“Where are the sick kids now?” Tori asked the obvious question.
“My mom’s babysitting. Because she’s a fucking saint,” Beck said flatly.
Tori bit her lip to keep from laughing, but it slipped out anyway. Maisie laughed along with her. “Beck’s mom is so good to us.”
“Someday, you might understand. It’s all worth it,” Beck insisted.
I shrugged. “Maybe.”
After a little more casual conversation, they made their way up to get coffee. Tori took a slow swallow of her coffee before she studied me for a beat.
“Well, since we dove right into our trust baggage, what do you think about kids?”
“Kids?” I sputtered.
“Exactly,” she said dryly.
“Exactly what?” I prompted.
“I can’t imagine it. Too many variables.”
“Can I ask you a question?” When the moment stretched between us, I added, “I guess we’re covering all the territory now, and I’m not even sure why.”
“Well, because…” she rolled her eyes. “Shelly.” She scoffed and straightened in her chair. “What’s your question?”
“Do you ever imagine yourself settling down?” I had no clue why I was asking her this. None at all.
Tori narrowed her eyes slightly, her teeth worrying her bottom lip, which sent a sizzling jolt of electricity through me. Dude, you’re having a serious conversation. Don’t be lusting after this woman.
“I don’t know. Not really. I can’t imagine it. I don’t ever want to go through what my mom went through. You just never know what people are going to do. I loved my dad because you kind of can’t un-love somebody. But he really hurt my mom, and he really hurt me. He passed away, and I never really got over what happened.” She paused, her voice softening as she added, “He was like a pillar of the community, police officer and all that. People in town loved him. He was awesome as a dad. And yet, he was having an affair with my mom’s best friend for ten years. Most of my childhood, really.” She let out a sharp breath. “And, I still feel so stupid. Like I should’ve known somehow. Every now and then, I’d sense that there was tension between my parents, but I never really knew. I could not have imagined what he was doing.”
I nodded slowly. “I understand. That must’ve been awful.”
“What about you? Do you want to settle down?” she prompted.
The boomerang of my own question circled back to hit me with force. She hadn’t been pointed, but my own issues felt sharp around this. “Uh… maybe. But I don’t know. I don’t have a model for a relationship. It’s just always been me and my mom. My mom’s awesome. But a relationship’s never been high on my list. I’ll be fine, with or without one. I’m happy for people like Maisie and Beck, and whoever else finds that kind of connection and wants to do the happy family dance. My mom was pretty happy on her own. She still is, and my life is going okay.”
Tori nodded slowly, her gaze studying me quietly. After a moment, her lips quirked at the corners in a rueful smile. “I feel like we’re on a date. You know, like those dating apps where you check off all the questions. I don’t do those at all, but I tried a little bit in college, and I’m all set.” She shuddered a little.
I chuckled. “I’ve never tried a dating app. I’ve heard too many nightmares about them.”
I wanted to tell her that I wanted this to be a date.
But I didn’t.
Chapter Seven
Tori
The following evening, I hustled from one table to the other. With it being spring, the pace of tourists was beginning to flow faster into town. I spun through the night. I was pretty much on autopilot—reeling off the specials, serving the drinks, getting the food, all the while laughing and joking and collecting plenty of tips.
In a rush, I moved from a big family table to a small table facing the windows. I didn’t look up until I was standing by the table.
My eyes collided with Shelly’s gaze. The woman who smiled through family barbecues with us for years. The woman who used to swear my mom’s potato salad was the best. And, who, apparently, for a decade of those years, carried on an affair with my father. Here she was now. Maybe not happy—but here.
For a few extra seconds, I contemplated turning away and asking to have my section reassigned, but that meant making somewhat of a scene. Even though I knew it would be okay, that my boss would let it slide, I didn’t feel like going through with it.
So, with my face feeling like it was about to crack and shatter into pieces at the effort, I smiled. I swallowed through the cold tightness in my throat and chest. I was holding it together. Just barely.
