35. Amelia
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
amelia
The last three weeks have been like a dream. One I never want to wake up from. The gentleman who owns the property next to Kessler contacted Judd the Saturday after Thanksgiving asking if we wanted to come look and see if it’s really what we want.
We went out the next day and walked around the part of the property that was accessible. It’s overgrown with blackberry bushes, grass that reaches my hips, and trees that badly need to be trimmed or cut down all together.
It’s perfect.
Judd took one look at me and the joy on my face and made Mr. Miller an offer right there on the spot.
We are now the proud owners of thirty acres right next door to Kessler and Lucy. We can’t break ground until spring when the weather clears up, but that hasn’t stopped us from going out to our property when the weather permits and think about where we want things to be.
If everything goes as planned, we should be in our new home by this time next year. If we can ever agree on a floor plan, that is. While we both agree that we like the drawing that’s in the library and want the exterior of the house to reflect it. Our tastes differ on the layout, thus the multiple trips to the property.
“Good morning, Shortcake,” Judd says, walking into the bathroom and carrying an iced coffee for me in one hand and a mug of hot coffee for him in the other.
I take the glass from him, taking a sip from the straw before setting it down on the counter and standing on my tiptoes to give Judd a quick kiss on his lips. Turning back to the mirror to finish my makeup.
“I bring you coffee and that’s all I get?” he asks, pushing his bottom lip out in a pout.
I roll my eyes at him in the mirror. “You got plenty this morning,” I tell him. Swiping mascara onto my lashes.
“Did you just roll your eyes at me, Amelia?” he asks, stepping up behind me so my back is flush with his front.
“And what if I did?” I challenge. Meeting his stare in the mirror.
“I guess you’ll just have to find out later, huh?” he says, dropping a kiss to my hair and stepping back. “Wouldn’t want you to be late to brunch with the girls.”
Turning around, I lean against the counter, furrowing my brows at him. “Since when do you care if I’m late to meet the girls, if it means you get a chance to fuck me?”
He shrugs. “It’s the first brunch since Charlie’s been back. I figured you didn’t want to be late.” He steps forward and places a finger under my chin, tipping my face up to his. Green eyes boring into mine as he says, “Plus, that gives me more time to plan your punishment.”
The promise in his words sends chills down my body.
Dropping a chaste kiss to my lips, he backs out of the bathroom, giving me a wink before disappearing back into the bedroom.
Leaving me suspicious, and turned on.
When Bruno and I arrive at Cate’s Bistro, Charlie and Hazel have already been seated and a pitcher of mimosas is sitting in the middle of the table.
“Sorry I’m late!” I apologize when I reach the table. Charlie stands and gives me a giant hug before I take my seat and Bruno settles down at my feet. “What did I miss?”
Hazel pours me a mimosa and places it in front of me. “Well, for starters, you missed a spot riiiight here,” she says, poking her finger into a spot between my neck and collarbone. The spot I tried, and obviously failed, to cover this morning.
I pull on the collar of my leather bomber jacket, trying to cover the spot. “I told Judd he better not leave a mark,” I grumble, taking a huge drink of my mimosa.
“Looks like he didn’t listen,” Hazel says with a smirk, taking a sip of her own drink.
“Obviously,” I say, taking another sip.
Charlie picks up her own glass, taking a drink. I do a double take. “Charlie, are you drinking water ?”
Charlie sets her glass of water down and presses a hand to her stomach. “My stomach has been feeling off since we landed yesterday. I don’t know if I ate something bad, or if I’m just feeling some weird effects of jet lag. But I wasn’t going to miss catching up with you and Hazel.”
“We could have rescheduled,” I tell her.
She shakes her head and waves me off. “No, no. I’ll be fine. I’m sure I’ll feel better after some toast and more water.”
“Okay, if you’re sure.”
“I am, I promise,” she reassures me.
The waiter comes by and sets a fruit tray in the middle of the table, then takes our food order. Leaving as quickly as he came.
“So, let’s get down to the good stuff,” Hazel says, refilling our mimosas. “Charlie, you first. How was your trip? Meet any hot guys?” Hazel looks over her shoulders and lowers her voice. “Sleep with any hot guys?”
