Chapter 24
Serenity
Ihold on to Summer’s hand as we enter Cutesy’s, Elias’s cafe. He serves her favorite hot chocolate. Victor follows behind us, surprisingly not on his phone or in a meeting.
He’s been busier now that he has been following up on leads about the man who broke into my house, even insisting we stay a couple of days longer in hopes he gets something more concrete. He keeps me informed, but so far, there isn’t much to know, and that’s more frustrating than anything.
He’s so focused on our safety this morning, while I’ve been only able to think about last night. I swear I’ve felt Victor’s gaze on me more and more today. His touch lingers as if he’s reluctant to let go but knows he has to.
His arm grazes mine as he walks beside me.
The urge to jump away is so great I barely manage to control myself, but I have to act normal.
It doesn’t matter I know what it feels like to have his hands on me, to have him worship me, and to have him get me off with only his fingers, yet I screamed so loudly that if I think about it for too long, my cheeks flush.
I’ve managed to act like last night didn’t happen for the past six hours. Well, mostly.
Only another eleven months to go.
Dwelling on what happened will only bring me pain, so I refocus on the cafe.
The small business is brimming with customers, and my heart swells.
Harmony had told me that Elias needed help sorting through paperwork, bills, and inventory, and her business degree really helped him out.
I’m so proud of my baby sister and the life she’s building.
We move into line, and Summer spots Harmony behind the counter. “Auntie!”
Everyone around us looks at Summer as she squeals. Harmony takes off her magenta apron that reads, Cutesy’s Owner Has a Cute Butt and hangs it up before coming out from behind the counter.
I roll my eyes but can’t stop the smile that spreads across my mouth.
“Here’s my favorite customer,” my sister says as she picks up Summer and gives her a bear hug. “Let me guess, a hot chocolate?”
“Yes!”
I laugh. For so long, I had forgotten what that sounded like. Even Harmony eyes me for a moment before turning her attention back to Summer.
The lady in front of us turns around, and I recognize Mrs. Milte immediately. “You’re still in town, dear?”
“Yes, we’re here until this weekend.” I grab hold of Victor’s hand. “We have his parents’ anniversary party on Sunday.”
Mrs. Milte’s eyes widen. “Really? We have the same anniversary. Frank and I have our 50th party this Saturday. Will you be able to make it?”
“I’m not sure.” I turn to Victor. “Which day are we leaving?”
“Probably Saturday, if that works for you.”
“Oh, that’s too bad,” Mrs. Milte says.
I open my mouth to politely turn her down, but Victor squeezes my hand, stopping me, and says, “We can extend our stay so we can celebrate with you.”
Mrs. Milte’s eyes shine. “Our dear Serenity never got to go to any social functions because she was always working. So, I’m glad you can make it.”
I hesitate, unsure how to proceed. “I’d love to attend.” Becky’s harsh words pop into my mind. “Are you sure it’s okay for us to come when Becky and others seem … uncomfortable by our relationship?”
I’m not sure if it’s my imagination or not, but when I spoke Becky’s name, the chatter around us stopped.
Mrs. Milte waves a hand. “Of course. I had a talk with Becky. She has no right to refuse our customers. But her heartbreak is still fresh, so please excuse her.” She motions around us, and anyone who was staring is now looking away.
“Everyone can tell that you two are a love match, while Victor and Harmony were just for a silly television show.”
The people at the front of the line move to the side, and it’s Mrs. Milte’s turn to order.
She finishes paying and turns back to us, gripping her cane—a new accessory from the last time I saw her. “I can’t wait to tell Frank you’re coming. He’ll be tickled pink. I’ll hobble out of your way now.”
“You don’t look a day over forty,” Victor says, obviously lying through his teeth, but somehow, his words sound sincere.
She wobbles over to a nearby table and sits down. “Oh, dear, you’ve made my whole week.”
I step up to the counter and order our drinks. I already know how Victor likes his coffee—black—which I’ll never understand. An entire jar of sugar on top of the creamer is needed for my coffee.
I pull out my card to pay, and Harmony says, “I’m not charging you.”
I nod in Elias’s direction as he makes a coffee. “I think the owner would have something to say about that.”
Victor steps forward. “Let your sister do something nice for you.” Something flashes across his face that looks a little like longing. And it clicks. He doesn’t have this with his sister, and I can’t be the one to shatter this moment. So when he drops fifty dollars into the tip jar, I say nothing.
“A tip wasn’t necessary. You two frustrate me so much,” Harmony’s voice pulls me back to her. She grins. “But I’ll let it pass since I love you both.”
The space inside the cafe suddenly seems a lot smaller than it is with everyone’s eyes on us.
I’m not sure if they stopped watching us from before, but if they did, they’re definitely giving us their attention again.
They’re probably memorizing our every word so they can spread it around town.
I chew on my bottom lip. That’s what I wanted, though, right?
We turn to move out of the way so the next customer can order. Summer charges through the cafe like a bull and starts climbing a stool at a high-top table by the window. I slide onto the one next to her, and she bounces up and down like she’s waiting for her next sugar rush.
My phone vibrates but only a single buzz. It has to be Lana since the other two people who bother me through texting are currently in the room with me. I pull out my phone.
Harmony, Lana, Abigail, and Serenity are added to the group message.
My finger hovers over the “leave group” button but a message comes through.
Lana
You better not leave the chat, Serenity.
I sigh. I can feel Victor’s heavy gaze on me, but he doesn’t say anything.
He always talks so much that his silence is a little unnerving.
I bite my lower lip, meeting his eyes. His gaze drops to my mouth.
But then the moment is broken when Harmony calls out my name, and he stands to go get the drinks.
Why am I in a group chat when you know I hate to text?
Abigail
Wait, am I a real adult now that I’m in a group chat with the cool, older girls?
I’m leaving now.
Lana
You better not leave the group message!
“Mommy, I’m so happy,” Summer says, pulling my attention to her and off my annoying best friend.
She’s the easiest girl to make happy when all I need is hot chocolate. “I’m glad to hear that.”
Victor strides over with the three mugs strategically in his hands and places them onto the table. He sits across from us again and passes us our own drinks.
“Why are my two girls smiling over here?”
My heart does a flip. “Summer was just telling me she’s so happy.”
Victor turns to Summer. “All I need to do is get you some hot chocolate and you’re happy? I’ll have to remember that.”
She shakes her head. “No. I’m happy because I’m drinking hot chocolate with Mommy and Bubba.”
“What’s the difference?” Victor asks.
“Before it was only ever with Mommy, but now you’re here.”
Her simple words wring out my heart like it’s a shirt that’s been soaked through. Our lives have been lonely ever since my mother passed away, and Harmony went off to college. But I didn’t realize until now how much Summer felt it, too.
I go to reach for Summer’s hand, but Victor beats me to it. “I’m glad I can be here with you then.”
A series of flashes go off, and when I turn my head, one of the girls who was at Seb’s birthday party stands there with a camera. She flashes me a smile before sauntering off. Wow. Not a single ounce of shame.
Don’t those fuckers know not to photograph my innocent, young child?
Victor reaches across the table. “I’ll do my best to have those pictures deleted and to stop them from doing that again while we’re with Summer.”
I know he means it, but that will never happen. For the next year, this will be our lives.