Chapter 11
CHAPTER 11
L evon
I strolled up to Pete's Outhouse with my hands tucked into my pockets. It was a gorgeous day. The sun was shining down on the sidewalk, illuminating my path as I meandered toward the outside seating area. Laura waved me over to her table.
“Hey!” she called out. “I'm glad you could make it!”
I smiled as I approached, extending my arms for a hug. “Good to see you, Laura.”
“Wow, it's been forever.”
She embraced me and I rubbed her head as I would a little sister. She pulled away and held me at arm's length, studying my face.
“You don't look a day over thirty.”
I laughed. “I'm only a year over thirty, Laura.”
“Well, you don't look it!”
I shook my head as I took the seat across from her. The waiter approached and took our order. When the waiter had left, I turned my attention to Laura.
“So,” I said. “How is everything?”
“Everything is good. I got promoted at my job. I'm now the team lead manager at Pets Perks Plus.”
“Oh, that's excellent!”
She nodded excitedly. “It certainly has more perks than I could have ever wanted.”
“That's wonderful news. I'm very happy for you.”
“And how's your job been?”
I shrugged. “You know, the usual. I travel around Europe a great deal. I might be going to Canada at the end of the month.”
“Why Canada?”
“That's just where they want to send me.”
She smiled warmly, nodding. “You know, you've always been like a big brother to me.”
“I always got that vibe between us. I dated Clara for so long that I eventually saw you as a little sister and I came to know you as one. You're basically family.”
“Yeah, I'm sorry things were awkward the day you dropped by.”
I waved nonchalantly. “It's not a big deal. I can't imagine how Clara feels.”
“And, actually, I was about to tell you how she feels.”
“I mean, that's why I'm here. I want to catch up on Clara's life.”
She eyed me suspiciously. “So, why didn't you ask her?”
“Well, I,” I stammered to get a response out. “I mean, I didn't want to bother her. I know she's been busy helping Jen with the wedding.”
“Yeah, sure.”
“And I figured you were the next best source aside from Gabe.”
“Well, they're not together anymore.”
I nodded. “Exactly. That's why I called you. But I can't say our entire lunch is all about Clara. I want to hear about your life, too. I want to reconnect with my people.”
“That's nice, Levon. I'm happy to catch up with you. I didn't tell Clara, by the way. I figured she would have an absolute meltdown if I did.”
“Yeah, same. I didn't want her to be worried. There's nothing between us, but I know Clara.”
She laughed. “I know Clara, too.”
I nodded. “So, tell me what's been going on. What happened between Gabe and her?”
“God, that's such a loaded question.”
“I'm not going anywhere. Lay it on me.”
She sighed heavily. “We all thought Gabe was going to propose to Clara. Hell, they had been dating for, like, three years? I was starting to warm up to him.”
“It took you three years to warm up to him?”
She giggled. “Don't judge me.”
“Hey, this isn't judgment. This is a look of concern.”
Her giggling doubled as she covered her mouth. “Levon, quit it.”
“What? We used to make that joke all the time!”
“I know! That was our 'thing' back in the day. Clara used to tease me about it all the time, saying I was going to steal her boyfriend one day.”
I rolled my eyes. “Case and point for my earlier statement.”
“Anyway,” she said as she waved away her laughter. “Gabe ended up making a huge mistake. He asked Clara to move with him to New York. We all thought he was going to propose. All the signs were there, you know?”
“It's almost like he never listened to her.”
“I think that was part of it. I also think he was missing something. Clara always seemed like she was searching for much more than what he wanted to provide.”
“Like what?”
She shrugged. “Hell if I know.”
“I mean, you're her sister. You would be the first to know.”
“You would think, but Clara is a lot more private than she lets on.”
I hummed thoughtfully. “Maybe she doesn't know what she wants.”
“I think you might be right about that. As much as Clara pretended to know, I don't think she did. I think she was searching for a man inside of Gabe that just didn't exist.”
“That's so sad.”
She nodded. “What's sadder is the fact that Gabe didn't even think to propose. Then again, I'm not surprised. That man is practically married to his career.” She paused to giggle. “Sort of like someone else I know.”
The waiter interrupted at just the right moment. He placed a plate in front of each of us and I thanked him, grateful for the pause in conversation. I admired the food on my plate. My stomach growled immediately, causing me to smile at Laura.
“Dig in!” I encouraged. “It looks incredible.”
“I'm glad you think so. This has always been my favorite spot.”
As she lifted her utensils, I followed suit. I started cutting my steak into smaller pieces and added potatoes to it, accepting a mouthful of it to keep me quiet. We fell into a silent rhythm as we both sated our appetites.
She grabbed a napkin and wiped her lips. “So, as I was saying—”
“About Gabe.”
