Chapter 5
FIVE
Kendall
Ican’t believe how quickly this day went by. I’m already pulling into my driveway, and it’s not surprising my friends are already here—most likely to get the scoop on last night. I texted them all this morning with a very brief update.
When I walk through the front door, I hear them chatting in the kitchen.
I drop my bag on the floor, put the keys into the bowl, and slip off my shoes.
When my feet pad their way to the kitchen, there’s a charcuterie board sprawled out on the island—cheese, grapes, strawberries, nuts, meats.
I’m starving. The last thing I ate was at the hotel with Dane, and a smile crosses my face at the memory.
“Hey, you finally made it home. We made sure to have provisions and drinks ready.” Faith holds up her margarita. “Want one?”
“Of course. I thought I’d be out of there a little earlier, but when you’re the owner…”
“Totally get it.” Faith shakes her head. “It always falls on you. But we wouldn’t have it any other way.”
I shake my head and grab my margarita to propose a toast. “To big dreams.” And our glasses click together with Addison and Lane, too.
We all take a long sip and set our drinks down on the island.
I thought for sure I’d be bombarded with all the questions about Dane when I walked through the door, but they’re tame tonight.
I pick up some grapes and pop them into my mouth.
Then, I make myself a prosciutto and cheese sandwich on a couple of crackers, and within a couple of bites, it’s gone. We all continue to eat off the board.
Addison snags a fig and starts eating it as she leans further into me. “Is it time for you to tell us what happened with…Dane?”
At first, I was shocked that she knew his name, but then I remembered I had mentioned it in my text message this morning.
“Yes, do tell, do tell.” Faith rests her elbows on the island and folds her hands together, waiting for the juicy details of my night.
I’ve been waiting all day to share. “I have to admit, it was hard to leave this morning. I tried to play it off as casual, but I’m not sure I pulled it off as well as I think I did.”
I dive right in, starting with the moment I stepped into the hotel room, how he asked me to stay the night, the morning with breakfast, and how he knows the building inspector.
“Wait, you gave him your business card after telling him it was casual?” Lane shakes her head.
“I hate to admit it, but I wouldn’t mind seeing him again, but I have my doubts that’s really what he wants.
We didn’t get too much into it. It sounds like he has been a one-night stand kind of guy for a while.
I can’t deny the electricity bouncing around inside of me with every touch, every look, and it’s like fireworks when we kiss.
” I shrug my shoulders, knowing this is different from anyone else before.
All three of them stare at me with their heads tilted. Silence. All I hear is the hum of the refrigerator.
Breaking the silence, Lane says, “Are you feeling okay? You haven’t talked about a guy, never mind fireworks, in…forever.”
I stare down at my drink. She has a point. Bringing my face back up to them with a small smile, I say, “I know.”
“What are you going to do now?” asks Faith, pressing her hand to mine.
“Honestly, at this point, I need to make it through this final inspection. All my attention will be on that and then the grand opening. I don’t have time to figure out how I’m feeling, and I’m not sure I really want to. If that makes sense.”
“I get that. And like you said, maybe it’s not even what he really wants and was talking out of his ass this morning.” Faith moves back and takes a sip of her drink. “You might not even see him again, and then it’s a moot point.”
My heart drops to my stomach at the thought of him just forgetting about me. I ignore it and continue to pick at the charcuterie board. “Yeah, you’re probably right.” The dread that rolls through my body has me questioning everything about the last twenty-four hours.