A place where— I shut it down.
Too soon. Way too soon.
We were not there. But the idea had rooted itself stubbornly in the back of my mind and refused to budge.
I was so wrapped in that thought and in watching her talk animatedly, hands gesturing, eyes bright, that I didn’t notice the entire conversation had stopped.
Until I looked up . . . and all three women were staring directly at me.
Belle smirked. Mel raised an eyebrow. Eleanor blinked. “Alex? You okay?”
Oh god.
I cleared my throat. “Yep. Totally fine. Just—uh—thinking.”
Mel snorted. “We noticed.”
Eleanor tilted her head, cheeks warming in the cutest way. “About what?”
Absolutely not. No way could I tell her the truth. I grabbed a pretzel like it was a lifeline.
“Nachos,” I blurted.
Three sets of eyebrows rose.
“Uh-huh,” Mel said slowly. “Sure.”
Belle whispered loudly behind her hand, “He’s lying.”
Eleanor bit her lip to hide a smile.
I was doomed.
Belle checked her phone and suddenly made a face. “Shoot. I need to get to work.”
Eleanor blinked. “Wait—work? Right now?”
Belle grinned like she’d been caught doing something mischievous. “Yep. Bookstore shift.”
Eleanor’s eyebrows shot up. “Just how many jobs do you have?”
Belle winked. “Enough to keep me from getting bored.”
Mel let out a short laugh, then her expression softened into something more serious. “How’s your dad?”
Belle’s face shifted instantly. The sparkle dimmed. Her shoulders tightened.
A weary sadness washed over her features in a way I’d never seen before.
“He’s . . . settling in,” she said quietly. “He hates it. Tells me every time I visit how much he hates being in there with all those ‘old people.’” She swallowed. “But it’s what’s best for him. He’s safe. They’re good with him.”
Mel reached out and squeezed Belle’s forearm gently.
Belle gave her a watery smile. “Anyway. Enough of that.” She slung her bag over her shoulder and gave me a quick salute. “Try not to let Mel bully you while I’m gone.”
Mel scoffed. “If I bully him, it's because he deserves it.”
Belle rolled her eyes affectionately and headed toward the door. “Bye, babies!” she called, waving dramatically as she disappeared into the sunlight.
