“I see.” He nods slowly. “I take it that it ended badly.”
“You could say that.”
“So then why are you working for him exactly?”
“No other option. I just moved back from New York. My parents wouldn’t let me stay with them unless I got a job. This was one of the only positions available that I was even remotely qualified for and that’s only because of my dad and the fact that I practically grew up at the docks. Plus, it’s temporary and, given that I’m still trying to figure out my next move, temporary is good.” I blow out a breath. “Sorry, you’re probably regretting asking me for coffee right about now.”
“Not at all.” Hair falls across his forehead when he shakes his head, and instinct has me wanting to reach out and push it back away from his face. I don’t, obviously. “I respect that you do what needs to be done, despite the fact that it puts you working for your ex.”
“I appreciate you saying so. I think most people assume I’ve officially lost it.”
“Well, I guess it’s a good thing I’m not most people.” His eyes crinkle at the edges.
“I guess so,” I agree.
“So is your plan to stay in Wren Cove?”
“It is. At least for now.”
“I’ve always wanted to visit New York. What’s it like there?” he asks instead of pushing for more information about Penn or our past and, truthfully, I appreciate that more than he knows.
“It’s incredible there. Some people think it’s too noisy and there are too many people, but that’s one of the things I loved most about it. Nothing compares to New York City. At least not for me.”
“So then why did you leave?”
“Have you seen the rent on a studio apartment in the city? It’s too expensive, I guess is what I’m trying to say.”
“I get that. Try living in LA. I spent two years there and paid more for a roach-filled apartment than I spend on my 2,000 square foot home with an acre of land here.”
“LA, huh?”
“My younger self thought he was going to be a famous actor one day. Needless to say, I couldn’t hack it.”
“Dancer.” I point inward at myself. “I wanted to dance for the New York Ballet.”
“No shit.”
“Guess you could say, I couldn’t hack it either.”
“Why do I have a hard time believing that? You don’t seem like the kind of woman who knows how to fail.”
“I appreciate that, but you don’t know me well enough to make such a bold statement. I can fail just as spectacularly as the next person. And I did.” I force a smile to cover how sad saying that makes me feel. “So you lived in LA. Where did you live before that?”
“I’m originally from a town not very dissimilar to Wren Cove. A little coastal town called Fayetteville. It’s about an hour north from here.”
“I’m familiar with Fayetteville. My mom used to take me to the mall in Jackson, and we’d always stop and eat in Fayetteville at this little pizzeria.”
“Petro’s Pizza.”
“That’s the one. How did you know?”
“There’s only one pizza place in Fayetteville. As I said, not too dissimilar from Wren Cove.”
“It used to be a lot quainter. I couldn’t believe how much things had changed as I was driving back into town that first day.”
“Unfortunately, that seems to be the theme these days. Small towns being overrun by major corporations. Sad to see, really.”
“Yes, it is. So what brings you to Wren Cove, Travis?”
