4. Pepper
Ithought yesterday was the worst day of my life. I woke up alone in my hotel room, dreading every minute of the day that awaited me. The contract I signed beside me stained with tears from the night before.
Walking away was no longer an option the minute we made the announcement. You signed a contract.
It’s not that I didn’t care for Troy. We had a connection; we had fun, adventures beyond anything I ever imagined for myself. But then when he told me he was starting a candidacy for mayor—as a first step before he runs for the presidency in the future, everything changed.
When I agreed to marry him, I was agreeing to spend a life with the person who took me skiing for the first time. The man who would take me to dinner and dancing in a hidden gem in Manhattan. The man whose smile would make me smile.
He made it sound like being a politician’s son is a daunting responsibility and then…he became one.
It happened over the summer.
Suddenly we became serious. He bought a ring, handed me a stack of papers that he claimed were his peace of mind that I’m his forever and that it had nothing to do with money.
“I didn’t read it.”
“You say something?” Chase asks in front of me.
I snap out of it and realize he’d just pulled the bike over at the station.
“No.” I slide off and hand him the helmet. “Thanks for the ride.”
His fingers graze the handle, as though contemplating a decision. His gaze fixed ahead. “You have money?”
I pivot and scoff. “I can get on the train.”
He rolls his eyes. “I mean after.”
“And buy a plane ticket.” I think.
“Pepper.”
“What? Thank you for your concern. And your supreme hospitality, but I am fine.”
“Well, I’m sorry if I don’t believe it. I spent the last twenty hours with you and you seem anything but fine. And you’re obviously afraid of something.”
“No one is going to hurt me!” I finally snap. “I just need to follow through and be his wife for—”
“For…ever?”
I cross my arms, pouting. “For a minimum of three years or until he’s elected mayor…whichever comes first.”
He runs his hand down his face. “Jesus.” He looks at me. “How did that happen?”
I turn and walk along the platform. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Pepper.”
I keep walking.
Behind me, I hear the engine die followed by footsteps.
“Could you stop doing that?” he barks from a few feet away.
I turn on my heel. “Doing what?”
“Running. I’m not going to keep chasing you down the fucking street. Just stop. You obviously need help.”
I cross my arms stubbornly. “I obviously came to the wrong place.”
“Who were you looking for anyway?”
I blink. “Mr. and Mrs. Rosenberg. They took me in eight years ago when I had no one. They were the only family I knew. And I know they owned the Inn, so…”
“You needed a place to hide.”
“Just for a while.”
“How long?”
“Until they forget about me. Until I’m no longer news. Until…he finds someone else.”
“Look, Dad’s got someone checking out of the hotel in a few days. Why don’t you stay at the cottage until then?”
“At Elliot’s?”
He sighs. “Yeah.”
I consider the offer and shake my head with a bitter laugh. “Do you know why I left all those years ago?”
He shrugs. “Don’t really care.”
“Because I was pitied. I was homeless. I had no one.”
His jaw tightens and I know he sees where I’m going with this.
“I’m back to square one. Except all my stuff isn’t in boxes. They’re in my fiancé’s condo in D.C. and I can’t get to them.”
“What do you need?” he asks without a second thought.
I shake my head. “I don’t even know. Nothing seemed important enough.”
He looks around, his eyes squinting from the sun as the train approaches. He slides his shades back on. “I can’t in good conscience let you get on that train.”
“Aren’t you tired of babysitting me?”
“Sure am.” He cocks his head. “Come on. Let’s go find someone else to take you off my hands.”
“You sure know how to swoon a woman off her feet.”
“You know you’re the first human being I’ve met who hasn’t checked their phone,” Chase says as we sit across from each other at Township Bakery. I forget who owns it, but nothing about it has changed. It’s not your typical colorful bakery that showcases cupcakes, fancy French breads, and Italian desserts. This one looks more like a cigar shop without the cigars. It’s rustic with wood floors and furniture. There’s one large square coffee table in the center and surrounded by small round tables and oversized lounge chairs.
