“I know this whole thing is hard for you. I know it was hard on you back then, but you never really dealt with it.”
I feel the need to jump in. “I definitely did deal with it.”
“No, Jo left, and you immediately went off to school. You threw yourself into that. Then, you started dating, and you threw yourself into…other things.” She clears her throat before continuing. “After that, we lost your brother and your dad. You moved home, but you went right back to work. You have been able to push Jo to the back of your mind since she has been long gone. Now that she’s home, you’re going to have to finally deal with it.”
Maybe she has a point as much as I hate to admit it.
“Okay,” I huff out in a heavy sigh. “How exactly do you recommend I do that?”
“Well, for starters, you have to put on your big boy pants.”
“Ouch,” I whine.
“Sorry, but you going out and getting rip-roaring drunk and then falling into bed with Christie isn’t doing anyone any good.”
“How’d you know?”
“Honey, between you calling me, asking me to watch Mia and then showing up this morning still smelling like whiskey, it wasn’t hard to put together.”
“Right,” I mumble.
“Look, you need to make sure Jo doesn’t get under your skin. Even if she does, you can’t let her know that. You need to live your best life and let her regret all of her decisions. Make her think that you’re better off without her–because you are.”
Mom always liked Jo. Back in the day, she’d say she thought Jo had feelings for me, but she was in denial. When she left town, all the warm fuzzy feelings my mother had for her went right out the window.
She goes on, “You just keep doing what you were doing before that little woman got back into town.”
“I just can’t believe she said she wanted to be friends again.”
After another sip of coffee, she asks, “How do you feel about that?”
“Like I’m still pissed at her and confused as to why she left town in the first place. I’m not ready to be her friend.”
“Good. Just keep living your life the way you were, and you’ll be just fine.”
She says the words like they’re so simple.
If only that was the case.
Chapter thirteen
That's What She Said
Jo
“Alright, everyone. Listen up.” Jack quiets everyone in the shop.
I look around the break room that’s filled with the men who work here. I recognize them all from one time or another.
There’s Jack, Drew, and Dylan who are all family, so they need zero introduction. Then, there’s Jamie who is a little older than me but not by much. He’s always been a bit of a town ladies man.I’ve never partaken in any fun with him because he’s not really my type, but he’s cute enough.
Next, we have Adam–the one who I probably know the least about. I just know he’s worked at the shop for a while and went to high school with my brother.
And then, there’s Beau. He’s having a side conversation with Jamie, but occasionally, we make eye contact. He probably feels me staring at him. I can’t help it. It’s still hard for me to believe it’s the same Beau that I grew up with. And it’s not only his looks. True, those are very different too. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think he made a wish with a genie or something. He went from a shy, cute teenager to a practical model. My eyes look him up and down. How dare he look so good with his wide shoulders, thick arms, and perfectly messy hair.
There’s one other thing besides Beau’s looks that makes him remarkably different than the boy I once knew.
The way he looks at me.
