Harper: Drum and Quill at seven?
Annabelle: NO! We can’t go back there ever again. My place?
Caroline: Do not take my favorite bar away from me!
Harper: Explain why it’s a no to Drum and Quill!
Sawyer: Seven at Annie’s? Is that the plan?
Annabelle: I’ll explain here. And YES to seven at my place. Bring wine. Lots of wine.
Caroline: Is everything all right?
Annabelle: That’s what we have to figure out tonight.
* * *
“All right,Annie, spill. Why the S.O.S. texts and drinking session?” Harper asked as she took a seat on the couch next to me.
“That bartender is my farrier’s nephew.” I sighed hard and chugged from my wine glass.
“Okay…and? We need a little more context, sweetie.” Caroline refilled both of our glasses before leaning back in the leather armchair across from me.
“He was at the barn today with Mr. Handover, and he scheduled a private riding lesson with me in the morning because I refused to go on a date with him,” I explained further.
“I am still not seeing the problem here.” Sawyer giggled. “A sexy-as-hell man wants to spend time with you so badly he is offering topay youto do so?”
“Now I sound like a hooker, great!” I threw my hands in the air. “Oh my fuck, I can’t take his money. That would look so totally bad!”
I grabbed my phone, checking his reservation.
“Crap!” I exclaimed. “He prepaid online.”
“Just refund the money after he leaves tomorrow. It’ll be fine.” Harper was doing her best to calm my crazy down.
“I don’t want him to come here. I don’t want to see him, and I sure as shit do not want todatehim.” I shoved up and started pacing around the living room. “This is my home, the home I shared and built with my husband. There can’t be another man in this house.”
“He won’t be in the house. He’ll be in a barn,” Sawyer clarified.
“How is that better? Freddy built that damn barn for me. It’s a slap in the face to his memory.” I was spinning off the rails.
Caroline shot up and grabbed my shoulders. Shaking me, she stared into my eyes, which were welling up with tears. “Get a fucking grip, Annabelle. Fucking listen to yourself. Freddy is gone. We can’t change that, and for once in all of our lives, a man is chasing one of us. Think about that! When was the last time a man fought this hard to spend time with you?”
“Freddy did,” I answered, wiping my eyes.
“Exactly. I am not saying you have to marry the guy, but give him a damn chance. You owe it to yourself and to all of us. Do you think it’s been easy for us to watch you grieve and wallow all this time? I mean, Annie, it’s been years.” Caroline finally let go and helped me sit back down on the couch.
“Have I really been that bad?” I asked, glancing at my three best friends.
Harper rubbed my shoulder. “You’re not the same, Annie, and we want our friend back. We all loved Freddy. You know that. We’re not asking for you to forget about him, but there is room in your heart for someone else while still holding on to all the love you shared with him. Think about it—you’re not throwing Freddy away, and no one wants you to. We just want to not lose you too.”
“So, I have to see Waylon in the morning?” I held a throw pillow tight to my chest.
All three nodded.
“And I have to try to have a good time?”
All three nodded again.