Charlie’s cheeks turn red, and she plucks a grape off the fruit tray, popping it in her mouth.
Hazel and I both gasp, getting looks from patrons at other tables nearby.
“Charlotte Leigh Dixon, did you get laid on vacation?” I ask, scooting my chair closer.
“Will you please keep your voices down?” Charlie pleads. Her cheeks go from a blush pink to a deep red from her embarrassment.
Hazel flaps her hand in the general direction of the other tables. “They’re fine. It’s not exactly a secret that people have sex.”
Charlie covers her face with her hands and groans.
I tap her leg with my foot, raising a brow at her. “Spill.”
She huffs and takes another sip of her water. “Fine, but you cannot tell a soul. Especially my parents.”
Hazel and I look at each other, then back at Charlie, both of us dragging our fingers across our lips like we’re zipping our lips.
Charlie sighs. “I had sex with a man fifteen years older than me, not once, but several times, and it was the best sex of my life.”
Hazel and I gasp again.
“Charlie, you little minx you,” I say, wiggling my eyebrows up and down.
“Older men are so hot. It’s truly not fair they get better looking as they get older,” Hazel adds.
“But why the secrecy, Char? It’s not like you’ll ever see him again. Right?” I ask.
Charlie draws a pattern in the condensation that’s formed on the outside of her glass, avoiding our gazes.
“Charlie?”
Her eyes snap to mine. “Does the name Grant Collins sound familiar?”
I wrack my brain, trying to think if we went to school with someone with that name, but come up blank. “No. Should it?”
Charlie lifts a shoulder. “Probably not. The only reason I know it is because I follow baseball. Not that I really have a choice, seeing as my dad’s an MLB coach.”
“Focus, Charlie,” Hazel says, snapping her fingers in front of Charlie’s face. “What’s with the secrecy?”
Charlie takes a deep breath. “Because Grant Collins is a retired MLB player who used to play for my dad,” she rushes out.
“Oh shit,” Hazel says.
Charlie grimaces. “There’s more.”
I hold a finger up to Charlie and down the rest of my mimosa, reaching for the pitcher to fill it back up, then fill Hazel’s, who also finished off her drink.
“Okay, please continue.”
Charlie mumbles something under her breath.
I look at Hazel, who looks at me and shrugs her shoulders.
“You’re gonna have to speak up, Charlie.”
Heaving out a sigh, Charlie stares down at the table and says, “He’s technically still married.”
Hazel and I sit in stunned silence, staring at Charlie.
The waiter appears at our table, setting down our food, then asks us if he can get us anything else. I snap out of my shock when he speaks, thanking him and telling him we were good for now.
Once he leaves, I speak first. “What do you mean, technically still married?”
“Him and his wife have been separated for two years. He filed for divorce at the beginning of this year, but she’s refusing to sign the papers.”
Hazel puts a hand to her chest. “Oh, thank God. For a minute, I thought my best friend was a home-wrecker.”
“No, but it still feels…weird.”
“So, are you going to see him again? You said he’s an ex-player for the Silverbacks. So does that mean he lives here?” I ask.
Charlie shakes her head. “We both agreed it was a vacation fling. Plus, he lives in Washington, so at least I won’t bump into him by accident.”
“Holy fuck,” Hazel exclaims while looking at her phone, getting more dirty looks from people.
“Hazel,” Charlie hisses. “You’re going to get us kicked out.”
Hazel turns her phone, showing us what she’s freaking out about. On the screen is a very attractive, clearly older man with a close shaved salt and pepper beard and ice-blue eyes. He’s wearing a black fitted long-sleeved shirt that looks like it’s been painted on over his very defined muscle and baseball pants. To top off the already fine as hell image, the man also has a tattoo on the back of his hand.
“Woah, who is that?” I ask.
“Charlie’s lover, ” Hazel teases.
“I should have just kept my mouth shut,” Charlie grumbles, shoving a slice of French toast in her mouth.
