“The Riverside Café. We’ll split a wrap and grab smoothies and then circle back for queso.”
“You know I packed food, right?” I muse.
“Yes, but I just don’t have it in me to fight with you today and I want what I want.” She sighs dreamily. “And I want all the things.”
“You’re too much.” I laugh.
“I’m the perfect amount.”
“You are,” I agree and then lean against the side of the family-owned café. “I’m just gonna wait here; say hi to Elle for me.”
“Fine, then I’m getting all the toppings you hate.” She sniffs. “And you need to stop obsessing over him if you don’t plan on making a move.” With those parting words, she enters the popular tourist destination and leaves me alone to sit and stew over the man down the street.
I hate that she’s right and I hate that he affects me like this. Aside from the incident at my grandfather’s house, Talon and I didn’t interact a lot growing up. We had different friends, andeven though we ended up at the same parties, we didn’thang out.
He’d done all the stupid guy things—staring at my boobs that always seemed to be testing the integrity of any shirt I tried. One time I’d heard a group of them talking about me, making jokes and overexaggerated hand gestures to describe the size of my breasts. Talon had been there too, laughing along with the others.
I was used to it.
Mostly.
I’m sure I didn’t know the half of what was said about me and my body back then. My mother had scoffed and said I shouldflaunt my assets,that I should appreciate what they would do for me.
But I didn’t want to be like her. I didn’t want to use my body to get ahead, and I certainly didn’t want my accomplishments to be tainted by something like that. It was why I knew I wanted to work for myself—why I’d scraped and saved every penny until I could make my dreams come true.
Aspen and I built a thriving business from nothing.
And what did my mother have?
A bank account she’d accrued from divorcing husbands three and four. Part of me had wanted to warn the guy she’d brought with her to the hearing, but he hadn’t flinched as the judge had gone through the facts of the case including my mother’s deception and lies.
It didn’t matter. The verdict ensured I never had to see either of them again.
Finally.
The woman had left me with enough emotional damage to match the scars still marring my body—scars that meant I’d gone through hell and come out on the other side.
My surgery had been a blessing, and loving how I look on top of the physical relief was simply a bonus. But times like these when I see beautiful, carefree women flirting with men like Talon often take the wind right out of my sails.
“I hope you don’t mind me saying, but that color looks incredible on you.” Talon’s voice jolts me from my musings, and I jump as I straighten to my full height.
Not that it makes a difference considering I still have to tilt my head back to meet his gaze.
“What?” I breathe, but he’s not looking at my face. No, his eyes are roaming over my body like a physical caress, and I can feel my cheeks heat, all my indignation of a few minutes ago lost in the breeze. “Did you just?—”
“Nope,” Aspen says, waving her hand between us before pointing at me. “No way. I’m not doing this today. I have snacks; we’re getting queso and going to the beach.” She thrusts the tray holding the smoothies at me before whirling on Talon and poking him in the chest. “And you… She’s not ready yet so go away.”
“I just said?—”
“Zip it, Banks. I was promised a beach day and that’s what I’m getting. And tell your brother to stop being such a douche!” she snaps before shuffling me back down the street.
“It was nice to see you,” he yells after us, and I can only imagine she flips him off because his chuckle is the last thing I hear as we head off in the direction of queso.
13
[Social Media Post from the Taste of Magnolia Food Truck]
The Taste of Magnolia is dedicated to serving clean and delicious food and drink options using locally sourced and sustainable products. We use recyclable cups and do our best to reduce any and all waste. It’s our promise to leave Magnolia Point better than we found it to preserve our little slice of paradise.
