“I’m still willing to fill in sometimes if you need help…notice thesometimes.”
“Duly noted.”Livy took a sip of her coffee.“I’ve missed meeting you here. Talking to you. I feel like all we do is exchange a few words in passing at the cafe.”
“I was just thinking the same thing. Maybe we could even take a night and do something? Go out to dinner? Though I know you’re busy at the cafe and with Austin.”
“I’m never too busy for you. Let’s do dinner. You know, I’ve been wanting to go on Jesse’s dinner cruise.”
“Oh, I was thinking more like Jimmy’s.”The last thing she needed was to run into Jesse again.
“Aren’t you the least bit curious to see what Jesse has done to The Destiny?”
“I’m sure it’s nice. It’s just…”
“You still haven’t talked to him and worked things out, have you?”Livy rolled her eyes.“That’s just silly. You guys were such good friends.”
“Were being the operative word. We’ve just moved on. But for your information, I did talk to him yesterday. He saw me out sketching by the beach.”
“You did?”Livy’s eyes widened.“How did that go?”
“It was…fine.”Heather sighed.“Really, just a bit of chitchat.”
“And did you run off as soon as he showed up?”
“No, I didn’t.Heactually left after we talked.”
“So you think things are better between you now? It would be really cool to hang out with you and Jesse and Austin.”Livy’s eyes brightened.
“Oh, I don’t know.”Icy panic washed over her just thinking about seeing Jesse. It was best to just avoid him. She could be civil. Friendly, even. But notfriends.
“What if we all went on The Destiny? Wouldn’t that be fun? I’m sure Jesse could find some time to hang out with us on the cruise.”
“No. Really, Liv. Just…no.”
She sighed.“Well, I tried.”
“You did.”The panic began to subside when Livy finally conceded to her wishes.
“Then how about Jimmy’s on Thursday night? Just you and me,”Livy suggested.
“That sounds great.”
“About seven? I’ll get things situated at the cafe and meet you there? Both Emily and Brittany are working Thursday night along with the new worker I hired.”
“Jimmy’s on Thursday. It’s a date.”
Chapter 4
On Thursday, as planned, Heather headed to Jimmy’s. She waved to Livy and went to join her at a harborside table.“You beat me,”Heather said as she slipped into the seat across from Livy.
“I know. Doesn’t happen often. You’re always early.”
They ordered drinks and Heather pretended to look at the menu. They both had it memorized, so a menu was frivolous, but she couldn’t decide what sounded good tonight. Fish tacos? Grouper sandwich? Or maybe a big salad with shrimp…
“Heather, look. There’s Austin and Jesse.”
Heather glanced toward the doorway. Great.“Did you plan this?”
“No, of course not.”But Livy’s face didn’t look very convincing.
