heading out the front entrance. On my way, I wave to a pair of our regulars seated in a corner with their laptops, headphones on as they type away and sip on their coffees.
Minutes later, I’m exiting Sal’s Sandwich Shoppe and taking a large bite of my turkey wrap.
As I round the corner of the block, my focus hones in on a familiar coat, forcing me to stop abruptly.
Mellie stands on the other side of the crosswalk, shopping bags in hand.
She’s staring at me with that deer-in-the-headlights daze she seems to wear every time we make eye contact now.
I swallow my bite of food, and lift my hand to give her a small wave. The plastic bag hanging on my wrist moves gently with the motion.
Mellie starts, seeming to snap out of whatever stupor she was caught up in. She crosses the street to me, and we move to the edge of the sidewalk to avoid other pedestrians. I gesture to a nearby bench, and Mellie nods soundlessly before following me over and taking a seat.
“So,” I start before taking another bite. Chewing and swallowing, I look at Mellie from the corner of my eye, lifting a brow. “If I didn’t know any better, Mel, I’d say you were following me around town.”
Her amber gaze follows the smirk I let play across my lips before flicking back to mine. She scoffs, eyes rolling to the sky. “Yeah, right. There’s no hiding from anyone in this small-ass town. You and I know that all too well, don’t we, Ro?”
Her use of my nickname pulls at my heart, a painful tug I haven’t felt in years.