47. You’ve Got it Bad
FORTY-SEVEN
You’ve Got it Bad
TARA
Celeste stopped by on Monday, after the rush of eight-to-five office workers ended, with a pair of mocha lattes for her friends. Tara always loved the specialty of the house, but she barely touched hers as her mind wandered to last weekend after the festival.
Just thinking of Steve’s hands on her body shot heat down to her core.
Keep it together, Tara.
She kept blinking away thoughts she had no business thinking while taking care of customers. If her thoughts wandered too much to Steve, she’d never get any work done. She grabbed a few books to shelve over in the mystery section while Celeste and Helen chatted.
“You’re off in your own little world today,” Celeste said, drawing close to where Tara was standing still a few minutes later. Celeste gave a sideways glance to her friend when Tara didn’t react. “That book isn’t going to shelve itself, you know.”
“Huh?” Tara blinked her eyes in surprise.
Celeste laughed, sharing a conspiratorial glance with Helen, who hid a smile from behind the counter.
“She’s been like that all day,” Helen announced while placing a few books inside a bag for a customer.
“What?” Tara looked at the book in her hands that she’d been holding long enough for Celeste to notice. “Oh, shit.” She shoved it onto the shelf with a dramatic eye roll.
Celeste snorted, then leaned in so only Tara could hear. “Somebody got the D last weekend.”
After narrowing her eyes, Tara stomped up to the counter and grabbed the stack of mail the postal carrier dropped off earlier. Ignoring the smirks from Celeste and her mom, she snatched up another letter from the Benson Group.
Her mom looked calm, cool, and collected as only a mom who knew more than she was letting on could look. Helen reached her hand for the mail. “And I’ll take that. You two go on.”
“But, Mom,” Tara said, handing the stack of letters to her mom. “That letter from the Benson Group–“
“Is nothing you need to worry about.” Helen stuck the mail behind the counter. "Now go before the sun sets."
Tara was worried about what her mom wasn’t saying, but she was happy to leave work. She hugged her mom and grabbed her bag to get some fresh air with Celeste. They crossed the street and strolled down a path in the square for a few minutes. The street lamps along the path were beginning to brighten.
Celeste plopped down on an empty park bench. “What is with you today?”
Easing down next to her friend, Tara let out a long exhale. “I don’t know what happened, Cel.” She took a sip of her mocha. “I came down here to help Mom and Dad and?—”
“And,” Celeste finished for her. “You found some hot firefighter to sweep you off your feet.”
Tara closed her eyes and took in the setting autumn sun. “Mmm...”
Celeste clucked her tongue. “You’ve got it bad.”
Tara’s eyes snapped open. “What? No.” She shook her head. “No. No. No. I don’t. I don’t have it bad. No.”
Celeste stifled a giggle when Tara glared at her.
In the dimming light, Tara scanned the trees that still maintained their beautiful fall colors, though they were just beginning to let go of their leaves. The sun glimmered through the swaying branches, dappling the ground below with patches of light. The breeze blew a handful of bright red maple leaves in their direction, landing on the paved pathway in front of Tara’s feet. She leaned over and picked one up, twirling the stem back and forth between her thumb and index finger. “This is always my favorite time of the year. Everything seems so much better in the fall.”
She turned back toward Celeste, who stared at her with a cocked brow and a twinkle in her eye. “Gurl!” She shook her head.
“What?” Tara drew out the word, then laughed at herself. “Damn it!”
“What?”
“I sound like we did in junior high, don’t I? Remember that huge crush I had on Courtney’s brother?”
“Logan?” Celeste scoffed. “Who didn’t have a crush on him? The man is gorgeous!”
“And he’s as good a person as he is good looking.”
“Absolutely.” Celeste took a drink from her cup. “But we’re not talking about Logan.”
Tara took one last look at the maple leaf she held. She smiled and let it float wherever the wind longed to carry it.
“Yeah. So what’s going on with me?”
“For starters, you got a big D over the weekend.”
“What? How do you know?” Tara’s mouth dropped wide open.
Celeste’s expression screamed the obvious. “You know I can tell these things.”
Tara closed her mouth. “Damn you, Cel.” Tara’s eyes sparkled behind the drink of mocha as she gulped it down.
“And secondly, you’re developing feelings for him. Simple as that.” Celeste’s matter-of-fact way of speaking always kept things simple.
“Yeah.”
Celeste rolled her eyes. “And feelings or not, you need to control that dreamy look all over your face. You’ve got a goofy grin, and you’re all googly-eyed and stuff. It’s pathetic.”
“What’s so pathetic about liking a guy?”
“Nothing. But you don’t have to look pathetic. That’s all I’m saying.” Celeste rolled her eyes while straightening her jacket. “Just get it together so you don’t keep going around like you’re still a pre-teen hoping Lucas asks you to your first dance.”
