He tilted his head in confusion when, over his right shoulder, I saw a woman walking toward me, a smile on her face. Not just any woman—Tara McKinley, my best friend from high school. Like I’d mentioned to the bartender, I grew up here. And Tara and me were inseparable back then. She was pretty much my saving grace through a lot of shit. We’d both moved away after graduation and had kept in sporadic contact, but I hadn’t talked to her in months.
“Oh my god,” she said in both surprise and joy as she reached me. She was wearing jeans and a fitted graphic tee. Her blond hair was big and wavy. I stood and we came together in a hug. “You’re here.”
“You’rehere,” I said.
“I moved back,” she responded, still holding on to my arms as we talked.
“You did? When?”
“Like a year and a half ago.”
“Really? I didn’t realize.” Okay, maybe it had been longer than a few months since I’d talked to her. I felt guilty that I didn’t even know she had moved. That I was so wrapped up in my own things.
“I know. You’ve been busy with your restaurant, and I’ve been busy with the move and settling in. Sorry, I should’ve told you.”
Great, now I felt doubly guilty. She’d kept up with my life in the last eighteen months. Probably saw all the online posts about the grand opening.
“No, I should’ve asked. I’m glad to see you.”
“You too. Are you here for your mom?”
“You heard?” Of course she had. It was a pretty small town. There was probably a meal train started on Facebook.
“I did. Is she okay?”
“She will be.”
Her eyes traveled over my face and outfit. “Have you been in Los Angeles so long you forgot how to dress for a Clovis bar?”
“Long story,” I said. It really wasn’t a long story.My boyfriend dumped me five minutes ago.It was actually quite a short story. Regardless, I didn’t want to tell it.
“Sit down. We obviously have a lot to catch up on,” I said, turning toward my empty stool and pointing to the one next to it. I had some making up to do after not talking to her for so long.
“I’m actually here with my fiancé.” As if in slow motion, her hand reached out to Mr. Perfect. Behind him, Villain Pretty Boy had an openly smug smile on his face, seeming to enjoy the turn of events.
“Oh,” I said. My stomach gave a flip-flop, the alcohol not sitting well.
“This is Michael,” she said, her arm proudly around his shoulder.
“Right, good to meet you,” I said.
“Confess,” Michael said. “You planted her here.” He nodded toward me.
“What do you mean?” Tara took the seat I’d previously occupied and patted the one next to her.
I really should’ve just left. My mood wasn’t improving. Not even with the appearance of one of my favorite people. Why was I sitting down? Maybe because what waited for me at home was a grumpy mother, a caretaker I’d already paid the whole night for, and thoughts of how I’d been dumped in the coldest manner possible.
“She didn’t plant me here,” I said. “Our opinions about therapy are the right ones and therefore the same.”
Tara let out a loud sigh. “This? Again? I thought we had this settled.”
“We don’t. I have people on my side too.” He patted Villain Pretty Boy on the back.
“Yourbrother? Of course he’s on your side,” Tara said.
They were brothers? Not surprising.
“I made an appointment for Monday,” she said.
