Each year it went the same, her mom and dad barely cordial with one another long enough for Lottie to wish them a Merry Christmas before going back to their regularly scheduled programming of constantly fighting.Why they remained married was anyone’s guess, but Lottie assumed it was out of habit at this point.She never looked too deeply at it, not wanting to analyze something so clearly toxic for fear that she would repeat their mistakes.
Sometimes with Nate, it had felt like she had, but Lottie was convinced that the two of them were different.They didn’t have screaming matches or raise their voices in anger with one another.At worst, Nate pushed her away, but beneath all of his blustering, Lottie had always been able to tell that there was more to the story.She still didn’t have the complete picture, something that would normally drive her insane, but this time she was letting her insatiable need to know go hungry.Nate had let down his walls and was actually allowing her to help him, and he seemed to actually be enjoying her company, even seeking it out where before when he saw her coming, he would sometimes literally run the other way.
“Am I wrong, or does Nate seem different lately?”Willa addressing the group of women who met at least once a month for lunch had Lottie turning her attention back to them.“I mean, he’s always been professional and friendly, but the other day I mentioned missing Beck and he gave me the rest of the day off, telling me to go visit my husband and then get some rest.It was really nice.”
Lottie smiled indulgently at her pregnant friend.“That’s not anything different than what he would have done normally.Maybe it’s just the hormones making you see everything with rose colored glasses.”
Autumn shook her head as she put down her water glass.“No, Willa’s right.The other day he stopped into the shop and talked to me and the other owners about his idea for a new town square.He stayed for like half an hour listening to us before buying one of my vases.I’d never seen him before and now it’s been twice in one week.”
“Maybe he’s finally getting laid,” Nicole said.Lottie almost did a spit take of her orange juice at the words, Willa shooting her a knowing look before turning back to the group.“I know I am in a much better mood when I am well and truly satisfied.”
Parker smiled behind her club sandwich.“I am so glad my daughter is not around to hear this conversation.”She took a bite and chewed thoughtfully, a rouge curl falling out of her ponytail.“Now that you mention it though, Nate came by the other day to speak with Travis about something and there was definitely a bounce in his step that wasn’t there before.”
“Interesting,” Willa remarked, drawing out the word.She turned to Lottie who suddenly found the swirl on her marble rye toast incredibly fascinating.“You wouldn’t happen to know anything about why Nate’s in such a good mood, would you Lottie?”
Popping a strawberry into her mouth, Lottie shrugged.“You know me.I don’t like to gossip.”At the incredulous expressions of the women around her, she rolled her eyes.“Fine, that’s not entirely true, but I can only assume that Nate is in such a good mood because he’s finally making headway on one of his biggest campaign promises.”
“Something you just happen to be helping him with,” Willa added, a sly look on her face.
Lottie glared at her best friend.“That’s beside the point.”
Just because she was there to assist Nate like he’d asked didn’t have anything to do with why his eyes seemed lighter than before, why he looked less tired, and why when he smiled and his eyes crinkled, it was like someone had lassoed the sun and dragged it out from where it had been hiding behind the storm clouds.
Nicole tapped at her chin.“No, I don’t think it is.You two always have always had this sort of vibe between you, not so much will-they-won’t-they, but more like ‘when will they, and how far away should I stand because that shit is going to be explosive.’”
Lottie snorted.“We don’t have a vibe.”They definitely had a vibe, but it was confusing, even more than it used to be, and other people weighing in on it only made that worse.
“I don’t know about the vibe, but there is definitely something going on there.”Parker bit off the end of a pickle, the crunch snapping Lottie’s attention to the newest member of their friend group.The formerly single mom was as sweet as they come and the perfect match for the brooding apple farmer who’d stolen her heart.“I’ve been in town for less than five months and while I have never seen the two of you interact, the way Nate talks about you says a lot about how he feels.”
Now Lottie knew that they must be pulling her chain.“Yeah, he hates me.”At the confused expression on Parker’s face, Lottie continued.“I have heard from multiple reliable sources that Nate has always spoken ill of me in the past.He might be having some weird resurgence of kindness toward me, but that’s only because he needs my help.As soon as he gets his project approved, things will go back to normal.”
As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Lottie realized she’d given voice to her current number one fear.Nate would get what he wanted and go back to hating her.He was flirty and caring in a way she hadn’t seen from him since the end of high school, but just as he’d done back then, he would remember how he really felt about her and change his mind.
Autumn reached over and touched Lottie’s arm lightly.“I don’t think that’s the case.”At Lottie’s withering look, she rolled her eyes.“I mean, yes, I have heard him say things in the past that weren’t favorable, but it was the way he said it that makes me think you’re wrong about his feelings.”
Parker nodded adamantly.“Exactly.When he spoke, he sounded mad, but that never seemed directed at you.It almost seemed like he was mad at himself for some reason.”
Lottie felt her heart float up in her chest with the hope that what these other women were saying was true.“I think maybe we’re all seeing what we want to see.Everyone wants to believe in a happy ending, especially when they’ve already gotten theirs.”All four of the other women had met and fallen in love with a great guy, so it made sense they would want the same for their friend.
Willa smiled and bobbed her shoulder.“Maybe, but I also think the history between the two of you means more to him than you think it does.”
Lottie chuckled humorlessly.“What if we haven’t learned from our mistakes and are doomed to repeat them?What then?”For her part, Lottie knew she couldn’t exist in the cycle they had found themselves in for much longer than they had.At the end of her helping him, if he could no longer stand the sight of her, she would leave, get a fresh start in the same way her best friend had.
“Maybe in addition to learning from the past, you need to talk about it too,” Parker added sadly.“I know that telling Travis about mine helped him better understand me and vice versa when he talked about his.If you two address whatever there was between you back then, maybe you can come to an understanding of what you want things to look like between you now.”
Lottie gulped.She wanted Nate for her future and always had, but she couldn’tforcehim to love her.“When do you all get so wise?”she asked, her voice slightly watery.
Nicole chuckled.“Didn’t you know?They hand out bottles of sage advice along with those happy endings you mentioned.”
“Makes sense,” she chuckled.Looking around at the group she hoped she would someday be able to claim as her sisters-in-law, Lottie smiled.“Thanks, ladies.You guys are pretty amazing.”
Willa pulled Lottie into a side hug.“We know.”The rest of the table giggled and they went about their meal.
No more talk of Nate was had, but that didn’t stop Lottie from thinking about him any less.Later as she walked Willa back to work at Town Hall, she turned to her best friend with trepidation.“Do you really think Nathan and I have a shot at being together?”
Stopping at the front door to the large colonial building, Willa smiled at Lottie knowingly.“I’m certain that you do.You just have to get out of your own way, out of each other’s way a little, and let things happen naturally.”
Lottie snorted.“That’s easier said than done.We’ve always gotten in each other’s way.”More often than not it was Lottie putting herself in front of Nate wherever he went, wanting to gather and store every scrap of attention he was willing to throw at her.“I’m not sure I know how to let things happen naturally.”
