Page 42 of In Your Wake

“And I’m sure it’s not. Since he’s come back, he’s been everywhere I go. And I get he’d be at his parents’ place, but does he have to follow me to the inn? To the fucking cemetery? And of all times to visit my brother, it has to be at the same time I come visit you? It’s fucking shady.”

Celia’s eyes flicker over my shoulder, and I cringe. I’d forgotten her six-year-old daughter, Ella, was playing in her bedroom down the hall.

“Shoot, sorry.”

“It’s all right. I know you’re upset.”

“I am, but I shouldn’t be swearing like a trucker.”

She reaches for the plate of cookies on the table and tilts her chin to our coffee cups. “Why don’t we take this out back. That way, you won’t have to stare at his car all day.”

Guilt-stricken for letting Mitchell distract me from spending time with my friend, I follow behind her as we carry our snacks out to her back patio.

The afternoon is so calm and comfortable. The sun is out and shining, but the typical August humidity is creeping in. We cozy up on her outdoor couch, and I tuck my feet beneath me.

“I’m not one to pry, and we’ll drop it if you don’t want to talk about it,” Celia begins. “But I’d be a better friend if I had some context.”

“About Mitch?” I ask, as if I need to.

She purses her lips. “Seems to me something serious happened between the two of you.”

“To say the least.” I take a few sips of my coffee.

“If you’d rather not dredge up the past, we can talk about something else.”

“Like about you and my brother?” I offer and watch her cheeks darken. “I can’t believe I’ve been at your house for a whole thirty minutes and you haven’t given me all the sordid details about what happened yesterday.”

“It’s complicated.” She tucks her head, her blush getting darker. “I’m sure you don’t want to hear about all that.”

“Okay, maybe not all the details. But, for what it’s worth, I’m happy Hunter finally pulled his head out of his ass. You two are great together.”

Celia’s blue eyes light up with her smile. “And he’s a great guy.”

“One of the best.” I bite into a chocolate chip cookie and moan with delight, but feel her steady gaze. “What? You make good cookies.”

“I’m glad you like them.” She laughs. “I’m curious. Why do you hate Mitch so much when Hunter thinks the world of him?”

“Does he?” I ask, rolling my eyes.

“He does, but clearly Hunter’s not the best judge of character.”

I shake my head. “No, that’s not it. Let’s just say Hunter’s version of Mitch isn’t mine, that’s all.”

“That’s a shame.” Celia’s lips curve into a gentle, understanding smile that seems to absorb some of my hurt.

We drift into a pleasant silence, but I can tell her mind is buzzing with a thousand questions, drawing out my need to explain. Or maybe I’m simply desperate to pour my heart out to someone who won’t judge.

“He used to be a great guy. Way back when we were kids. He was as close to me as Hunter is.”

She smiles as if she’s experienced something similar before. “Let me guess, he became more?”

“Not exactly.” Now it’s my turn to blush, and I drop my gaze. “I was fourteen, and we started hanging out more, just the two of us. He’d stop by to see Hunter, but he’d be out, so he’d chill with me instead. He’d say he was bored and had nothing better to do, but I’m pretty sure he just wanted to watch rom-coms with me.”

I tuck some hair behind my ear, smiling. “If you ask him, he’ll swear Raiders of the Lost Ark is his favorite movie, but I know it’s actually When Harry Met Sally.”

The vivid memory of Mitch’s uncanny Billy Crystal impression sparks in my mind, and I reach for another cookie, eating my emotions without shame.

“Over time, we got close. There was nothing I couldn’t share with him. Well, almost nothing.” I frown, breaking the cookie in half and sweeping the crumbs off my lap. “The guys didn’t mind me hanging out with them, even though I was younger. I mean, Spencer always seemed to hate having me around, like I was infringing on their guy-fun, but Mitch insisted I stay. We’d spend our days at the beach, or go camping. I used to love camping.”