Chapter 5
ISLA
“That was torture,” I groan dramatically as Juniper and I walk out the door of the studio where she just made me sweat through an extremely intense yoga flow class.
“Agreed,” Juni says, wiping her brow again with the small towel she brought. “Let’s never do that again.”
Giggling at our dramatics, we loop arms and walk down the sidewalk slowly.
Charlie is visiting my mom this weekend, so when Juniper suggested a girls day, I eagerly agreed.
We started the morning with some window-shopping along the “main drag” as Juni called it, a pedestrian-only street lined with adorable boutiques with colourful awnings.
And then came the dreaded yoga class. Which we are both apparently grateful is now over.
“What are your thoughts on a chicken burger and fries?” Juni asks.
“My thoughts are good. Happy. Solid. Especially if those fries are sweet potato and come with a yummy dipping sauce,” I reply, rubbing my stomach. Who knew yoga class would make me work up an appetite.
“Excellent, follow me.”
I let my best friend tug me down the street, feeling incredibly happy and content in this moment.
My job is going well, hot boss and all, my son seems to be settling in and has even made a couple of friends at his new school, and I have the entire day to spend with my best friend.
Not to mention, tomorrow morning there won’t be a hangry preteen to drag out of bed.
No, I can sip hot tea on the back patio for as long as I want.
I can blast my own music and linger in a bubble bath, all before lunchtime if I want.
Don’t get me wrong. I love my son with my entire being. But being a single parent means time to myself is hard to find. So I cherish it when I get it.
Juniper comes to a stop out front of a building that definitely seems out of place in the city.
“Dot’s Diner” blazes in neon bubble letters above a teal-coloured door with a round porthole window. Large windows let you see inside, where the place seems packed.
“Trust me, Dot makes the best food you’ve ever tasted.”
We push open the door and are met with controlled chaos. That’s the best way to describe the mix of kitsch and colour, with mismatched booths and chrome-legged tables standing on a classic black-and-white checkerboard floor.
“Woah, someone went all out with the decor,” I murmur to Juni, taking in the sounds of patrons talking and staff shouting out orders to be picked up, all overlaid by music playing from an old jukebox in the corner.
“Oh, I know. Dot’s obsessed with the fifties.
I should warn you, she knows everything about everybody and will make it her mission to know everything about you.
” We make our way up to the counter just as an older woman with greying hair, up in a ridiculously high ponytail, bustles out from the kitchen.
Best of all, she’s wearing an honest-to-goodness poodle skirt.
“Juniper! Hey hon, gimme a sec, okay?” she calls out as she weaves between tables to deposit the food she’s carrying. When she returns, she pulls Juniper in for a hug before turning and doing the same to me.
“Well, hi there. You have to be Juni’s bestie Isla. We’ve heard so dang much about you, I’m just tickled pink to finally meet you.”
I’m too shocked by her outburst of friendly affection to say anything at first, but I hug her back.
“Dottie, give her some space.” Juniper laughs, tugging me free. “But yes, this is Isla. We just finished the hardest yoga class I’ve ever encountered and are in desperate need of a clucky burger and fries.”
“No onions on mine, please,” I pipe in.
Dottie smiles and taps the side of her head. “Got it. No onions for Isla. Troy’s in the back. He’ll have that ready in no time.” Dot gestures to two stools lining the counter. “Tell me you’ll sit there so we can chat?”
“Of course.” Juni sits down and I follow suit as Dot hurries off to the window into the kitchen to put in our order.
“I see what you mean about her,” I whisper with a smile, my brain finally catching up to the incredible energy of the place.
“Right? She’s super cool, and her son Troy is the best diner cook out there. I don’t know what he puts on the fries, he won’t tell anyone, but damn, they’re good. And she’ll remember about you not liking onions every time you come in here. Trust me.”
“Alright girls, lets get you hydrated,” Dot says brightly, sliding two large glasses of water across the counter. “Now, Isla. How are you and your boy settling in?”
My eyes widen. Juni was right, Dot really does know everything.
“Good, so far. I’ll have to bring him here sometime.” I gesture to the glass case filled with pie. “He’s obsessed with pecan pie.”
“I’ll send you home with a slice for him.” Dot smiles, already pulling out a takeaway container.
I start to protest, but Juni nudges my leg with hers and says, “That’s sweet of you, Dot. Thanks.”
Just then, a deep voice from behind us bellows, “June bug!”
Juni spins around on her stool, flinging her arms out. I turn around as well, just in time to see a tall man swing her off her seat.
“You’re back!”
When she’s finally set back down, Juniper turns and grabs my hand. “Isla, this is Cal. Cal, meet my best friend Isla.”
Cal’s face falls into a sad puppy expression. “Damn, I thought I was your best friend.”
Juniper’s eyes roll as she shakes her head. “It’s different, Cal. Boy best friend and girl best friend are two separate things. Deal with it.”
His face lights up again in a grin as he sticks out his hand. “Cal Prescott. Nice to meet ya, girl best friend.”
I take his enthusiastic shake, but mentally, I’m drawing connections.
This is Cal? The guy Juni has a hundred stories about?
I’ve seen his photo around the stadium, of course, and in pictures on Juniper’s social media.
But somehow, he’s even better looking in person.
Especially with that smile he’s giving her, as if she’s the only person he sees.
They’ve only known each other a few years, but she talks about him so much, I teased her once about their relationship being beyond friendship. She shot me down immediately.
“You play for the Thunder, right? I just started a couple weeks ago, running the marketing campaign for the relaunch. Were you at the barbecue on Wednesday?”
He shakes his head. “Nah, I was out of town helping my baby sister deal with some shit. But I heard the new boss hired a bunch of people to help turn things around. I’m excited to see what happens.”
I give him a genuine smile back. “Me too.”
Dot returns, sliding two big plates of food across the counter before turning to Cal. “What can I get you, big guy?”
He sneaks a fry off Juniper’s plate. “This looks great, Dottie, can I have the same?”
“Of course, hon. How’s your mom doing?”
Dot and Cal strike up a conversation and I spin Juni to face me, my eyebrows raised.
“What?” she mumbles around a mouthful of french fry.
I shake my head in amusement. Okay, she’s oblivious. But before I can say anything more, a big arm is draped over her shoulder.
“So, Isla, what do you think the chances are of the team getting new uniforms?” Cal’s hopeful puppy dog expression has me chuckling.
“Pretty good, actually.”
“Thank God,” he says before stealing another one of Juni’s fries.
She slaps his hand away. “Wait for your own food!”
“But yours tastes better.”
I hide my smirk as I watch them. Yep, oblivious. Both of them.