Chapter 29
KELSEY
One Year Earlier
“Come on, for old times’ sake?” Monica holds her hands together in a pleading gesture. “We haven’t gone out in weeks.”
“I don’t know. I’ve got to drive back to my place tonight and then be back here early.
” The truth is that I just haven’t felt like going out since I moved into my new apartment in Rodgers a few weeks ago.
Getting used to this new commute is harder than I thought and hasn’t left me in the best of moods.
She leans forward and stretches out over the counter like a cat. “It’ll be fun. We can leave Felix in the apartment and Jason can make up the pullout for you before he goes to work. Please?”
I take off my apron and wad it up into a ball on the counter. “You’re awfully bold, volunteering your boyfriend to do your bidding.”
She grins back at me, taking off her apron and neatly hanging it on a hook in the kitchen.
I moved out so Jason could move in upstairs with Monica.
They only started dating about six months ago, so it came as a bit of a surprise that they wanted to move in together so fast, but if there’s one thing I know about my best friend—she’s confident and when she knows what she wants, she doesn’t wait around.
Maybe I should take a cue from her more often, but I’m still trying not to think about the last time I did—that night with Sutton, or the morning after, because it felt perfect until I realized where he lived and who he was.
The only thing that makes it worse is that he still comes into Cowgirl Coffee all the time and flashes that intoxicating smile and those dimples at me.
Even when I’m mad at him and he infuriates me, he still manages to make my heart flutter and my skin heat.
“Believe me, I think he’s getting the better end of the deal.” She stands up straight and waves her hand up and down in front of herself.
I shake my head side to side. “Where do you even want to go?”
She looks up and bites her lip while she thinks. “OK. Please don’t be mad, but can we at least try Gloria’s?”
I scowl at her. “Really?”
She raises her hands up in front of her. “We can go and sit at the bar. Jason knows their bar manager, Rich, and he says the cocktails are absolutely the best in town and the food is insane—out of solidarity for you, of course, I have refrained from going. So please, end my misery and go with me?”
“I don’t know. I really don’t feel like going there.” That’s the truth, even if I’ve been just a teensy bit curious about what that restaurant is like. She’s not the first person to tell me that the food and drinks are amazing.
“It’s my treat, and if that asshole chef tries to talk to you, I will personally tell him to fuck right off.”
I chew at the inside of my cheek, mulling it over. She flashes me another pleading grin. “Pretty please?”
I roll my eyes and drop my head with an exaggerated sigh. “Alright, fine. We can go.”
“Again, are you sure you don’t mind watching him?”
Jason reaches down and gives Felix a few scratches behind his ears. In turn, Felix leans against Jason’s thigh and wags his tail. “Never. I always love seeing him. I think we’re going to enjoy the summer air with a beer on the balcony tonight before work. Right, buddy?”
Monica steps up beside me and wraps her boyfriend in a very handsy hug, standing on her toes to kiss him. I love seeing her this happy, but she’s still never been shy about PDA.
I clear my throat. “Let’s get going before I change my mind.”
She breaks their kiss and shoots me a glare before whispering something into his ear. He nods and gives her ass a light slap, prompting her to giggle.
She bounds to my side and loops her elbow into mine. “Alright, let’s get going. I’m starving.”
We walk to the door and I wave to Jason over my shoulder.
Stepping out of the building onto the sidewalk downtown, the warm summer air wafts over us.
I don’t wear dresses often, but I'm glad I did tonight because the breeze on my bare legs and shoulders feels so refreshing after being inside the coffee shop most of the day.
We turn the corner, only a couple blocks away from Grandma’s old house. From here, I can see the sign in the front yard. Monica might have managed to succeed in guilt-tripping me to agree to this idea, but I’m still a mess of emotions.
For starters, I’m hungry too and I have actually wanted to try their food.
I’m also a little apprehensive about the whole idea because I don’t know what memories going in there will trigger.
Gloria’s has already become a town favorite in the short time they’ve been open, and I know I just need to rip this bandaid off.
Monica also said they’re planning to start buying coffee from us, so I’m sure I’ll have to go in one way or another soon enough.
Monica turns and grins at me. “I can’t wait to try their espresso martini. I heard they actually use tequila and mezcal in it. I’m sure it’s good now, but I bet it will be amazing with our coffee.”
“I could go for one of those.” I genuinely mean it too. A bartender friend told me about it when I was picking up a shift at the Frisky Fox a few weeks ago and it does sound good. A cocktail might also help calm my damn nerves tonight.
A black SUV drives past us, stopping right in front of the restaurant.
I recognize it from the car service fleet that brings visitors into town from the airport, when a petite girl in a bright, flowy dress steps out with an infectious smile.
I follow her gaze and it feels like the air is sucked from my lungs.
She’s looking at the front door—more specifically Sutton—who’s bounding out of the creaky, old wooden door and heading right to her.
For a split second, part of me is glad they kept the original door.
That thought is fleeting though because Sutton points that smile—the one that still lights my skin on fire—right at her.
She runs into his waiting arms and he lifts her up with ease and spins around in a clearly familiar hug, placing a kiss on her cheek.
I can’t hear what they say from this far away, but I don’t care.
Air finally makes its way back into my lungs, just in time for my stomach to tie itself into knots. I had prepared myself to deal with being inside the remodeled house. Seeing him so happy with someone else—when I still have trouble not picturing him at night when I’m alone—is my undoing.
“Hey, are you alright?” Monica turns to where I’m stopped on the sidewalk, but I say nothing. Her eyes follow mine just in time to see him grab the girl’s hand and walk inside the restaurant.
Of course, that night with me meant nothing to him. I should have known he would have found someone else by now—someone bright and lively. That’s who he is supposed to be with, someone like her, wearing pretty colors.
“Oh.” She steps closer and I feel her fingers link in mine. “We don’t have to do this tonight, or ever.” She turns us and starts walking the other direction. “Let’s go to the Frisky Fox and get some spicy margs. I’ll get us a rideshare.”
I nod and hold her hand as we start walking back toward her apartment.