She’s pregnant and glowing and newly engaged to Beau Walker. I ignore the twinge of jealousy because I want to be happy for my friend.
I’m not much of a drinker, but I might indulge tonight. “Thank you. Let’s get our dinner set up, and then I’ll tell you what happened.”
Once we get the casserole dishes out, I put several mugs on the table. “Help yourselves to each soup, or if you’re just in the mood for one, that’s fine too. After dinner, I’ll give everyone recipe cards, and we can jot down the recipes for the dishes we enjoyed.”
Baylee points to my chair. “Sit. Take a load off, and I’ll serve you. I’m gonna get you started with my mom’s chicken tortilla soup. I’ll admit I cheated and let her make it, but her food is always better than mine for some reason.”
When she hands me a mug full of steaming soup, I close my eyes and breathe in the fragrant spices. “I already know this is going to be delicious.”
After we dig in, I tell them my sob story about my fall and Vance selling the building.
Baylee’s eyes narrow. “That slimeball. I knew he was trouble the second I spotted him at my wedding.”
I shrug, feeling awkward. My three friends are with Walker brothers, and I don’t want to sound like I’m disparaging one of them. “He’s, uh, I think he’s friends with Jace. I overheard them talking.”
“Hmm.” Baylee watches me for a hot minute. “What’s that look?”
I lean back. “What look?”
She motions to my face. “That one.” Her brow lifts. “Dish, girl. If Jace said something dumb, we have your back. I love my brother-in-law, but I’ve never let him get away with being an asshole.”
Fortunately, since the wedding, I’ve been able to avoid him. Out of sight, out of mind.
His friend is another story.
I rest my forehead in my hands and sigh. “Seriously, it was nothing.” I don’t want to start any drama. To my horror, my eyes sting, and I sniffle. “But today, Vance said I’ve always looked like a mouse, but sitting in a puddle, I looked like a drowned rat. Then he took a photo because he thought it was hilarious.”
My friends voice outrage and conspire to get even, brainstorming an array of methods, including leaving an open can of tuna under his back seat. It makes me feel a little better.
I’m actually smiling by the time they leave. I feel lucky to have made some friends in a new town.
I guess I can’t say I’m new to Wild Heart anymore. I’ve lived here for a few years, but I still feel like the newcomer. I was so busy finishing my degree and trying to make ends meet when I first moved here, I didn’t have time to socialize, not that I’m particularly good at that.
But Baylee, Paige, and Honey showed up tonight with casserole dishes, wine, and righteous indignation on my behalf. Maybe that’s what makes a place home. Not how long you’ve been there, but who shows up when you fall in a puddle.
3
RORY
When my alarm rings,I roll over to turn it off, but my whole body screams in protest.
It all comes rushing back to me—falling in the pothole, having Vance witness my humiliation, getting evicted.
Ducking under the covers, I squeeze my eyes shut, hoping I can start this day over. It took me ages to find this apartment. It’s small, but it’s clean and it’s mine.
At least, it was.
Will I be able to find something I can afford in a month? Something near work? Because my car isn’t the most reliable, but I love my mom’s old Volkswagen Beetle, and I’m never replacing my sweet Bluebell. So I made a point to find a place close to the library to ensure I’d never be late.
My phone rings on my bedside table. My dad.
I slump back in bed and fling my arm over my face. The ringing stops and starts again.
Would he be this persistent if I was the one getting married and Taylor refused to attend?
The third time it starts ringing, I give in. Maybe it’s an emergency. “Hi, Dad. How are you?”
“I’d be better if you’d agree to come to your sister’s wedding.”
