Jerri, the owner, sashayed over to us. Surely, curious as to who this newbie in town was.
“You gonna introduce us to your cute friend here, Quinn-a-linn” she quoted playfully.
Jerri tossed her gray ponytail in the direction of Lucy as she pulled out her pen and pad to take our orders.
“I’m Lucy, her college roommate,” Lucy stated proudly. “From her Stanford days.”
She placed her elbows on the table and put her head on her interlinked hands, ready to dish it all out with a smile.
“That’s right. I forget our Quinn here went to that fancy university. She even had herself a fancy little gig out in Seattle for a bit. Didn’t you, Quinn? Least that’s what your mama told me anyways.” Jerri said.
I looked over at Lucy just as her smile disappeared, and she put her hands in her lap, trying to hide the hurt in her eyes.
“Yep.” I snapped. “Jer, can I have an Arnold palmer, please? And Lucy will have…” I looked at her expectantly.
“An Arnold Palmer sounds lovely,” Lucy said. Her smile returned, but this time it didn’t touch her eyes.
“Sweet or unsweet?” Jerri asked.
Lucy looked confused. “Sweet, please,” I answered for her, knowing she would enjoy the blend of iced tea and lemonade.
“Be back in a jif to take your food order,” Jerri said. She moved slowly towards the kitchen and called our drink orders to the kid working the bar.
It had been years since I last saw Lucy. We chatted here and there on social media. But when I left her brother’s company without so much as a goodbye—what can I say—things got awkward between us.
She loved her family and would do anything for them. I, on the other hand, couldn’t stand most members of the Myles clan. Especially that arrogant playboy of a brother of hers.
Lucy didn’t know the extent of what happened between us. And I wanted to keep it that way. So, it was safe to say we didn’t have a whole lot to talk about.
But we were best friends long before I knew her family, and when she messaged me that she’d be passing through town on her way to wine country—I couldn’t say no.
She never did anything wrong anyways.
“Oh, Quinn,” she sighed. Her red Dior lipstick made her pout look even more dramatic. “I wish we hadn’t waited so long to see each other. There’s so much we have to catch up on!”
“I know, and like I told you in our messages, you were never the reason I decided to leave Seattle.”
“Stupid Weston. I swear he ruins the best things. I’m sorry he treated you so badly. I should’ve known you wouldn’t enjoy working for him. All his assistants eventually leave and find a better life somewhere else.”
The mention of his name made my stomach drop.
Lucy didn’t know that working for Weston was the most complicated thing that had ever happened to me. That the balance of work and love and his possessiveness was too much. I forced a smile.
Again, not her fault.
“Well, you’re not wrong. I did find a better life.” I took her hand and squeezed it. Feeling a giant rock under my palm. I picked up her hand and brought it closer.
My jaw dropped.
Lucy opened her mouth in a big Julia Robert’s smile. Her eyes danced over my expression.
“Lucy, are you…”
“Yes!” she squealed, clapping her hands together. “And you’re not going to believe who it is!” she exclaimed, leaning in.
I sat stunned and unable to recall any man she had been seriously dating when we last saw each other.
“I honestly have no idea,” I told her.