The winery hosts a few evening events in the summer and invites local food trucks to park out front so guests can drink wine and sample the different cuisines. Jose is always invited, and over the years he’s become a family friend.
I order my usual and then place an order for one of each taco.
“Big appetite today, huh?”
“Something like that,” I mumble.
While I wait for the order to be ready, I take a seat at one of the wooden picnic tables on the patio. If I had been paying attention, I would’ve noticed the guy with his head bowed and face hidden by a baseball cap seated right across from me. It’s not until I feel his stare that I realize who it is.
I knew I was going to run into Laura and Travis when I moved back. It wasn’t anifit was awhen. Red Mountain is small—there is no avoiding the inevitable.
You’d think I’d be ready, be mentally prepared, yet somehow I still feel caught off guard. Travis was like a brother to me, my best friend throughout childhood. He was at my house so often, sometimes it felt like he lived there. So of course, when Laura and I started dating, I wasn’t surprised at all they were close. In fact, I liked it. I liked that two of the most important people in my life were friends. Looking back on it, there were lots of signs, I was just too blind to see them.
Our eyes meet, and he starts to stand, obviously trying to leave.
“You can stay,” I tell him.
He pauses with his leg half swung over the bench, before reluctantly sitting back down.
“It’s not like I’m going to pick a fight with you in broad daylight.”
He nods and looks away as his Adam’s apple bobs in his throat. “I’ll leave as soon as my food is done.”
I don’t respond, instead I let the awkward silence buzz around us like an annoying fly.
He clears his throat and looks at me, opening his mouth a few times and then shutting it, as if he wants to speak but keeps stopping himself.
I shift in my seat, searching for something to break the silence. “I got the wedding invitation. Congratulations.” I’m surprised that came out sounding as sincere as it did.
The color drains from his face. “I didn’t realize she invited you. I’ve been letting her handle all that stuff. Sorry about that.”
The urge to laugh in his face is so strong I have to clench my fist. That’s the thing about Laura. She does what she wants, when she wants to. To hell with anyone else and their opinions.
He shakes his head, wearing the internal conversation going on in his head all over his face. “Seriously, man, I had no idea. I would’ve never…”
His words die, but I hear the rest. He would’ve never allowed it to happen had he known.
“Well, like I said, congratulations. I hope it works out for you guys.”
“Order for Travis,” Jose’s wife Marta yells out.
Travis stands and looks at me. “Heard you moved back.”
“Yep.” I don’t provide further explanation.
“Well, that’s good, man.” The palpable discomfort hangs heavy in the air between us. “So, uh, I guess I’ll see you around.”
“Yeah, see you.”
He grabs his food and quickly leaves.
That was worse than running into an ex, that was like running into someone who’s been exiled from your family. I guess at this point, all I can do is hope for the day it no longer feels weird to see him.
CHAPTER 10
Marisa
BEST I’VE EVER HAD
