Jeremy grinned instantly. “Yes, yes, yes.” The little guy likedto learn new things—and he’d probably make a great bartender when he grew up.
“All right, lesson learned,” I said as I turned to take everyone else’s orders.
Duncan was the only one who went easy on me. All the other cocktails required far more concentration. But that was fine. Tonight was for my family. Business could wait until tomorrow.
CHAPTER 2
PHOEBE
“Oh God, this place is a dump,”my best friend, Veronica, said.
I laughed. “Good morning to you too. And yes, it is. Do you need help?”
She’d accidentally stepped on a weak board on the front porch. Fortunately, she didn’t hurt herself.
“No, I’m good,” she said.
“Good thing I took the coffees from you beforehand. I’m going to mark that spot so we can sidestep it.”
Veronica looked up at me with worried eyes. “You’re sure this place doesn’t have termites?”
I winced. “We had it inspected before buying it, so I hope not. I really can’t deal with another financial blow right now.”
“Okay.”
“Come on, let’s go inside. I made breakfast.”
“Oh, it’sthatbad,” Veronica muttered.
My friend knew me well. I usually skipped food in the morning, even on weekends, so whenever I made it, that meant I needed comfort food first thing in the morning. I’d made waffles. Yeah, that was a bad sign. I kept thinking my life couldn’t get any worse, yet somehow it did with every passingweek. I had some bad news to share with my best friend, and I’d told her as much on the phone.
Once inside, Veronica glanced around and pressed her lips together. She didn’t have to say it. The place looked dreadful. I knew that. Honestly, it was practically a teardown. But City Heights was a decent neighborhood, and the house had two bedrooms and a tiny bathroom. The highlight was the small backyard. It looked dreamy, especially now in June, with the bougainvillea in bloom.
It was supposed to be mine and my boyfriend’s starter home. We were going to renovate it together but never got the chance because he dumped me soon after we bought it. The same day I’d moved out of the apartment we shared and into this musty house.
The kitchen was furnished, and there was a bed and dresser in one bedroom, but I had to buy everything else, and nothing matched. This house had old-school wooden panels everywhere. I’d found a comfy gray couch on sale, but I didn’t have any lighting fixtures at all, only naked light bulbs.
The dining room table and chairs were actually meant for outdoors, but they were a steal. Veronica didn’t comment on them as we sat down. I’d already set the table so we could eat right away.
Everything was a mess—the house, the furniture, and my life. At least I’d started a part-time job as an accountant last week at H&R Block. It paid peanuts, but I needed something on my résumé other than “office assistant.”
“Your waffles are amazing,” she said after the first bite.
“I know, right? Thought I’d start the day by treating myself to something delicious.”
Veronica gulped down her meal in silence. She was a breakfast person, and it was already nine o’clock. No wonder she was starving.
We finished the waffles in no time. Nodding at the coffeecups, she said, “Want to go out in the backyard and sit in those comfy swings while we drink our coffee?”
I grinned, nodding. “Yes, let’s go.” I’d found the swings at Goodwill and wassoproud of my purchase.
Grabbing our coffees, we headed to the back door. The wooden floor creaked like crazy on every step. I needed to get out of this place but knew that wasn’t possible. I was stuck until my ex and I managed to sell it.
Veronica and I each sat on a swing. I closed my eyes, gently rocking back and forth. She wasn’t saying anything, but I could feel that she was bursting at the seams.
A few minutes later, she said, “So… what do you need as a housewarming gift?”
“Oh, nothing, really.”
