“How ‘bout we start with why you called us here today for this meetin’ of minds?” Mom begins.
I look to Aster, still not believing that she’s actually here. It’s strange, but then again, maybe a romance author will have a different perspective on what I see as my own epic second-chance romance.
“Or about your trip away? How was it?" Cora asks.
I let out the breath I didn’t realize I was holding. “It was good. We went furniture shoppin’ then played tourist for a bit, then Austin took me out to dinner.”
“Better not have been better than whatImake ya," Mom teases, bringing a smile to my lips just as one of her servers delivers a round of drinks—coffee for me and Mom, a shake for Cora, and a purple smoothie for Aster.
“No, Ma. I don’t think anythin’ in the world could ever top your cookin’ for me.”
“Nice save there, Char,” Cora replies.
“Very… diplomatic,” Aster adds.
Mom just beams. “That’s my girl. She’s not just book smart, she’slifesmart. Never put down your mother’s cookin’, and you’ll never go hungry.”
Cora leans forward. “It sounds wonderful. A night away together away from the ranch, and the family.”
“The interruptin’ animals,” I giggle. “But yeah, it was great. Wonderful even. That’s not the problem though.”
That gets everyone’s attention. “What happened?”
“He took me to Falls Pan and Grill? That was when it went downhill a little.”
Cora frowns, Aster’s brows lift and Mom's mouth drops open before she whistles through her teeth. "Damn. That man isn’t messin' around, is he?"
“I’ve never heard of that one. Is it nice?” Cora asks the other two women.
“Is it nice?” Mom scoffs. “It’s just one of the fanciest, most expensiveandeccentric restaurants in the state. Think fusion meets fusion and then some.”
"Wow. I'm impressed. That's one way to show you he's takin' this reunion seriously, right?” Cora replies. “He must really care about you.”
"Very thoughtful too," Aster adds, but her expression mirrors my own feelings.
“Yeah. But it’s nothimand it's notmeeither. Austin was uncomfortable and I could tell he felt completely out of place which mademefeel the same. I recognized a couple of the dishes on the menu, so I offered to order for the both of us which helped a bit."
Aster nods. "That's nice of you. Did he like the food?"
"Nope," I say, popping the p. "Neither did I. In the end, I suggested we go to a burger joint I saw down the street. That’s when we paid for the meal we didn't eat and left."
“Oh, my goodness,” Cora says, pursing her lips. “Was the burger at least good?”
“It was divine. But for the rest of the night and even the drive home, I could tell Austin was all in his head about the whole thing.”
"How has he been since you got back?" Aster asks after taking a sip of her smoothie. Now that I'm over my little fan girl moment, I really like her. She's just a normal woman just like me. And since I've read all about heranda lot of her books now, I feel like I almost know her. Like a pen-pal best friend… who didn’t know I existed until today… but I digress.
“He’s been fine. Normal even. He still texts me every mornin’ and when I’m workin’ and he replies whenever I message him. We’re startin’ work on the apartment bathroom this weekend too.”
“OK…” Aster replies, tilting her head. “So, what’s the problem?”
“The man is tryin' too hard," Mom grumbles, sounding almost…disappointed? “Dammit. I was hopin’ he’d keep his eyes on the prize.”
I turn and arch a brow. “Ma, what’s wrong?”
“What’swrongis that the man is fixin’ to make a mistake and that’s not how this is supposed to go. Right, Aster?”
Cora’s wide eyes dart from me to Aster to Mom. “Mags… we’re stayin’ out of it, remember?”
