“I don’t know, Ruth, what’s the special at Captain’s tonight?”
Before she could unload another attempt at a motherly lecture, I pushed the door open and strode back onto Main Street.
It had been a particularly chilly year in Bluebell Cove, and the temperatures dropped even further as autumn arrived. Tourists milled through the shops and captured pictures of the ocean horizon, idyllically framed by the signature white oaks lining the road like sienna-and-amber clouds. Even though I spent so many years dreading coming back here, I couldn’t deny the classic allure of hot apple cider and Victorian architecture in the fall.
I almost regretted not throwing on a coat that morning. But that would ruin this outfit, and I had a reputation to maintain.
Weaving through a crowd headed for Captain’s, I marched up the sidewalk, traversing the cobblestones in my heeled boots with practiced accuracy. The brisk air nearly penetrated my wool sweater, but after seven winters in New York, I’d grown accustomed to suffering for the sake of style.
The bell above the door jingled as I pushed inside and sent Rachel, our resident barista, a brief greeting. I tapped my nail against my phone, sucking my teeth as the person in front of me hemmed and hawed over the menu.
The Morning Bell was like the cooler, younger counterpart of the diner. With worn, mismatched leather furniture, vintage art and news clippings lining the wall, it had the same energy as the movies about a long-gone Brooklyn. That was one thing about the Cove: nothing could rival it.
“Cortado?” Rachel chimed once it was my turn.
I sighed and nodded, pulling my wallet from my skirt pocket.
At our table by the window, I slung one leg over the other and tentatively sipped my drink. It didn’t take a genius to know why Georgie wanted to meet. Since I opened up to her about a month ago concerning the series of misfortunes that harassed my life lately, she didn’t let an opportunity slip by to ask about myfeelings.
She was my best friend, though, and even if her relentless optimism ground my gears on occasion, Georgie was better to me than anyone I’d met in New York.
As if on cue, she rushed into the cafe like a hurricane of color, the door nearly catching her fluttering green dress. After she got her drink from Rachel—I was pretty sure she kept a stock of pre-made extra-sweet white mochas somewhere just for Georgie—she slumped into the seat opposite me.
“Well,” she said, blue eyes sparkling. “I havenews.”
The knots in my stomach undid themselves. At least I’d survive another day avoiding the subject ofhim.
“Care to divulge?” I replied after she’d been silent for a while.
A blush swept across her cheeks as she pulled the sleeves of her cardigan down and dropped her chin in her hands. “Rhett told me that helovedme.”
I blinked at her. “Just now?”
Georgie rolled her eyes. “This might be one of those times you need to pretend for me.”
“Sorry, I just—” I threw a hand up and laughed. “Wasn’t it obvious? He’s only ever had eyes for you.”
She replied with what could only be described as a wistful noise.
I stared at her. “Wait, who’s at the shop?”
“Rhett.”
“The guy who just told you that he loves you?”
“Well I had to tellyou.” Georgie looked at me like I’d just declared the sky was purple.
No response could possibly rival that. Instead, I sipped my cortado and silently thanked Rhett for getting me off the hook.
“We should talk about the Fallfest, though.” She paused to take a long swig of her drink that was more sugar than coffee. “Since you just volunteered to help me again, and all.”
Right. Amidst the rest of the events that morning, I’d forgotten that very tiny, very crucial detail. The Fallfest was one of Bluebell Cove’s biggest events of the year, and normally, I’d jump at the chance to avoid my mother’s attempts at mothering. But it also happened to be the festival thathewas returning to cover.
“You know, ah—” I paused and wracked my brain. “About that…”
Whatever pathetic excuse I decided to rattle off died in my throat.
Because the bell chimed, and Teddy Bowman appeared, swept in like the tide.