“Yeah, he was married to his career.”
I blushed. “Like me.”
“Yeah, like you.”
“I didn't mean for that to happen. It just happened. I wanted to impress my boss and secure myself in the business world.”
“And how did that go?”
I whistled. “Well, it's certainly been paying off. I have more than I could ever use.”
“You're basically a billionaire now, right?”
“I mean, I wouldn't say that.”
She giggled. “But you could say that. You said you have more than you could ever use.”
“I guess you're right about that.”
“Ten points for Laura.”
I laughed. “Oh, are we still keeping score? What was the last tally?”
“I think I was twenty points ahead of you.”
“For what?”
She chuckled as she reached for her glass of water. “For saving your buns on Valentine's Day.”
My eyes clouded with memory. “Oh, wow.”
“Yep—that was the night you had completely forgotten about your plans with Clara. She was waiting at the diner for twenty minutes before you got there.”
“And you helped me get flowers with a gift to pretend like that's what I was doing.”
She nodded. “That's right. And did she love the gift?”
“She did. I was just as surprised about the gift as she was.”
“Which I hope she didn't notice.”
“No, I don't think she did. But I think she expected a lot from that ring.”
Laura shrugged. “It was supposed to be a romantic gesture, not a promise.”
“But you know how Clara is. She wants to get married. She wants to have kids and have the whole family thing. And she wants all of that here in this town.”
“I know.” She sighed and set her glass down. “If only someone would commit to that.”
“Is that a request?”
“Did it sound like a request?”
I held her gaze for a moment, chewing on my lower lip. “I mean, a little bit.”
“It was just a thought. Clara deserves everything she wants in life. I firmly believe she can find it in the right person as long as that person commits.”
“How has she been since the break-up?”
She frowned for a moment. “She's been crying a lot. She thinks she's hiding it well, but she's not. I can always tell what my sister is feeling.”
“That's how I am with Jen. I can always tell. It's the sibling bond that does that.”
“I think the wedding business is helping her focus, but she'll need to sweat out all those negative feelings eventually.”
I nodded. “It's not healthy to keep them in.”
“I could say the same for you.”
I gave her a funny look and chuckled nervously. “Why would you say that?”
“I mean, you're showing a lot of interest in my sister for apparently being totally over her,” she replied. She paused suddenly and knitted her brows together with concern. “Unless you're not actually over her.”
“I wouldn't say that.”
“You could have been thinking it.”
“Are you a mind-reader now?”
“You didn't know? That's my side hobby. Call me Miss Laura Palm Reader.”
I laughed. “You're a trip, Laura.”
“And so are you. Speaking of, when is the trip exactly? Are you really going to leave right after the wedding?”
“Well, the boss said the end of the month. That could be a week after the wedding or the very next day.”
“Are you sure you want to do that?”
I frowned. “I mean, yeah. It's my job.”
“But is that really what you want to do?”
I mulled over the question silently as I reached for my water. When I took a sip, the cool liquid soothed my throat and my belly, chasing away some of the anxiety I felt. “Actually, I don't know.”
“It just seems like your interest in Clara's life was perfectly timed. You're here for your sister's wedding right after Clara gets out of a long-term relationship. Don't you think that's fate?”
“Fate?”
“Yeah. It's one of those things the universe does to show you that you're on the right path.”
I chuckled. “I don't think that's the definition of fate, Laura.”
“You never know. Maybe these things all happened the way they did so that you would reconsider where you stand.”
“I hate to think about it.”
“I can understand that. I wouldn't want to think about it either, but I think it's important to reflect. You never know where you could end up.”
I shrugged. “I'll probably end up traveling for my job as I always do. I don't think another relationship would work out.”
But I have been thinking about it .
I blinked away the thought.
Laura offered me a knowing grin. “Since you are like a brother to me, I will dare to say I can tell what you're feeling just like I can with my sister.”
“And what do you think I'm feeling?”
“Like you want a second chance.”
I quietly sank into my chair. Although it wasn't visible, I was trying to hide. I didn't want Laura to know what I was feeling. But did I really have a choice? She knew me well—almost as well as Clara did—and that meant she could read me better than most people.
I lowered my voice. “Do you think I have a chance?”
“I think it's worth exploring.”
“I just don't think she would be up for it.”
She smirked. “You never know unless you ask.”
“But that would bother her. She's got enough on her plate as it is. I wouldn't want to disturb her by trying to barge back into her life.”
“It's not barging if you knock first.”
I laughed. “You always were a class clown, weren't you?”
“With the best puns.”
We shared a laugh together and I felt lighter about the whole situation. She was right—I wouldn't know until I asked. And my sister had said the same thing.
But what if Clara said no?