“Please.” I sound relieved because it means I won’t have to listen to Mary share her observations.
Harlow smiles politely at Mary in passing before joining me at the table. Harlow is married to Stone who owns part of the Dizzy Duck, and she’s also an author.
“I’ve been craving an orange roll since two am this morning,” she groans.
My face forms lines. “Two am?”
She tucks her light brown locks behind her ear then looks down at her belly. “This thing won’t let me sleep.”
I chuckle at her. “Thing. You mean baby?”
“Baby, thing, does it matter? I can’t sleep, and I still have another two months to go.”
“It’s a special time.” I raise a shoulder.
She waves me off and captures Mary’s attention then points to the orange rolls on display.
“So, how are you? I heard a special guest checked into the Dizzy Duck, only to check back out.” She flashes me a look.
That’s what I appreciate about my friends. They don’t treat me like I’m fragile. I’ve made it clear that I want to have normalcy in my life, and they follow my lead; hence, why shecan tease me about a fact that shouldn’t be funny at all. Yet, if I were in her shoes, I would do the same.
“I’m surprised the mayor hasn’t put up a billboard yet to welcome Nash back. But yes, he rolled into town and now apparently gets a key to my house, too.” I take a long sip of my coffee.
Harlow’s eyes bug out. “Why?”
“It’s Zac’s wish to have his brother move in for six weeks.”
“Huh, he didn’t talk about this at all before he passed?”
I shake my head. “No. Don’t think he would have, actually. From what I gather, it’s a sort of brotherly tribal thing, you know, step in when the other cannot. I’m just surprised that Zac would think I need a protector.”
She taps her flawless manicured olive-green nails on the table. “I mean, you all used to be friends, right?”
I huff a sound. “Something like that…”
A friendship too far, perhaps.
So many things where I should have put my foot down, but I didn’t, especially three years ago, and recalling it still brings mixed emotions.
I nearly tumble onto the chair at Catch 22, the restaurant on the lake that’s half casual and half sophisticated. I’m late.
“So, so, soooo sorry.” I’m panting after hurrying from my car to here where Zac is waiting. “There was a family of ducks crossing the road, and you know how I get. Have to stop for ducks. I mean, who doesn’t in Lake Spark? Did you hear that there is a coyote that’s been rampaging through people’s garbage at night?”
He smiles wryly as I ramble, and he waits patiently for me to stop. When I set my purse on the empty chair at the table, he takes it as his cue to speak. “You are a noble citizen. Andwe all had the extra section on our drivers test in regard to stopping for Lake Spark wildlife.”
I smile brightly. “See?” I grab the glass of water and take a quick sip. “I’m happy you picked this place for our weekly brunch. I want to try the new chicken salad.”
That’s us. We see one another on a regular basis. One another’s ride-or-die.
“I’m going to head right into it. I have to ask you something.”
His sentence grabs my attention. “Shoot. What’s up?”
Zac swipes his fingers across his jaw as he hesitates. “You and Nash.”
I nearly spit out the ice cube in my mouth as my body freezes. His name gives me this reaction every single time, yet I attempt to be unaffected.
“What about him?” The room feels cold. “If this is about Nash living in his own world, then just, you know, let it go, or you can reach out. I’m sure you both will renew your brotherly bond.”