“No, you shouldn’t have,” I tell her, taking a bite of my bacon. “Teasing aside. I’m glad you had some adult fun on vacation. It’s about time you let loose a little.”
“You make it sound like I never have fun.”
“You don’t,” Hazel and I respond at the same time.
Charlie points her fork at me. “I went out with you two on Halloween.”
Hazel rolls her eyes. “When was the last time you had ‘between the sheets’ fun, before your vacation?”
Charlie pauses and squints her eyes in thought.
“If you have to think that hard, too long is the answer,” Hazel says.
“Whatever, enough about me. What else is new with you two?”
“I moved in with Judd and we bought property next to his brother’s place and are going to build a house,” I say nonchalantly
Charlie drops her fork onto her plate. “What?”
Hazel raises her fork. “Knew that already.”
Charlie looks at me, throwing her hand towards Hazel. “You told Hazel before me.”
I lift a shoulder. “It’s really not something I wanted to tell you through text. So, I’m telling you now.”
“You could have done a video chat.”
“It all sorta happened fast and when you were out at sea, so I just decided to wait until you got back.” I place a hand over Charlie’s. “I didn’t mean to leave you out of the loop. I just wanted to tell you in person.”
Charlie smiles and turns her hand slightly to squeeze my fingers. “I know. I’m just being sensitive. Must be the jet lag. I’m so happy for you, Millie. You deserve nothing but happiness.”
I squeeze her hand back, then turn to Hazel. “What about you? Anything new since we last talked?”
Hazel shrugs and finishes off her second glass of mimosa. “I broke up with Jason.”
It’s Charlie’s turn to gasp. “What? When?”
Hazel refills her glass and downs half of it before responding. “Two days ago.”
“What happened?” I ask. Even though I never liked Jason, I know Hazel was head over heels for him.
“He cheated on me,” she says, draining the rest of her mimosa, then adding, “with my cousin…over Thanksgiving.”
More gasps, and a “Holy shit” from me, fly around the table.
Hazel laughs, which sounds a little on the manic side, and says, “Oh, that’s not even the best part. The only reason I found out is because she showed up at my house when Jason was there and told me she not only slept with him, but that she’s pregnant.”
“No!” Charlie and I exclaim at the same time.
“Yep,” Hazel confirms, making a loud popping sound on the ‘P’ and emptying the rest of the pitch into her glass.
I flag down the waiter and order another pitcher. It’s a good thing Judd drove me, cause there’s no way I’m leaving this place sober.
Thirty minutes later, Hazel and I are riding a happy buzz as all three of us leave the Bistro. Charlie suggested a walk up the block to sober us up a little and since it’s currently not raining, Hazel and I agreed. Linking arms, we start our trek up the sidewalk.
“I’ve missed this,” I tell them with a sigh.
“Missed what? Getting drunk before noon?” Hazel asks, then snorts and giggles. She’s definitely more drunk than I am.
“No, hanging out with my girls. It feels like it’s been forever since we’ve done this,” I tell them.
“When is the last time we all hung out?”
We grow quiet trying to think when the last time actually was.
“I think it was when you found out about Judd,” Charlie says.
“Almost a month ago?” Hazel shouts, making a few people on the sidewalk jump.
Wow, it has been almost a month since that day. So much has changed since then.
Charlie shrugs. “We’ve been busy, girls. Life’s changing.” She bumps my shoulder. “We’re starting new chapters. Exciting ones. We’ll still have girls’ night; it just may not be as often.”
“Have you ever thought about being a writer, Charlie? Because that was definitely something that I would read in a book.”
Charlie chuckles. “I’ll leave the writing to you. How’s that coming, by the way? Still struggling?”
“Oh! In all the excitement at brunch, I forgot to tell you guys.” I look over at Charlie and Hazel. “I finished. I sent it off to my editor yesterday.”
“Oh my God, that’s fantastic!” Hazel squeals.
I beam at them. It is fantastic. It feels so freeing to be done with a book that I struggled so much with. Being in Judd’s library, well I guess it’s mine now too, and spending time with Lucy and Kessler really helped with my creativity.