“It’s dead. Forgot to grab the charger on the way out and honestly…afraid of turning it on,” I grumble, taking a bite of my toasted blueberry muffin. Then cursing myself for showing my vulnerability. Even in the smallest amount. To this guy—who’s done nothing but treat me like the pest he can’t get rid of. And what do I do? Open up about my situation and my fears.
No better than signing a contract I didn’t read.
I don’t ask why Chase brought me here instead of the Inn. But if I had to guess, it’s the questions from his brothers he knows I’m in no mood for.
“Okay, so we’re not adding a charger to the list of things we need to get you.”
“I’m not buying anything. I don’t have a lot of cash and I don’t want to use credit cards right now.”
“What are they going to do? Call your bank and look at your statements?”
“Can never be too careful.”
“Oh, I know. That’s why I read everything before I sign it,” he adds, like the jerk he is.
“Why is it that out of the eight hundred people in this town, I’m stuck with you?”
“Don’t worry. I’m working on that,” he says, checking his phone.
“Oh, how about Levi? He seems friendly,” I tease.
Hitting his other brother’s name on the screen, he brings the phone to his ear. “Yo. Give me Charlie’s number.” There’s a beat before he continues, “Because I need it, jackass. You sure as hell never plan to use it. Cough it up.” An eye roll. “It’s for Pepper.” He jots a number down on a napkin with a grin. “Thanks.”
“Who’s Charlie? And why would I need his number?”
“Charlie’s a chick. Like you. Well, not like you, she’s respectful and sweet. You’re stubborn and self-centered.”
I purse my lips at him. “Does she have manners? Because then she really would be the exact opposite of both of us.”
“Charlie!” he says into the phone. “It’s Chase,” he adds, sounding slightly offended. “Doin’ anything now?” A smile creeps onto his lips and it’s probably the first one I’ve seen—but it’s not sweet, it’s almost devious. “From my brother. Anyway, I’ve got a…favor, to ask.”
I reach across the table, gripping his shirt. He covers the mic of his phone with his palm before I speak. “I swear to God, if you ask her to babysit someone for you, I’ll—”
“You’ll what? Run again?”
I clench my jaw. “I told you, I don’t need anyone’s pity. It’s how I left here and it’s not how I want to return.”
“Relax,” he whispers. “Jesus.” He takes his hand off his phone. “An old friend is in town. She needs a few things. I’m a little tied up today. Take her to the mall for me?” He clicks the speaker and holds the phone between us.
“The mall? Take your floozy to the mall yourse—wait a minute. Did you say an old friend? Who?”
“It’s a surprise.”
I hear Charlie sigh. “Are you giving her your credit card?”
“Yes.”
“On my way. Wait, I’m not going to—”
“I know. We’re at the bakery, not the Inn.”
She mutters something about knowing she’s going to regret this and hangs up.
“What the hell was that? First, I don’t plan on sharing my embarrassing story with anyone—and I don’t know what you take me for, but I don’t need your money. I have my own…I just can’t get to it.”
He flexes his jaw. “I’m not doing it for you. I’m just trying to save any more curtains and linens from being turned into your new wardrobe.”
I fold my arms and lean back in my chair. “I don’t need your money. I have a plan to withdraw from my account.”
He leans back. “Oh, I’d love to hear this.”
“I’ll take the bus to Denver, go to the nearest ATM, do a withdrawal and come back.”
“Brilliant. A girl supposedly from New York suddenly in Denver—why don’t you just draw your ex a map?”
“I’m not taking your money.”
“And I’m not giving you money. You’ll work for it.”
I jerk in horror. “I’m sorry—what?”
“Pipe down, Pepper. I meant the cottage. I need some…help with it.”
“Then hire a contractor.”
“I don’t mean that kind of work. I mean—go through some things—throw shit out, box up whatever looks important and, I don’t know…just—”
“Okay,” I say without a second thought.
“Okay?
“Yes... I’ll take care of his things,” I say softly. When I had to do the same years ago at my parent’s house, I’d have given anything for someone else to do it.
But there was no one else.
Not for me.
His jaw clenches and he turns, looking out the window. He looks like he’s about to argue, claim that’s not what he meant, but more of a cleaning job. But instead, he says, “Thanks.”
