7. Heath
Seeing Gabby sitting in the Coffee Loft takes my breath away. She lifts her hand and gives me a little wave. My heart stutters to a stop in my chest. I raise my hand in a lame attempt to wave back. Why did things between us have to get so awkward? Oh, that’s right . . . I decided to break up with the girl I loved and she thought I’d dumped her for someone else.
Turning away from her is difficult, but I promised the crew I’d pick up some muffins and coffee. “Can I get a large to-go box of regular coffee, and six of your muffins please?” I ask the pretty girl behind the counter.
“Sure thing,” she says, entering the order and stepping away. “You’re with Bradley’s crew, right?”
I nod. Realizing she can’t see me, I clear my throat and answer. “Yeah, just started on with them.”
She finishes boxing the muffins and moves to the coffee station where she makes quick work of filling a massive to-go container with heavenly caffeine. “Making the new guy run the errands, I see.”
I smile. “I offered. I was getting hungry, and honestly, I could use the pick me up.”
She wipes her hands on a towel she has hanging from her apron. “That will be $47.50.”
I slip my wallet from my back pocket and take out three twenty-dollar bills. “Keep the change.”
“Thanks!” She grins and tucks the money into the register before putting the change in a jar labeled tips. “We appreciate it.”
I nod. “See ya,” I say, grabbing the coffee and muffins. I resist walking to where Gabby and Lacey are talking at a table in front of the window, deciding instead to play it cool. “See ya later, Gabby. Lacey.”
I push through the doors and onto the sidewalk before they can reply. There, that wasn’t so hard. It’s not like I told her I’d never gotten over her.
I walk the three feet to the job site next door. Turns out we are working on a play center or something of the like. Since starting on with Bradley a few weeks ago, I’d like to think I’ve found my footing. The crew is nice. Most of the guys are married. Only Bradley, myself, and Hudson are still single, at least on the Piney Brook team. Though I get the feeling both of them have their hearts, or at least their sights, set on someone already.
Setting the coffee and muffins down on the makeshift lunch table, I call out, “Coffee’s here.” I don’t wait to see if anyone heard me. Filling up my cup, I grab a muffin and move to a cleanish spot in what will be the lobby and check-in area, and slide down the wall to sit on the floor.
The space is big, with lots of windows already in place. The architect, Reid, who drew up the designs, left the exterior pretty much alone. Choosing instead to focus the budget on the interior of the building. It’s going to be nice. Once we’ve finished with the inside, we’ll be connecting this side with the Coffee Loft next door. Pretty smart if you ask me. Giving parents a way to grab coffee and a snack while their kids take in a class or play.
“You going to get any work done today, Heath?” Bradley asks, lifting his muffin in the air and grinning. “Or are you planning to sit around all day?”
The guys all laugh, and it makes me grin. Teasing is part of the job, part of being in the crew. I’ve missed that since coming home from the Army.
“I was just waiting for my nails to dry,” I say, laughing at my own bad pun.
Bradley shakes his head and nudges Hudson. “This guy thinks he’s funny.”
Hudson stuffs the rest of the muffin he’s been eating into his mouth and swallows. “If he keeps bringing muffins, he can make all the jokes he wants.” He points his hard hat at me and grins. “Next time, see if they have any blueberry. Those are my favorite.” He puts his hat back on his head and goes back to work.
The rest of the day passes in a blur of power tools and sweat. Wiping my arm across my forehead, I sigh. We stand outside the building while Bradley locks up. “You want to go to Daisy’s with us?” he asks.
I shake my head. “Not tonight, I’m beat.” I don’t want to go into the diner looking like I rolled around the floor of the jobsite all day, and smelling even worse. I subtly try to sniff my armpits and flinch. The weather is starting to cool off slightly, but it doesn’t erase the smell of a hard day’s work. “I’m going to head home, shower, and hit the sack. Y’all have fun, though.”
Bradley nods. “Your loss. It’s fried chicken night.”
Ms. Daisy’s has some of the best fried chicken in all of Northwest Arkansas, and for a second, I debate going. “Have a piece for me,” I say, choosing to stick to my original plan.
I climb in my truck and roll down the window to wave as I pull out of the parking lot and head home.
The minute I walk through the front door, Mom motions for me to have a seat in the dining room. She sets a plate of meatloaf, mashed potatoes and broccoli in front of me. “Heath, you’ll be home this Saturday, right?” Mom asks, putting on her most innocent face.
I groan, putting down my fork. “What are you up to? Do I even want to know?”
