Keely sighs. “I want twins someday. I hope they both get Sam’s eyes and my hair.”
I chew the inside of my lip and busy myself organizing our brown paper shopping bags to avoid eye contact with her. My skin overheats despite the breezy morning and our tent shielding us from the sun.
Rosie nods. “I didn’t know you two were back together.”
Keely waves a hand. “It’s not quiteofficialyet. He’s grieving his grandfather, as you know. I’m giving him the space he needs to heal. But he asked me to come over today, so we’ll be picking things up where we left off soon. In fact, I stopped by here to bring him some things to snack on. Can I get a jar of your salsa, extra hot? And four scones with a jar of honey butter.”
“Of course. I know Mr. Seymour’s death has been rough on him. Duke has been going over there every day to check in.”
Keely’s face tightens. “Yes, well, he’s bringing liquor and beer with him every single time, keeping Sam in a constant state of inebriation.”
Rosie shrugs. “Duke certainly has his own methods.” She packs up the last of the scones, placing them in a separate bag from the salsa.
I force my lips to curve into a smile. “Your total is forty-five dollars and thirty-one cents.”
Keely hands me her credit card with her manicured French tip stiletto nails. “Oh wow. Been digging in that garden?” She taps the acrylics on the plastic table. “I can’t imagine. I don’t feel put together without a manicure.”
I look down at my nails, realizing they do look a little grimy with dirt trapped under them. I usually keep them clean, but I had to dig through the garden for a few more jalapeños so Rosie could finish the salsa this morning. Once I’m done charging her card, I hand it back to her.
“Emailed receipt okay?”
She nods, picking up the bags. She tosses her long hair over her shoulder, and I note that not only is her hair smooth and shiny, but her makeup is flawless, and her lash extensions look so good that only women can tell they’re not real. She’s taller than me by at least four inches, and it’s all in her legs, making her steps look elegant and graceful.
“Thanks, girls. You’re the best!” She saunters off with her model walk.
I shrink down to sit on the ice chest we hauled the salsa in.
“Oh, honey, I’m so sorry.” Rosie pulls me close, tucking my hair behind my ear. “I hate that you’re still hung up on him. We need to find you someone else, a new man to crush on.”
Tears well up in my eyes. “I just need to get over it. If they’re getting back together, he’s definitely not going to give me the time of day.”
I never told Rosie what happened at Sam’s house a few days ago with the coffee cake. We haven’t had any time alone without either Holden or Duke around until today. Now I’m too embarrassed to voice it.
Since she and Holden moved into their own house on the ranch a half mile away from the main one, we don’t get to see each other every day. She’s busy with the twins, and I’ve been hard at work on my cookbook and baking for the market today. I was going to tell her this morning, but after the run-in with Keely, I’ll just keep it to myself and wallow in self-pity.
“I don’t get why she always has to say rude shit to me. Why point out my nails?”
Rosie shakes her head. “I’ve always wondered that. She only does it to you, never me. She’s so nice to me.”
I grind my teeth together. “I don’t know what he sees in her.”
The vision of her blond hair shining in the sun filters through my mind. If I’m being honest with myself, I know exactly what he sees in her. He sees a gorgeous, polished model. She was the captain of the cheer team in high school, and they were theitcouple their senior year. I was a nerdy junior and so obsessed with Sam that I couldn’t even go to football games and watch them kiss after every win without crying about it from the bleachers.
Rosie rubs my back before walking over to greet our next customers. She’s the only one who’s always known about my crush on Sam. I have liked other guys from time to time in the last ten years.
I tried to move on with an older guy, Rosie’s uncle Cain. It was a very brief fling that ended up with me getting sexually assaulted, Cain getting murdered, Holden going to prison, and a whole dramatic slew of events that I still blame myself for. Rosie and Holden ended up falling in love because of it all, so at least it had a happy ending—for them.
Cain Dixon was the last man I attempted to date in an effort to get over Sam Seymour, and it nearly destroyed my entire life.
FIVE YEARS EARLIER
Cain squeezes my hand as we walk down toward the river. The sun is setting behind the trees. My belly is full of butterflies as I look up at him. He’s so handsome. Even though he’s twelve years older than me, I can see us making it work. I like older men.
Especially when they don’t treat me like I’m invisible.
With four scary older brothers, most guys treat me like I have a disease.
“It’s a nice night, ain’t it?” He wraps his arm around my waist.