“But I’m still not taking your money. I will borrow it. As soon as I have access to my funds, I am paying you back.” I cross my arms. “It’s the only way I’ll accept it.”
He narrows his gaze at me. Like he can’t figure me out. But he drops it. “Trust me, when you meet Charlie, you’ll naturally want to open up to her about your whole life. She’s easy like that. Not very bright—but easy-going.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? She didn’t sound like a ditz.”
In fact, she didn’t seem very fond of Chase, so I like her already.
“She’s not.” He shakes his head like it doesn’t matter. Or something he doesn’t need to share with me.
Twenty minutes later, Chase glances over my shoulder, spotting someone outside the storefront, then waves to the waiter. “Vanilla latte, please.”
Behind me, the door swings open and a delicate female voice echoes the small café.
“Hey,” she sings on the short walk over.
I set my soda down and turn my head. The voice isn’t familiar at all. But the face is.
The familiar blonde freezes in her tracks when she sees me. “Pepper?” She looks at Chase in confusion. “Your old friend is Pepper Woods?”
She’s petite with naturally golden blonde hair that reminds of summer. She’s wearing skinny jeans and a light blue cashmere sweater. The kind of outfit I would kill for right now.
Her eyes are a pretty blue and even behind her shock and skepticism, I see warmth, acceptance and understanding.
“Charlotte?”
“Y—yeah. You remember me?”
I stand. “Of course I remember you. You were a sophomore when I graduated, right? You were in debate, drama club…” I tap my chin. “And I think…you tried out for cheerleading?”
“Oh right. That’s how you remember me.” She shyly pushes her hair behind her ears. “You were right—I had no chance, I was never very flexible.”
My chest burns and my eyes flash. “I…said that?”
Chase chuckles and stands. “I’ll leave you to it.” He hands Charlotte a credit card, which she takes shamelessly.
“I’ll be sure to buy myself something pretty for the trouble.”
“Please do,” he mumbles. “Have a good time. Oh, and she’s staying at Elliot’s cottage,” he tells her, like I’m not even here. Like I’m some puppy he’s handing off to the dog walker.
Charlotte nods, sweeping her gaze over me as Chase leaves.
I pick up my backpack. “Should we go?”
“Vanilla latte?” the barista offers as she approaches our table.
“Oh, that’s me, thanks.” She takes Chase’s seat across from me. “Sit. We’ll go in a minute. You in a rush?”
I sit back down, tapping my fingernail on the wooden table.
She smirks. “This isn’t the city, Pepper. You can breathe and enjoy the coffee sitting down.”
“Look, you don’t have to babysit me. I know where everything in this town is. I can get around. For some reason, he thinks I need a buddy and he’s no longer interested in the position.”
She snorts. “No kidding. Chase is not a damsel-in-distress-seeking kind of guy.”
“I’m no damsel! I’m in distress. But I can figure it out.”
She shrugs and waves a hand at me as she takes a sip. “Why go it alone?”
I look at her. “I didn’t realize Chase was going to call someone I knew—or who knew me. The last thing I want is a continuation of Pepper-pity.”
Her brows knit. “You think people pitied you here?”
I shrug. “How could they not?”
“No one pitied you. We all just wanted to help.” She glances down. “You know, I tried talking to you after…it happened.”
“You did? Oh, you should have. That might have been nice,” I say genuinely. A lot of my friends abandoned me after my father’s scandal—and whoever remained didn’t know what to say after my parents died.
“It wasn’t. You didn’t seem very interested in what I had to say.”
My eyes widen. “I didn’t?”
She nods, scrunching her nose. “I always said one day I’ll have the courage to talk to Pepper Woods and I thought, no better time than to pass on your condolences and let her know you’re there for her if she needs anything. Maybe even a slumber party or something.”
“I’m… so sorry.”
She waves me off. “No biggie. I don’t hold a grudge. It’s good to see you again. You look amazing. You look tired, but amazing.”
“Thanks.”
“Come on. The boutiques here don’t stay open long on Sundays.” She takes her sunglasses off her head. “Here. Put these on.”
I take them from her cautiously. “Okay, why?”
She lifts a brow. “Unless you want to be recognized, Penelope.”