Chapter 34
Fiona was trying her hardest not to feel deflated. She wanted to keep up the momentum and the excitement for Savannah Glam, but right now, she was just so tired. Tired from all the changes in her life recently, the constant ups and downs.
Her life had been practically the same for four years. Working at Norm’s, hanging out with Stella and Cassie, occasionally visiting home. But the past couple months had been nonstop upheaval, and Fiona wasn’t sure how much more she could take.
It was Saturday, and fortunately, she had the entire day off. They had a couple Savannah Glam clients later in the day, but for now, Fiona desperately wanted to lie in her bed and wallow.
In the spirit of wallowing, she let her mind wander back to Porter, just for a second. She squeezed her eyes shut, feeling humiliated.
How had he managed to fool her like that? He’d seemed so genuine, and kind. Apparently, she was still just as gullible as she’d been back in New York.
Someone knocked at the door, and Fiona’s mind went instantly to Porter. He’d been trying to get a hold of her; would he show up here, too? Fiona crept out of bed – a feat that took nearly all the strength she had – and peeked out the window. Somehow, she was both relieved and disappointed to see Cassie and Stella at her door.
She pulled her purple terry cloth robe tighter around herself, and walked to the front door.
When she opened it, her friends both looked way more cheerful than they should have.
“Morning, sunshine,” Stella said, inviting herself in, with Cassie following closely behind.
“Hello,” Fiona said, hoping this would be a short visit.
Stella stood in the middle of the living room, assessing the apartment with her hands on her hips.
“Why is it so dark in here?”
Fiona shrugged. “I was sleeping in.”
“Not anymore,” Cassie said, throwing open the curtains. Fiona threw a hand over her eyes.
“I just want one morning to wallow. Is that too much to ask?”
“Wallow all you want tomorrow,” Stella said, pulling Fiona up off the couch. “For right now, we want to get you some fresh air and sustenance.”
Fiona stood, though she had no intention of moving.
“Why?”
“You’ve been moping all week, and we’re worried about you,” Cassie said. “Now please get dressed in something that isn’t a robe.”
“You got me this robe,” Fiona grumbled.
“Change,” Cassie responded, pointing to her room.
Cassie took off the robe to reveal cupcake pants and a shirt with “DON’T MESS WITH TEXAS” plastered across the front.
“Alright then,” Cassie said. “I will choose your clothes.”
“Be my guest,” Fiona said, waving a hand at her room.
“Honey,” Stella said, resting her hands on Fiona’s shoulders. “You need to brush your hair.”
Fiona sighed. She could fight this, or she could humor them, go on a walk, and get back home as soon as possible.
“Fine,” she said, and moped her way to the bathroom.
Once her friends deemed her presentable enough for a stroll down the street, Fiona followed them outside and took a deep breath. Magnolia trees and crepe myrtles were beginning to bloom all around them, scenting the air and lifting her spirits just a little.
“Isn’t it a lovely day?” Stella said, a spring in her step.
Fiona groaned, and squinted at the bright morning light. “How much coffee did you two have this morning?”
Stella clapped. “Coffee! That coffee truck I like is parked nearby, they have the best iced coffee.”
“I could go for some,” Cassie said, her smile relaxed and pleasant.
Fiona scowled. “How the hell are you so chipper? Why aren’t you still pissed?”
“Because,” Cassie said simply. “Some things aren’t worth the stress.”
Fiona was hoping to vent, but clearly her friends were incapable of that today. She was, however, looking forward to the coffee.
“Where is this coffee truck?” Fiona asked, after they’d been walking for a while.
“Right up ahead,” Stella told her.
Fiona frowned. “At…Forsyth Park?”
She slowed her gait when she noticed the bustling market lining the park.
“Come on, the line isn’t too long,” Stella said, and rushed across the street.
“Wait, the market,” Fiona was saying, but Cassie just pulled her across the street. They were being awfully pushy this morning.
Fiona pulled her glasses out of her purse and kept her head down. The coffee truck was at the edge of the park; if Fiona was careful, she wasn’t likely to see Porter. All she wanted to do was get the coffee and get out of there.
The line moved quickly, and after a few minutes, all three of them had iced coffees in hand. Fiona relaxed for just a second; the refreshing coffee, warm breeze and jazz music wafting through the market was uplifting. But then she remembered that Porter could pop up at any second, and she came crashing back to reality.
“We should go,” she said, and turned to leave.
“Wait, my dad wanted me to stop by the vendor’s table.”
Fiona just stared at her, confused. “What? Why?”
“He thought about signing up next year,” she said, shrugging. “We’re close enough. Why not?”
Begrudgingly, Fiona snaked through the crowd as she followed her friends to the booth. Cassie picked up the flier and wrote down her email address, and Fiona scanned the crowd for signs of Porter.
“Looking for someone?” Stella asked, her smile sympathetic.
“It’s just…Porter comes here every weekend. I would rather not run into him.”
Stella nodded to a spot behind them, toward the fountain. And there, on a bench, was Porter, reading a magazine.
“Crap,” Fiona said, nearly dropping her coffee. “Sneak out behind the booths and I don’t think he’ll see us.”
But Stella didn’t move. Fiona looked at her, feeling frantic now.
“Stella, I mean it, we have to go now.”
“Sorry, babe,” Cassie said, joining them. “You have to talk to Porter.”
Fiona looked at both of her friends, trying to process what was going on. Neither one of them looked willing to offer any insight.
“Wait. You two,” she said, pointing at each of them, “kidnapped me? And are handing me over to the enemy?”
Stella denied it, but Cassie simply agreed.
Fiona thought about running, but between Stella’s long legs and Cassie’s hay hauling strength, they would almost certainly catch her.
Fiona crossed her arms, refusing to move.
“Tell me right now what’s going on or I”ll leave.”
“You have to hear it from him,” Cassie said. “Please. Just trust us.”
Fiona narrowed her eyes at Cassie. “And do you trust him?”
She nodded nonchalantly. “I trust him enough to know you should go talk to him, okay?”
Fiona was realizing now that no amount of glaring, pouting or threats would convince her friends to let her walk away. She exhaled loudly.
“Fine. But if this goes poorly, know that you both sent me into the lion’s den, and will have to live with the guilt forever.”
She turned on her heels and walked right toward him, fueled now by anger and hurt.