58. Who are we to deny him that?
Fifty-Eight
WHO ARE WE TO DENY HIM THAT?
Liv
Me: Any interest in happy hour?
Viv: GIRL, say less.
Viv points to my seat on the corner of the outdoor patio of the little Italian restaurant down the street from the office. The hostess nods, signaling she’s welcome to come in and sit.
“Get your tushy up out of that chair and hug me,” Viv says, arms outstretched.
“I look like crap, don’t judge me,” I say into her hair, wrapping my arms around her.
“I’d never judge you, and you don’t—” She holds me at arm’s length, scanning my puffy, cried-too-much eyes. “Okay, yeah, you don’t look your best. You've had a handful of rough days. You get a pass. Besides, you’re still beautiful.”
We catch up over wine and appetizers, talking about all things work, Pop, and Luke. According to Viv, I wasn’t very good at hiding the feelings I developed for Luke. And, like Pop, she thinks this thing Luke and I started is worth exploring.
“I don’t know. My life is here.” I stare into my glass, twisting the stem between my fingers.
“I don’t know about that anymore.”
I look up and meet her contemplative gaze. I open my mouth to argue, but she holds up her hand—a silent plea to let her finish.
“Something changed in you there. You seemed lighter, happier, more carefree. I think the lifestyle there might be a better fit for who you are now. It doesn’t hurt that there’s a devastatingly good-looking man who might be missing you as much as you’re missing him.”
I scoff and roll my eyes, but I can’t hide the smile.
“You haven’t seemed to settle back in since we got here,” she adds.
“Well, sure, but it’s not like I came back to normal. I can’t say I expected all that to come out about my mom.”
“You’re absolutely right, but…” Viv trails off. I continue to play with the stem of my wineglass. “Liv, I can’t explain it. I can just tell.”
I stare out onto the streets I used to love, filled with people who pass one another without a second glance.
They expertly navigate around each other, earbuds in, taking purposeful strides.
I’ve lived here my whole life and have never felt more disconnected than I do right now.
How does that happen after only ten days in a different place?
“I’m afraid I’ll get there and find out Luke doesn’t want me like that.” I meet Viv’s gaze. “What if to him, it was all meaningless? I don’t know if that’s something I can handle right now.”
“That fear is valid. You’d never have to handle it alone, though.” Viv reaches her hand across the table and grasps mine.
Our conversation veers off. We pick at the meat and cheese board, and Viv updates me on Paul—how he’s been coming by almost every night, and how she wouldn’t mind an evening to herself for a change.
The phone buzzing in her bag interrupts us. She reaches for it, tapping the screen. Her eyebrows scrunch, then raise. She zooms in on whatever is on her screen, bringing it closer to her face as she reads intensely. Consider my interest piqued.
“Who is it?”
Her big brown eyes meet mine, a smile pulling at her lips. “It’s Josh. Looks like the Huffman House replied to the review.” Viv holds her phone out to me, a screenshot of the review sitting front and center.
Comment from TheHuffmanHouse replying to XoChloeXo June 26, 2025 at 10:02am
We’re glad you enjoyed the food, and your stay was nice.
We are also happy to hear you enjoyed the sunset cruises—the lake is beautiful, especially at sunset.
It’s unfortunate that you felt our town was boring.
We take great pride in being a welcoming town and work hard to ensure the guests who visit our little corner of the Finger Lakes feel at home during their stay.
We’d like to address the staff member whom you claimed was “highly unprofessional” and made you “feel very uncomfortable,” because he was “kissing another guest.” We apologize that you may have experienced such distress.
This has never happened between a staff member and a guest before.
However, we at the Huffman House believe souls know when they’ve found their person, and our staff member believes he may have found his.
Who are we to deny him that? Perhaps if you choose to visit the lake again in the future, you, too, will find your person.
After all, the lake is called Lover’s Lake for a reason.
All our best, The Huffman House.
I stare at the screen, reading the words again and again.
“Breathe,” Viv’s voice breaks through the drumming of my pulse in my ears. I pass her the phone, my breathing uneven, eyes unfocused on the table between us.
“Viv—” I cover my face with my hands, shaking my head back and forth as I choke back the emotion clogging my throat. Dropping my hands, I look up. Her eyes are watery, but she’s smiling.
“I’ve got the tab, and the rest we’ll sort out. But right now, I think you have somewhere else you need to be.”
She stands when I stand, and pulls me into another hug, holding me a little tighter this time. It feels a little too close to a goodbye hug, but I can’t bring myself to think about that right now.
Viv swipes her eyes and hands me my purse. “Call me.”
“I will.”
Sunny groans from his cat carrier as Pop opens the door, finding me on the other side. A quick look of surprise and confusion passes across his face and then he sees the cat carrier at my feet, duffle in hand, and laptop bag over my shoulder.
“Can I borrow your car for a few days?”
He reaches into the jar next to the door and holds out his keys.
“Here you go. No rush to get it back to me. But, Livie, it’s late. Maybe rest a few hours first?” he asks.
“I can’t, Pop. But I promise I’ll stop if I get tired and sleep for a bit. If… if I don’t go now, I’m afraid I won’t go at all.”
Pop pulls me into a powerful hug. “Okay. I want updates. It’s a long drive. I love you, kiddo.” His lips meet the top of my head. “Now, off you go.”