The aroma of coffee wafting from the group of women had made his own mouth water, so he made the short walk over to Bitter Cold Coffee Bar to pick himself up a cup of joe. There, at the table closest to the door, was Anthony, a haughty look on his resting face that Spencer found himself wanting to physically erase. He didn’t know why he just couldn’t try to make peace with the guy. Honestly, if it was Spencer thatAnthony had wronged, he’d have a much easier time forgiving the transgressions. But he had always been protective of Clara, even when she did little to protect her own heart.
“Hey, Spencer.” Anthony lifted his mug toward Spencer the moment he stepped into the coffeehouse. “Nice to see you again.”
Then Anthony completely surprised Spencer when he kicked out a chair and nudged his chin. “Do you have some time to sit and catch up?”
Spencer wanted to say no, but he honestly had nowhere else to be. With a big sigh, he said, “Sure. Yeah. Just let me get my coffee ordered and I’ll join you.”
In that moment, he wished he had a complicated go-to order like the one his sister frequently purchased, because his black coffee came way too quickly. He needed more time to clear his thoughts and get in the right frame of mind, because he certainly wasn’t thinking straight when it came to Anthony, the article, and everything going on with Trinity. He was a jumbled mess of indecipherable emotion, and he didn’t like it.
“You saw the piece?” Anthony blew over the top of his mug, steam rising like smoky tendrils.
“I did.” Spencer lowered into the seat and placed his mug onto the table between them.
“And?”
“And I think it might do more damage than good.”
Head cocked, Anthony shot Spencer a quizzical look. “In what way?”
“Oh, come on, Anthony. You can’t be that oblivious. The picture?”
“There were a lot of pictures.”
Spencer pulled in sharp breath through his nose, his temper flaring. “Yeah, but we both know which one I’m referring to.”
“I’m not trying to play dumb here, Spencer. I honestly don’t know which image you’re talking about.”
This guy had to be kidding. “The one of me and Trinity?”
“Which one?”
“The one of us kissing?” Spencer’s voice was louder than he had intended it to be, and thankfully, the coffee grinder buzzing in the background smothered some of his frustration.
“Oh, yeah. That was a really sweet shot.”
“It wasn’t a sweet shot, Anthony. It was invasive and intrusive.”
Anthony scoffed and took a sip of his drink. “It was the smallest picture in the entire spread, Spencer. You’re acting like it was front page news.”
That was because, to him, it sure felt that way.
“I think the two of you are good together,” Anthony added.
Spencer honestly didn’t care what Anthony thought and was tempted to tell him that. But then he thought of his sister and the feelings she professed to still have for the guy, and he figured it best not to stir the pot more than he already had.
“Can I give you some advice, Spencer?”
He wasn’t sure he could stop Anthony even if he wanted to.
“No one is ever thinking about you as much as you’re thinking about yourself.” Anthony lifted his mug and tilted his head, emphasizing his words as if it were a profound revelation.
Spencer didn’t consider himself a prideful man. Truth be told, he rarely paid much attention to other’s opinions. But what hedidfocus on was Trinity, and her feelings on this matter were all he cared about.
He sat silently, unable to respond.
Anthony finally offered his perspective when it became clear Spencer wasn’t going to engage. “Let me put it this way,” he began. “Having been the subject of town gossip myself more than once, I’ve learned that while Snowdrift residents may havelong memories for wrongdoings and rumor, they also have a deep appreciation for love. I mean, we have the Sweetheart Soiree dedicated to it,” he said with a chuckle. “Sure, there might be some talk, but most people here celebrate stuff like this. And based on your article and the reactions I’ve seen so far, everyone seems to be rooting for you guys. You should start rooting for yourselves, too.”
CHAPTER 22