“I’m so proud of you for being able to work through your struggles this year, Millie. You went on your first book tour this year, by yourself, you were able to get enough funding to expand your program and help even more kids, you broke through the worst case of writer’s block you’ve ever had since becoming an author.” Charlie stops on the sidewalk and looks at me with glassy eyes. “And most importantly, you fell in love and found your person.”
I look at my two best friends. The women who have been through it with me, who have picked me up when I’ve fallen, celebrated with me when I succeeded and gave me their strength when I couldn’t find my own. I would have never made it this far without either of them.
“I have you two to thank for most of that,” I whisper, my own tears threatening to spill over. “If not for you two, I never would have had the strength to keep going when I wanted to quit.”
“I love you guys so much,” Hazel sobs. “Who needs men when I have the best two girlfriends anyone could ask for?” She sniffles then adds, “And vibrators.”
We all burst into giggles and wipe away our tears before continuing on our stroll. We walk a few more feet before Hazel lets out a gasp and pulls us towards a store. “Let’s go in here.”
“What are you doing, Hazel?” I ask, looking up at the sign and see that she’s pulling us towards a jewelry store.
“We’re going in to look at rings.”
I lift my eyebrow. “Uh, didn’t you just break up with Jason?”
Hazel sighs and rolls her eyes. “Not for me, for you.”
I give Charlie a questioning look. She just shrugs her shoulders and continues to follow Hazel like it’s not the craziest thing to ever come out of her mouth.
“Uh, isn’t Judd supposed to pick out the ring?” I ask as Hazel pulls open the door and leads us inside.
“That doesn’t mean we can’t look. That way, Charlie and I have an idea of what to tell Judd to get when the time comes.”
“She’s right. It’s going to happen. We all know it. You might as well help us guide him in the right direction.”
Ok, so they have a point. “Fine, but we’re not breathing a word of this to Judd,” I tell them as Hazel leads us to a display case.
An older gentleman who looks to be in his sixties comes out of the back when he hears the bell.
“Good afternoon. Is there anything I can help you ladies with today?”
“We were wondering if you could show us some engagement rings? Things are getting serious between our friend and her boyfriend, and we’d like to know what to show him when the time comes,” Charlie tells him, pointing to me.
The man’s warm smile brightens. “Certainly. Is there something specific you had in mind?”
“Um, I don’t really know. I guess I never really thought about it.”
“Not to worry. I’ll pull a variety out and we can narrow it down from there. Let me just get my keys from the back and I’ll open the cases.”
While Walter, according to his name tag, disappears in the back, I turn to the girls.
“Is this weird?”
“No,” they both reply, looking down into the glass cases.
Walter returns with his keys and begins opening cases. Taking tray after tray out for me to look at. My eyes wander over the sparkly diamonds. Nothing really standing out. Don’t get me wrong, they’re all beautiful, but nothing jumps out at me that I would want to wear for the rest of my life.
“See anything that catches your eye?” Walter asks after a few minutes.
I sigh. “They’re all beautiful, but nothing really screams ‘me’.”
Walter taps his lips a few times with his pointer finger, then holds it up to me. “I’ll be right back,” he says, darting off to the back.
I give the girls a questioning look, but they just look at me and shrug their shoulders.
Seconds later, Walter comes out of the back with another tray of rings, with jewels in an array of different colors. He moves the other trays to the side and sets this one down in front of me. “Let’s see if any of these speak to you.”
I slowly look over the rings, each one more beautiful than the last. My eyes stop on one and a gasp leaves my lips. There’s a beautiful green teardrop gem with deep green veining the color of Judd’s eyes in the middle of a gold band. Little gold vines and leaves wrap around the band, reminding me of the leaves from one of the tattoos on Judd’s arm. Diamond gemstones are scattered between the vines, completing the design.
“Find one you like, miss?”
I pick up the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen and slip it onto my ring finger. It’s a perfect fit. “This one. This is the one,” I whisper.
Hazel and Charlie both ooh and awe over it, taking pictures so they know exactly what to tell Judd whenever the time comes. When we’re done admiring the ring, I reluctantly slip it off my finger and place it back on the tray. Hoping one day it makes it back onto my finger.