“Who invited you to this conversation?”Odette asked.
“I didn’t know I needed an invitation.I’m sure he didn’t get one.You just forced your nosy ass into his business.”
Odette gasped.“Language.”
“I didn’t even fucking curse.”
Odette gasped louder, a look of absolute disgust and disbelief on her overly made-up face.“You’re a… a…”
“Come on, you can do it,” Albert said.“I’m an asshole.”
Odette’s mouth snapped shut, and I inched toward the door.“This has been great, but I am meeting someone.”
“Rose!”Odette exclaimed.“Are you going to win her back?Oh, that’s so romantic.I knew you wouldn’t let her go without a fight.”She patted my cheek like I was five.
“I’m not here to win her back.”
“Why not?”
“Because—”
“Leave the kid alone,” Albert barked, and for the first time in my life, I wanted to hug the town grump.
“Mind your business.”Odette pointed a red nail at him.
“I am.You’re the one who has some soap opera planned out in your head and thinks it’s going to play out in front of you.News flash.Life isn’t a damn soap opera, and people’s lives are not your entertainment.”
I stared at Albert, seeing the old bastard in a different light.He was the man who purposely slowed his tractor down to crawl on the main roads to piss off the tourists.He never had a nice thing to say to anyone.Yet here he was, defending me.
Was I in the Twilight Zone?What the hell was happening?
“Don’t you get tired of being a grump?”Odette asked Albert.I made another inch toward the door.
“No, it keeps me young.That and yelling at tourists who try to pet my chickens.”
“I hope one bites you.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time.”He shrugged, then turned his attention to me.“You going to stand there and melt into the sidewalk or get inside before she plans your wedding to someone else?”
My body froze.
Odette’s purse flew up and smacked Albert in the chest.
“What the hell was that for?”Albert demanded.
Odette’s gaze met mine, an understanding filling her eyes.She knew.She knew exactly why Rose and I broke up.How, I had no idea.But she knew.She stepped aside, letting me through.
I gave her a small nod of gratitude, and as I walked by, she grabbed my arm and gave it a squeeze.“A love like the two of you have doesn’t just disappear.”
Albert scoffed behind us.“For crying out loud!Let the man get his damn coffee before you quote Hallmark movies.”
“Language!”Odette exclaimed.
But I turned, a big smirk on my face.“What do you know about Hallmark movies, Albert?”
“Oh, for Pete's sake.”Albert swatted his hand at me.“Last time I help you out.”
With a laugh, I headed into Espresso Yourself.It was quiet this early.The low hum of the espresso machine, the soft clink of mugs, and the strong scent of roasted beans filled the air.I turned, surprised to see Albert right behind me.
