“Yeah, well, you know I’m not ready to date. I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready.” Kelsey stood, clearing their table. “Besides, Davis is my best friend. That would be weird.”
Even though things felt weird between them already. She would be a liar if she didn’t admit that she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Davis stripping off the tank top, how solid his bare chest appeared underneath the florescent lighting, his steady hands as they worked at fixing the pipe. Friends certainly didn’t look at one another like that; their eyes devouring every inch of each other.
“I’ll try not to be offended by you calling Davis your best friend.” Isabella winked, standing alongside Kelsey.
Kelsey waved her off. “You know what I mean, you’re my friend and he’s my best guy friend. But if you wanna stay that way, you better not spread gossip around and encourage the Pineridge rumor mill,” Kelsey teased as she hurried to the aid of her children.
She hoped her face didn’t deceive her by giving away her secrets. Lord knew this town would have a hay day with this one. Before her business became Pineridge’s most juicy gossip once again, she needed to make sure it was at least worth it. Until then, she didn’t trust speaking about her feelings for Davis in public.
Maybe she should try making sense of them first.
* * *
Sittingin her minivan parked outside her in-law’s house, Kelsey needed a minute to gather her thoughts. June and Zach unbuckled their seatbelts and Zach entertained Charlotte with a game of peekaboo. It wasn’t like she was about to ask the O’Henrys for money for herself. It was for the bar, to keep it in the family, and open to Pineridge locals who had come to love it.
During her marriage to Ricky, she’d never been privy to her in-law’s finances so she couldn’t be certain they could afford to help her. But based on the knowledge she did have, and the part of town they lived in, the only new housing development to exist in Pineridge, she held onto hope. If they couldn’t afford to buy back O’Henry’s, maybe they would at least be willing to pay off the loans she owed. Because she was quickly running out of time.
Finally climbing out, Kelsey opened the back door and unbuckled Charlotte from her car seat. “C’mon, little one. Time to put on a happy face for your grandparents.” She held her to her hip and kissed her on the cheek. Charlotte squealed in delight.
“Grandma said we get to make Halloween cookies today,” Zach said as he stomped up the driveway in his rain boots.
“I wanna eat cookies,” June said.
“That sounds fun.” Kelsey tried to sound upbeat, but her nerves were threatening to make way to a full-blown panic attack.
After knocking, Mr. O’Henry opened the door and smiled wide behind a thick red mustache. “Hey, kids,” he greeted as each of them stepped inside. “Hi, Kelsey. How’ve you been?”
“I’m good. Staying busy, as usual.”
He put his hands out to Charlotte and she clung to Kelsey’s shirt.
“Aw, maybe you’ll have better luck with Grandma,” Mr. O’Henry said.
Kelsey felt bad that Charlotte was so particular. But if they didn’t want to have a crying baby all night, he might as well not even bother. She hoped he’d be patient and Charlotte would come around soon.
Mrs. O’Henry entered the foyer dressed in a fancy pantsuit and pearls. “Children, we’re so glad you’re here. Boy, are we going to have fun.”
Kelsey’s phone rang from the back pocket of her jeans, and it caused her to jump. “Sorry.”
“Come to Grandma, Charlotte.” Mrs. O’Henry put out her hands and even though the baby hesitated for a moment, she did lean into her grandma.
After handing Charlotte to Mrs. O’Henry, Kelsey slid her phone out, frowning when she saw Julian’s name on the screen. “Please excuse me,” she said before accepting the call and stepping away from her in-laws and children. “Hey, Julian, what’s up?”
“Sorry to bother you, Kelsey, but the delivery guy for Tapp’s just showed up and unloaded the new kegs we ordered and then loaded them right back up again.”
“What?” she hissed into the phone, interrupting him.
“He said something about our payment not going through.”
She pinched her eyes shut and threw her head back as she sighed into the phone. “Is he still there?”
“Yeah, for now. I’m trying to stall him, but I don’t think I can for much longer.” He paused. “Kelsey, is everything okay?”
No, everything was not okay.
“Please just keep trying to stall him. I’ll be right there.”
She ended the call and chewed her bottom lip.
