“You know me too well. And a coffee, please.”
She smiles and gets right to work, sliding a hot cup of coffee across the counter, followed by a pink box. With a wink, she quietly says, “I put an extra one in there for you. I was so hungry all the time when I was pregnant.”
Confirmed: everyone in town knows.
“Oh… thank you.” I scoop up the box and my coffee, heading to the far end of the counter to add cream and sugar.
Despite the kitchen sounds, coffee grinder, chatter, and the glug of heavy cream splashing into my cup, my ears perk at the mention of my name.
A group of women sits at a table behind me, talking about me. While I don’t typically provide good fodder for gossip, the act of gossiping itself is not unusual here—thisisthe place people come to indulge in whisperings about everyone in town. Show up here any day, any time, and pull up a chair if you want to know every diminutive detail of a person’s life. Somebody’s husband cheating on her with their nanny, twoteachers hooking up, the corner store closing for an hour every Thursday morning so the owners can go to couple’s counseling. The rumours are inescapable and, admittedly, sometimes fun to hear. Until you’re part of it.
Today, I’m part of it. But it’s not just me… it’s Chase, too.
“I heard they’ve been secretly hooking up at the bar for a long time—that’s why her boyfriend broke up with her.”
“Makes sense. I mean he’salwaysat The Horseshoe.”
“I’d be so embarrassed to be with a guy like that—always drinking and getting hauled out for fighting.”
My bottom lip trembles, and I’m frozen in place, knowing I should leave and go back home. I’m in no state to stand here listening to this after everything else today, but I can’t stop myself. White knuckling the counter with one hand, I continuously stir my coffee. The thud of a spoon against my cardboard cup is so frequent and fast, I might accidentally make whipped cream.
“I mean, he’s hot. That’s basically all he has going for him.”
“Sure, but I would get an abortion so fast if Red Thompson knocked me up.”
The metal spoon drops, clinking against the countertop, as I spin around to face them. Three women I’ve known since high school—which also happens to be when they peaked—stare at me wide-eyed, realizing their hushed whispers weren’t quiet enough.
“Cass, hey. Didn’t see you there.” Sophie, the preppy blonde ringleader, stares innocently at me. Growing up, she was the absolute worst. Then she married her high school sweetheart, had three kids by twenty-two, and nowadays spends her free time hating her life while gossiping about everyone else’s. “Where’s Red?”
Her two friends refuse to face me, taking sips from their lattes to cover cruel smirks. Not Sophie, who’s wearing a Stepford smile like her only two brain cells are fighting for third place.
I stare back, unsmiling. “Oh, probably on horseback somewhere at the ranch.Minding his own fucking business, like what you should be doing.”
“Come on, Cass. You misunderstood, we were joking around.”
“Misunderstood what, Sophie? Tell me exactly what’s funny about you spreading bullshit rumours and saying I should,” I swallow hard, “get an abortion.”
Her petite brunette friend, Ashley, clears her throat. “We didn’t meanyoushould.”
“Don’t forget, I know your husbands. They spend a lot of time at The Horseshoe, too. You’re not in a good place to talk shit about Red whenthoseare the men crawling into your bed every night.”
Cinnamon rolls and coffee secured, I leave their stunned asses behind. I pull out my phone to text Chase, confirming whether he’s coming over tonight. The two of us talking, laughing, and relaxing in silence is exactly what I need to get out of my head. I need to look across the couch and see his smile. I need to hear him laugh at something stupid I said. I need his hands firmly massaging my feet and calves and I want them softly touching everywhere else. Friends-with-benefits is risky behaviour, but one more night won’t hurt.
The front door clicks shut, and I slowly lower the bottle of root beer I’m pouring from, waiting for something to indicate whether it was Chase or Dad who let themself in. With a hard swallow I lean to peer through the archway, and a glimpse of reddish hair makes the tension in my muscles melt away. The armour I’ve put on to keep myself sane since getting home from the coffee shop—the only defense preventing me from being a weepy mess on the floor—falls apart the instant he steps into the kitchen.
“Hey.Hey,why are you crying?” Chase grabs either side of my face, forcing my eyes to meet his. “Are you okay?”
“Today fucking sucked.” I rub away the tears. “I’m sorry about my dad. About the shit he said.”
“That’s not your problem, Cass. He can think whatever he wants. I expected it.”
I expected it, too. Doesn’t make it less frustrating, though.
“If you want me here, that’s all I care about. All I’ve wanted since day one is foryouto say you want me involved. To feel like I’m not just here because you feel obligated to let me be around. I don’t care what anybody else thinks about it.”
Because I feel obligated?That’swhy he thinks he’s here?
“I want you here. Little Spud and I need you here.”
