After the lights were moved from the floor, they went outside and asked Ted and Cameron if they wanted anything from the diner. Phoebe jotted down their orders then they piled into Darla’s sedan.
Darla tapped on the steering wheel in an excited rhythm. “I’ve tried to be good, but I can’t take it. What’s the latest scoop on Mac and Deena?”
“I don’t know. I don’t keep tabs on them.” That was a lie, but she wouldn’t admit to the jealousy that ate her alive. She was embarrassed to admit she scanned the tabloids and popular websites for any information over the last few weeks.
“I’m not buying it.” Darla stopped for a deer crossing the road. “The man you’ve crushed on forever is dating a famous actress, and you’re not following the story?”
“Remember a few minutes ago when you didn’t want to talk about Ted, and I didn’t push it?”
“Okay, okay, I get it.”
“Here’s the thing.” She couldn’t help it—she had to get it off her chest. “I’m worried about Mac. He’s a great guy and not ugly by any definition, but it’s not normal for a celebrity to fall in love with an everyday person.”
“It’s more common than you’d think.” Of course, the celebrity-obsessed Darla would know.
“Even so, it doesn’t sit well with me. I can’t shake the feeling Deena has an ulterior motive.” Phoebe pulled a tube of lip balm from her purse and applied it, gaining relief right away.
“You’re one of my best friends, so please know I only say this out of love.” Darla pulled onto Jasper Lake’s main strip. “You have to let it go. Whatever Mac does is his business. He’s a grown man and makes his own decisions. I know you don’t want him hurt, but in this case, there’s nothing you can do, especially when all you have is a gut feeling.”
Her heart was heavy, and she sighed. “Mac said something similar and so did Trixie.”
“Then maybe we’re all right.” Parking in a spot at Tippy’s Diner, Darla placed a hand on her arm. “I know it’s hard to face, but you have to let him go for now.”
Waves of nausea crashed on her. “Can we go somewhere else to eat?”
“Why?”
She jutted her chin at the couple walking in the door. “They’re here.”
“We don’t have time to go outside of Jasper Lake, and you can’t hide from them.” Darla squeezed her hand. “You’re going to march in there with your head held high and enjoy your meal.”
“Can we compromise and get it to go?” She swallowed a lump in her throat. “I can’t do it. Not right now.”
Maybe not ever.
What Darla didn’t know was the conversation she’d had with Mac the night of the snowstorm. She’d opened her mouth too openly and shared opinions she should have kept to herself. The problem was, she didn’t realize it until the next morning when Mac kept his distance from her.
She’d messed up royally and didn’t know how to fix it. Nothing could sway her opinion that Deena was up to something, but everybody was right—without proof, it wasn’t her place to say anything.
“I changed my mind. Let’s go in.” Squaring her shoulders, Phoebe positioned herself for the assurance she lacked. She’d march in there, greet Mac and Deena, and treat them like gold. If she wanted to keep Mac as a friend, she’d have to make up for speaking out of turn and accept that whatever would be, would be. She only prayed his blinders would lift before Mac got in too deep.
Darla flashed a grin from her side of the car. “That’s my girl.”
Watching the door closely, she prayed for another party to arrive out of nowhere. She didn’t want to be directly behind Mac and Deena while they waited for a table. She needed a few minutes for her confidence to catch up with her determination.
“Are you coming? It’s cold.” Bundled in a heavy winter coat and scarf, Darla had her arms crossed and still shivered.
“Sorry, I spaced out.”Help me, Lord.
The diner had their heat on full blast. The warmth eased the sting on her cheeks. After such a cold first half to November, she hated to think about the winter months. She loved the cold, especially when it snowed, but subzero temperatures did nothing for her.
A small crowd waited to be seated. Phoebe added their names to the list and prayed the wait wasn’t the twenty minutes they’d been told. That’s what they got for coming at the height of the lunch hour.
Mac and Deena waited on two chairs to her left. Multiple pairs of eyes snuck glances at them, but the initial excitement of her presence had worn off. Mostly, the only people who approached her now were visitors to the town.
A teen girl approached Deena and shyly asked for an autograph. Deena took the notebook and asked the girl her name.
“Briley.”
