28. Chapter 28
twenty-eight
B y the time Annie arrived in Northgold, she was one ounce of bad luck away from giving up and going straight to the cabin for the night.
She drove part way before her fatigue caught up to her, forcing her to stop for coffee and a subsequent bathroom break.
She took another break midway — while stopped for forty minutes by a highway collision.
When she stopped for gas thirty minutes outside of Northgold, the gas station pump rejected her card, messing it up, and requiring her to call her bank to remove the suspicious transaction hold.
After she settled that matter, it was late enough that her sun visor was too high to shield her face against the setting sun.
“Fucking universe,” she muttered. “Dear God, why!”
Cars and pickups clogged and flowed out of the parking lot of No Wait Diner. It was hours past the opening, but the party was holding strong.
She parked a block away. Music and excited voices droned on and grew louder as she walked up the gravel strip on the roadside. The stars were out in the clear night sky on the windless evening. She pulled her jacket closer, regretting her choice of summer dress.
It’s going to be okay. He’s going to light up when he sees you . It’ll be okay.
Annie walked into the light of the open doors and took a big breath of sizzling burgers, potatoes, veggies, and sandwiches.
Inside, people laughed, packed in close to one another.
She stepped over the threshold. A few people looked up, but nobody’s attention lingered.
For a moment, she loitered by the door, but sidestepped when an older couple excused themselves and walked outside.
Her heart hammered in her chest as she looked around.
She hoped it was from the anticipation.
So far, no Julian.
She took a few more steps, her head on a swivel as she admired the decor. New booths. Warm Edison bulbs, caged with dark iron, hung above each booth; they left soft shadows on diners’ faces.
The guests sitting at the new tall tables blocked her view of the lunch bar. Stopping near a large potted fern, she ran her eyes hungrily over the crowd again. Arms crossed over her chest, she scanned the backs of the folks dining there.
Her eyes stopped on a man in a black V-neck and an apron. He was standing instead of sitting while eating a cream pie. When he turned his head to the side, Annie’s body tightened.
Julian...
He was talking to a pretty woman who stood next to him. When the woman turned a little, Annie caught her profile. It was the nurse from the hospital.
Maybe she’s just checking in on—
The woman played with her hair before leaning forward to rest her hand on Julian’s. She gave an obvious squeeze. Julian looked down and the corners of his mouth turned up.
Annie’s heart fell.
I’m too late...
“Miss, have you been helped?”
Annie flinched. The young man — Teagan — raised a brow at her.
She shook her head. “Ah- no, I have — I just came in to check on something.”
He raised a brow. A slow smile crept up his cheeks, one she couldn’t decide was of knowing or hostility. “Hey, aren’t you that girl Julian liked?”
Liked…?
“Sure,” she replied flatly. Her gaze drifted back to the bar.
Teagan followed her gaze and said, “Ah! Worked with him for weeks. Didn’t see him smile like that once.”
Her heart beat in her ears. She wanted to die.
This was stupid. I should’ve called first. Texted…
“Well... it was nice seeing you,” Annie said to Teagan, pasting on the biggest smile she could conjure up. Before he could reply, she spun on her heel and made for the door—
Running right into a waitress carrying a tray of drinks.
“Oh!” the waitress cried. Plastic cups, straws, ice, and soda tumbled to the floor. They sprayed both Annie and the waitress.
The waitress tore off her apron, attempting to mop up the flood. A few nearby diners tossed their napkins down on the mess. Others stared at the chaos before reluctantly resuming their chatter, glancing over occasionally.
Soda soaked Annie’s arms and chest. Her hands covered her nose as she stood in embarrassment hell. I’m going to throw up!
Teagan had rushed off and reappeared with a mop bucket.
“Sorry,” she said, to nobody in particular. “Sorry!” Teary-eyed, she stepped back and turned for the exit.
“You good?” A woman’s voice called from behind. A hand grabbed Annie’s shoulder.
Annie turned.
“You okay, hun?” Ellie smiled. “You’re all wet! ”
Annie blinked, shrinking back. She’d made a mess of the party. “I’m sorry. I was just going.”
“Did Julian invite you?”
“Not exactly.” Annie’s eyes flitted to the bar. She couldn’t see Julian. Maybe he had run for the hills. I need to get out of here. “I saw your commercial,” she explained, trying to remember her manners. “Everything looks great. I wanted to stop by for a few minutes.”
“A few minutes?”
“Yep. Good to see you, sorry about your floor, I’ll hopefully be back in a few months and —”
“C’mon, sit down! I’ll get you a towel.”
Ellie grabbed her by the hook of her elbow and plopped her down in the nearest empty booth.
Annie felt breathless. “No, r-really–”
Ellie gave her a firm look. “I’ll be back.”
Swallowing, Annie nodded.
A couplefew people were now staring unabashedly, but she ignored them.
She noticed that the pretty nurse who’d flirted with Julian was now sitting with an older couple.
Likely her parents. Annie sighed and did her best to keep the tears off her face.
She wished more than anything for a big menu to hide behind.
There were more intrigued stares, followed by footsteps.
“Look who I found! Julian!”
Annie’s head turned so fast it gave her a neck cramp.
Ellie dragged a confused-looking Julian to the table, her arm linked with his. Her other hand was on his back like she was making a citizen’s arrest.
Or he’s her hostage.
Their eyes met .
“Hey,” Shock painted Julian’s face before it disappeared behind a wall of cool and calm.
“H-hey.” Immediately, Annie felt twitchy. Her face got hotter than it ever had in her entire life. Oh, no…
Ellie shoved Julian towards the booth. He made to sit in the empty side of the booth, but Ellie beat him to it; she didn’t scoot over an inch.
“Sorry.” Ellie grinned, tucking a hand under her chin. “Don’t want to keep turning my head to talk to both of you... It’s been a long day.”
“Yeah…” Julian agreed, tight-jawed.
In disbelief, Annie numbly took the towel that Ellie handed her over the table. She swallowed the lump in her throat. “T-thank you.”
“Sit, hun,” Ellie chirped, her tone light despite the crystal-clear command running underneath. “You’ve been on your feet all day.”
Julian looked down at the table as he muttered to Annie, “May I?”
Annie nodded and scooted over. She thought her heart was going to stop as Julian’s weight sunk into the seat beside her.