Jade picked up the bottle of red polish she’d chosen and read the bottom label out loud, “I’m Not Really a Waitress,” and giggled. “Perfect,” she said. “Because it’s true—I’m an accountant.”
“Tell us your nail color name choice, Beryl.” Ivy sat between Jade and Beryl.
“I’m doing, Isn’t It Romantic pink on my toes,” she said. “And just clear on my fingernails.”
Ivy smiled. “Awesome choices.”
“How is Jake doing, by the way?” Jade asked.
“He is also an awesome choice,” Beryl said. She told them a condensed version of the past week and admitted that the pile of odd occurrences on top of his memory loss worried her.
“Could it be something from his past?” Ivy asked.
“Maybe. I just don’t know. Seems like he led a fairly quiet life before he lost his memory. But enough about me—who are you seeing, Jade?”
“I’m not seeing anyone, but I’m ever on the lookout. Someday, I’ll find my own Prince Charming.”
“Your turn, Ivy,” Beryl said.
She smiled. “I’m not seeing anyone, either, but I’m not really looking.”
“Why not?”
She hesitated then admitted, “I guess I can’t stop thinking about this guy from my past. He kind of set the bar high. While I know hoping for any kind of relationship with him is likely a useless endeavor, until I find someone as good as him, I will continue to pine. Do you think I’m foolish?”
“No,” Beryl said. “You’re not foolish.”
“I say that you simply know what you want and you’re willing to wait for it, Ivy. I say pine away for the right guy. I support you, my friend,” Jade said with a decisive nod.
Beryl thought about her own future. “I had to tell Jake that I’m probably not ever going to get married and that I hoped it wasn’t a dealbreaker for him.”
“Clearly, it’s not, because I know you have seen him every single day this week,” Jade said.
Beryl stared at her sister. “How?”
“Every single day this week?” Ivy asked at the exact same time in an exaggerated tone of shock.
Beryl felt her cheeks heat up. “I wanted to be as upfront as I could. He knows I was left at the altar, so he is very understanding about my misgivings and my unwillingness to commit to anything permanent.”
“That’s probably a dream scenario for most guys,” Ivy said.
“But not the guy you’re pining for,” Jade said. “I’m sure he pines for you as well.”
Ivy laughed. “I doubt it, but I wish that were true.”
“You never know. Stranger things have probably happened, right?”
“Maybe.”
Their conversation veered into other topics, but there was lots of laughter and Beryl had a ton of fun. It was nice to relax and giggle with her friends.
Still, she planned to leave early and meet Jake for dessert at the Cosmos Café.
Chapter Nineteen
Jake locked up the shop more than an hour later than he’d intended. It was a nice evening, so he decided to leave his truck parked behind the shop and walk to the Cosmos Café. If he was lucky, Beryl would join him there for dessert.
He was looking forward to trying the place out. It had been on his list for a while, but ordering in and spending time with Beryl had ruled his week. He was fine with that.
