Chapter 22 #2
“He married someone else,” I whisper, and with those few words, I manage to suck every ounce of the playful energy from the room. “He let me go without a backward glance, and he chose someone else—someone totally opposite from me, no less.”
The pictures from Nate’s house play on a mental slideshow.
Sabrina’s bright smile and golden hair. Her flawless tan skin, like she’s been airbrushed.
The silky dresses and heels and sparkling earrings.
In most of their pictures, she’s posed so elegantly, with her hair and makeup done, even at the beach.
During a rather shameful deep dive on her social media, I learned she speaks three languages and knows Hillary Duff.
I’ve never met Sabrina, but I know enough to confirm I’m nothing like her.
She lives large, embracing every opportunity like moving to Spain for a year, while I shrink. Entering the bake-off is the first risk I’m seizing since I opened my coffee truck, which I mostly did per my mother’s request before she passed.
I probably wouldn’t even be doing the bake-off if I weren’t so desperate for the prize money.
I frown at my friends. “It’s not something I can just forget.”
“I know, honey.” Caroline squeezes my hand.
“And we’re not saying you should,” Addie says. “We just hoped you might’ve worked things out somehow.”
“You two were always so cute.” Caroline sighs. “I was going to be your maid of honor.”
Addie smacks her shoulder. “She asked me to be her maid of honor.”
“I’d asked you both. Dixie too,” I cut in—and then I immediately regret it. Why am I entertaining them and these insane memories?
“We would’ve looked good in neon orange.” Addie snorts, referring to the blinding bridesmaids’ dresses I’d once shown her when I was fantasizing about my wedding with Nate.
“No one makes neon orange look good.” I hold my hands up—this needs to end before my heart explodes. “But none of that matters. It’s all ancient history, and it’s for the best that we move on, once and for all. We’re both happier this way.” I gulp.
I know they can smell the lie. It’s polluting the air like the exhaust on an old semi-truck. But it needs to be true. I’ll drive myself crazy otherwise.
“Nate and I are friends,” I assert and shake the bangs out of my eyes. “I’m even giving his daughter baking lessons after school. She’s going to enter the Thanksgiving Bake-Off too.”
The girls exchange glances.
“What?” I nibble on another cookie.
“So, you’re going to be seeing a lot of Nate, then…” Addie says this as more of a statement than a question, so I don’t respond.
But Caroline jumps in. “Spending time together multiple times a week…”
“Cranking up the heat in the kitchen…”
“With all the sweet treats…”
“If you’re referring to the heat of the oven for baking said sweet treats, then yes, that’s exactly what we’re going to be doing.” I stick my tongue out and plop onto the couch, where I was before they ambushed me about my non-love life.
Addie throws her hands up. “Fine. Fine. This is your life. We’ll back off.”
“No more Naren business?” I level them with a pointed stare, forcing myself to stand strong on an island, apparently. This whole town seems to be rooting for Naren, and I’m the odd one out, even though it’s my life.
“Cross my heart.” Caroline makes an X shape over her chest with her finger. “To be honest, I was never a fan of Naren.”
“Glad we’re on the same page.”
“I voted for Mathan.” She smiles.
I smack her with a throw pillow, which launches a whole new fit of giggles, reminding me yet again how quiet this house usually is.
It’s meant to be filled with laughter.
Mama always made sure of it with funny notes on the fridge, silly made-up songs, and even a dance to make brushing our teeth more enjoyable. The latter was more for Dixie’s benefit, since she hated brushing her teeth, but we all had fun with the dance.
It created some of the best memories.
Caroline and Addie might’ve come over in the name of gossip, but I’m relieved, even if we are discussing the complicated situation with my ex. Their presence makes this place more of a home, even for just a few hours.
“Is this a good time to mention that Nate will be at our housewarming party next weekend?” Caroline hides behind the pillow I threw at her, and Addie winces. “He and Austin have become pretty good friends since he moved back.”
Addie chimes in, “You’ve done him a lot of good, Caroline, if that cactus is making friends.”
Caroline takes a bow, then turns her concern in my direction. “Are you going to be okay?”
“Sure.” I gulp down more wine. “Although Austin can do a lot better than Nate,” I try to joke, but my voice hitches like I’m suffering from major hiccups.
If they notice, my sweet friends spare me yet another third degree.
“Right? Have I mentioned how stupid his tattoos are?” Addie exaggerates a scoff. “They’re comically obnoxious.”
“And that leather jacket he wears? Ew,” Caroline adds. “It’s so, so stupid.”
“Oh, and his big watches? They’re so manly—I mean, gaudy. Gaudy as hell.” Addie nods mechanically like a bobblehead doll.
It all makes me smile, even though I’m well aware that they’re doing me a favor for the sake of solidarity, much like they did the night of the reunion.
The reunion.
It feels like it happened so long ago, but it’s been a mere few weeks since Nate shared his plans to move back here permanently.
That night, nausea had rolled through my stomach like I was on a boat, heaving left and right through treacherous waves. I didn’t know just how much and how quickly my quiet life would unravel.
“Let’s talk about more important matters.” Addie raises a cookie between the three of us. “Are you entering these into the bake-off? Because they might be the best fall-inspired cookies I’ve ever tasted.”
“I can’t stop eating them.” Caroline reaches for another, and we launch into a debate about what my entry will be.
All while I both dread and love the idea of seeing so much of Nate in the coming weeks.
As much as I love this town—my loyalty to Sapphire Creek rivals Addie’s, even—it is just too small sometimes.