Tara harrumphed. “Whatever. Lucas was really cute.”
Celeste just stared back at Tara. “Yeah. When he was twelve and we were all in sixth grade.”
“Anyway, back to you, Tara Roxanne, it’s okay to have feelings for Steve. From what Kiro says, he’s a good guy. Really protective of his family.”
“I know, but after Ethan.”
“Ethan Shmethan. Forget that guy. He didn’t deserve you. You deserve to be happy.”
“Yeah. I suppose.”
“You suppose?”
Tara turned her gaze to her friend, who met her with a confused expression.
“Tara Roxanne Bailey” Celeste huffed, “you are an amazing woman. You’re kind, you’re devoted, you’re smart as hell, and you’re beautiful inside and out. You’ll drop everything at the drop of a hat to help your family. I mean, you’re here, right?”
Tara didn’t speak.
“RIGHT?”
“Yes. Right,” Tara said, a smile trying to break out on her face.
“You’re so damned talented, able to turn businesses,” Celeste extended her arm behind her toward the bookstore, “including your parents’ shop, around so they succeed. You’re dedicated and will put in all the time to help your family and friends. What are you not getting here?”
“I...”
Celeste turned so she could better face Tara. “There’s nothing better than having someone look after you and someone to look after. There’s nothing better than to have someone you can share your day with. Someone who will support you through thick and thin. To be there with a hug and strong arms to keep you warm. Kiro has seen me at my best and at my worst, but he still loves me, regardless. I know I’m a handful, but he’s patient with me. He gives me everything I need. And I’ve been there for him as well. That’s what we do. We’re a team.”
Tara could see the love Celeste had for Kiro in her eyes. They lit up when she talked about him.
“We share in each other’s joys and lift each other up when the chips are down. Maybe Steve is the one who can do that for you. Maybe he can give you something like what we have. Don’t you want to take a chance and see if that’s true?”
“Yeah, but... after Ethan.”
“He’s gone,” Celeste snapped. “Get him out of your mind. Look.” She softened her voice. “Kiro told me how Steve followed his brother to three different states until he found him. If he did that for his family, think of what he’d do for you.”
“Yeah,” Tara said, a smile growing on her face.
“It’s worth the risk, don’t you think? Tara, I just want you to be happy. You deserve to be happy.”
“But my job’s in Chicago.”
“Mmhmm. Remember the part where I said you were frigging intelligent?”
“Yeah?”
“That means you’ll figure that out. You’ve always wanted to get back home. So what if he’s the catalyst that draws you here? I mean, your family is the big draw, right?”
“Right, but I’ve got obligations. I can’t just up and leave.”
“That’s fair. But as your best friend, I’ll help you with that. Remember. I’m intelligent, too.”
Tara laughed. “Damn straight you are.”
Celeste coughed out a quick breath with a sideways glance at Tara. “Just make sure you keep your cool and don’t act like you’re a dreamy junior high school girl again facing your first crush. Let him do all the stupid shit.”
“Okay. Okay.” Tara raised her hands in agreement, grateful for her friend’s support and good sense.
Celeste wasn’t finished. “Because he has feelings for you, too, Tara. And there’s nothing better than seeing a cocky alpha male acting all stupid and shit for some girl he likes.”
Celeste leaned over and pointed her finger right at Tara’s chest. “And you are not some girl.”
“Ouch!” Tara rubbed her chest.
“So make sure he treats you right. And if he gives you any trouble, let me know. I’ll kick his ass for you.”
Tara snorted out a laugh at her friend’s offer. If nothing else, Celeste would always tell her what she needed to hear and make her laugh.
“Don’t think I won’t do it.”
“I know you will.”
“But also make sure I’m around when his silliness happens. I loved watching Kiro lower his defenses and get all lovey out in public.”
Tara guffawed. “Lovey? I guess he does that now, huh?”
Celeste grinned and shimmied her shoulders. “Yeah. He does.”
“Now, who’s being all dreamy and shit?”
Celeste stilled and lobbed a dry look toward her friend. “Shut up, Tara. Drink your mocha and enjoy the end of the day.”
Tara held up her cup and tapped it against her friend’s cup with a smile. “Cheers.” She took a drink and settled back in her seat as the sweet chocolate flavor worked its way down her throat to warm her body.
Yes. Celeste had it right. She would enjoy the coffee and talk to Steve tomorrow, looking forward to how he acted now that their relationship had risen to a new level.
Relationship.
Tara smiled. Could she really do this? Move back home without a job? As much as her heart was drawn to home and starting to be drawn toward a certain tattooed firefighter, she had plenty of doubts. It was something to think about, though.
Celeste let out a sigh, complete with her signature eye roll. “Like I said. Gurl, you’ve got it bad.”