She smiles, and bats her eyelashes like a southern belle debutante at her coming-out ball. “Heath, why on earth do you think I’m up to something? Can’t I just want to spend time with my son?”
I raise an eyebrow and pin her with the same stare she used to give me when I was a kid causing trouble. “Mm-hmm.”
“So, you’ll be home, then?”
I nod. “I don’t have plans, if that’s what you’re asking.”
She claps her hands together and grins. “I can’t wait to spend the day with you.”
“Me too,” I say, picking up my fork to finish my dinner. Once I’ve cleaned the plate, I take it to the sink and rinse it before putting my dirty dishes into the dishwasher. “It’s been a long day, Ma. I’m going to head to bed.”
She nods and heads back to the living room. I watch as she slides back into the recliner and picks up her knitting needles. She’s taken to knitting hats for other people at the cancer center. Stylish little head covers for others who are dealing with hair loss and cancer treatments. It hits me how strong she’s been. Not just now, but my whole life. “I love you,” I call before heading down the hall and into my room. I could use a good night’s sleep. Running into Gabby today had me working hard to keep my mind off of her. I’m beat.
The next morning, I’m awake bright and early. I make Mom some breakfast and brew a pot of coffee before grabbing my keys and heading into work. I’m clocked in and hanging drywall in one of the rooms that will become a classroom when I hear a ruckus in the main part of the building. I finish screwing in the piece I’m working on and head out front to see what the commotion is about.
I step through the doorway separating the lobby from the back classroom area and lose my breath. Gabby is standing in the doorway with a huge to-go tote of coffee and an assortment of muffins.
“Gabby?” Surprise roots my feet to the floor.
She waves. “Hey, I thought y’all could use some coffee today.” She looks so cute bundled up in her long coat and knee-high boots, a burnt orange scarf wrapped around her neck. Her hair is shorter than it was yesterday. It looks good on her. “It’s a cold one,” she says, reminding me that I can’t just stand here staring at her.
“Thanks.” I really want to ask why she’s here, but I don’t dare. I don’t want to spook her.
“Well, don’t leave her standing there with her hands full,” Hudson says, stepping over to take the muffin box. Lifting it open, he grins. “Blueberry!”
She grins and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “They’re my favorite.”
I make a mental note of that information. Stepping forward, I take the coffee box from her hand and place it on the table. “Thanks again,” I say, slipping my hands into my pockets so I don’t reach for her.
“Do you have a minute?” she asks, rocking back on her heels.
My heart tugs with hope. “Yeah, I can probably take a break.” I turn to find Bradley. He’s already filling a cup of coffee.
“Go,” he says, snagging a muffin. “You started before everyone else today, anyway.”
I nod and motion for Gabby to lead the way. She steps out the front door and moves down the sidewalk to a bench that overlooks the grassy area in the middle of downtown. She sits and waits for me to take my place next to her.
“I’m sorry I’ve been avoiding you. I’ve been going over our conversation and I realize I was thinking wrong this whole time. If I’d known the truth from the beginning, I still don’t know if I would have stayed in contact with you—you did break up with me. We had a plan back then, and I was all in,” she says. “When you broke it off, I was hurt. I didn’t just lose a boyfriend back then, I lost one of my best friends.”
I nod. “Me too. Well, not the boyfriend part, but I lost my best friend, too.”
She gives me a half smile for my joke, and looks up from under her lashes. “I was hoping . . .” She pauses, and my breath catches in my throat.
Please be hoping we can start again. Please! “Yes?” I ask, as calmly as I can manage. I want to lean in and press my lips to hers. See if she still tastes as sweet as I remember in my dreams. When I catch my gaze dropping to her mouth, I force it back to her eyes.
“I was hoping we could be friends. Talking to your mom the other day made me realize this town’s not big enough to keep avoiding each other forever.”
I swallow hard. Friends. That’s something. When I was away, I didn’t just miss having her for a girlfriend. I missed her. Talking and laughing about dumb things, and sharing deep secrets and hard memories. Having her in my life again in any form would be a blessing. “Friends, like we were before?”
She shakes her head. “More like acquaintances. I don’t want to feel like I can’t visit your mom or see you around town without freezing up. So, friendly acquaintances?”
I rub my hands on my jeans to keep from taking her hands in mine. “If that’s what you want,” I say, trying to hide my hurt. I know I hurt her, but I was hurt, too. If I could turn back time . . .
“Good,” she says, standing. She sticks out her hand for me to shake. “To being friends.”
I shake her hand, hoping my face doesn’t give me away. “Friends.”