She’s barely got both feet in the door, freezing in place when her eyes land on me.
My pulse betrays me, starting to bang within my chest like a gong. The room suddenly feels smaller, the temperature warmer. I try to act unaffected.
“Char!” Ellie shouts, beaming in surprise. It’s clear she had no idea her friend was coming to Sycamore Mountain.
Char blinks, the corners of her mouth lifting just enough to be polite. “Hi. I know I should’ve called. I hope it’s?—”
Ellie runs across to hug her friend. “Oh my gosh, you better not finish that sentence. You know you always have a place here. Always. My sister from another mister.”
She’s calm, cool. So composed I almost believe she doesn’t remember the night that’s been carved into my brain. It’s as if it’s merely a figment of my imagination.
I manage a nod. “Hey.”
She gives a faint smile in response before quickly looking away, walking with Ellie to look at paint colors like I’m invisible.
And maybe I am.
My head falls, the sting of dejection just as sharp and painful as the last time. Fuck this. I need to walk away once and for all. Just pretend that night never happened. I try to focus on Matt and his paint chips, but every time she moves, I catch a flash of her profile. The desire to take in everything about her is magnetic.
I dream of her every night, but now that she’s standing three feet away, I can’t think of a single thing to say that wouldn’t sound like begging. So, I keep quiet. Pretend to be unfazed. Not the obsessed sixteen-year-old girl I’ve turned in to. Wishing the tones to a fire call would suddenly erupt from our radios.
Because as much as I’ve yearned for her to return to me, and to Sycamore Mountain, right now, I’d prefer to be anywhere but here.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAR
Ellie’spractically vibrating with excitement, her smile so bright it could power the town’s Main Street. “I can’t get over what a great surprise this is! How long are you here for?” she asks sliding a glass of water in front of me before taking a seat.
I shrug, sliding onto one of the restaurant barstools. “Don’t know yet. I guess I’ve been doing the same thing for so long in Candy Cane Key, I needed to hit the pause button.” I grin, nudging her playfully. “And I miss you. I have friends back home, but it’s not the same.” My eyes hold hers as if she can somehow read my mind. “They’re not you. I’ve got enough saved for a bit. Thought I’d see if I could help you get ready for the arrival of your little ones.”
Her smile softens as she pulls me into a side hug. “Char, you have no idea how happy that makes me. But are you sure? You’ve got your salon.”
Slashing my hand through the air, I quickly change the subject. “I don’t want to impose or overstay my welcome,” I say quickly, feeling a pang of guilt for arriving uninvited. “I know I should’ve called?—”
Ellie cuts me off with a wave of her hand. “Stop. You’re family. Never forget it.” The wordfamilyniggles against something tender in my chest, and I nod before I can get too misty-eyed.
She leans her elbows on the counter. “So, how was your trip?”
“It was good.” I grin, twirling the pad of my fingertip around the rim of my water glass. “I really wanted to stop and tour St. Augustine. I’ve driven through the area several times now, and it looks like such a cool place.” I let out an exhausted sigh. “But honestly, once I arrived there, I just wanted to get here already.”
Well, that, and not wanting to do that alone with the threat of a killer on my heels.
“I stopped near Amelia Island again. My new fairy godmother, Betty, took me to an Oktoberfest celebration in the area. It was a hoot. She dressed me up in this traditional German getup she just happened to have at the ready.” I laugh thinking about it. It was a bit big, but she pulled in on the ribbons of that corset like a scene fromGone with the Wind. “It was this fantastic royal blue dress and sheer cream-colored apron over a white off the shoulder puffy sleeve V neck.” I retrieve my phone to show her the picture Betty took, the large beer truck at my back.
“Oh, how fun.”
“I honestly felt like I was in the old country.” I giggle. “We danced, drank German lagers, ate bratwurst and schnitzel, and gorged on pastries that could’ve sent me straight into a diabetic coma.”
Ellie grins, perching her cheek in her hand. “That sounds amazing.”
“It was! It was really cool. They had whole families arrive dressed in German attire, many of them dancing the night away. I think I slept better that night than I have in years.” I pause.Okay, not including the last night I spent in Sycamore Mountain.The visual floods back, uninvited. My eyes nervously flick over to where Dave is sitting, hoping he isn’t privy to this conversation.
Once we’d finally separated long enough to sleep, it was the most blissful night’s rest I’ve ever had. Between the way he completely wrung my body of every ounce of energy, then cocooned me in his delicious scent, his strong, warm body spooning mine. My cheeks heat at the memory.
“I could easily see you guys doing something like that here in Sycamore Mountain,” I blurt, desperate to redirect my own thoughts. “The Oktoberfest thing.”
“You know, that’s a fantastic idea. I could probably find some great German recipes, and you could braid everyone’s hair.”
