When he doesn’t remove his hand, I wring my arm away and head straight to the back.
CHAPTER 7
BLAKE
My stomach is in knots. Holding my ground around Brett is something I’m still getting used to, so after our conversation, I need a minute to compose myself.
I go over to say hello to the dishwasher, Frank.
Frank’s been working at Frostbite since the eighties, when this place was still run by Brett’s dad, before Brett’s dad became the mayor. Frank's usually listening to music, but today, the radio clipped to his belt is tuned to the local news station.
I prop my hip against the counter. “My mom used to put that station on every morning.”
He glances at me over his shoulder, his smile hidden beneath his thick white mustache. “They’re sayin’ there’s a storm comin’.”
“Really? The sky was clear when I got in ten minutes ago. Second week of November is too early for snow.”
He turns the water off and wipes his hands on a towel. “The weather’s been all over the place these past few winters.” Heturns up the volume on the radio so that I can hear the hosts talking about what’s supposedly the biggest winter storm in years heading our way.
I frown. “It wouldn’t be the first time they were wrong.” They better be. A big storm isn’t something my old Honda can handle. I haven’t even put on the tire chains I bought last week. I thought I still had plenty of time before the snow hit.
Frank shrugs. “Hope you’re right. I’ve gotta help Howie fix his roof this weekend, and that ain’t gonna happen if we get ten inches of snow like they’re talkin’ about.” He scans me up and down. “We miss ya around here. You been hidin’ from us.”
A fist appears around my heart. With the exception of Brett and Melissa, the people working at Frostbite Tavern are good people. I used to stick around after we wrapped up with the day shift and have a meal with everyone, but since the incident, I just go straight home.
I’m embarrassed.
In Darkwater Hollow, everyone knows everyone’s business, so what happened between Brett and me is public knowledge. Some people look at me with pity. Others with a smugness that implies they knew Brett and I would never work.
Most times, it just feels like the word IDIOT is a flashing neon sign right above my head, and everyone can see it.
“I’ve been busy,” I say. It’s not exactly a lie. I’ve spent the last few months doing all kinds of projects around the house so it’ll be easier to sell it.
Frank gives me a sad smile. “Got any plans for Thanksgiving? That friend of yours going to come ’round?”
“Del? Not this year.”
“What about your brother?”
I snort. “As always, Maxton’s busy in LA.” So busy, he didn’t even come back for Mom’s funeral. Del’s company in San Francisco had a retreat that same week, but Del got permission to skip it so that she could be here for me. All I got from Maxton was an apology text.
“Ain’t good to be alone for the holidays, sweetheart.”
“Who knows, maybe I’ll go to California to see them.”
We both know I can’t afford the flight, but Frank doesn’t call me out on my lie. He just pats me on the shoulder and says, “If Kate and me were hosting, I’d have ya over at ours, but we’re goin’ to Leslie’s this year.”
The pastor’s wife. The same woman who once tried to get me and Maxton kicked out of our middle school because she didn’t like having “those grimy Wolfe kids” in the same classroom as her sons.
I force a smile because I don’t want Frank feeling guilty when he has no reason to. “Sounds like it’ll be a fun evening.”
I go back to setting up for the lunch hour, and by noon, most of the dining room is filled. The radio hosts were right. The temperature’s dropped below freezing, and flurries are coming down outside. Everyone wants to warm up with some coffee and tea.
I’m occupied with the new espresso machine Brett bought a few weeks ago, churning out lattes, while Brit and Carly, the two servers working today, do their best to carry them to the tables fast enough.
By two, just when I think we’re past the worst of it, another wave of patrons floods the dining room.
“Where is everyone coming from?” I ask Brit when she comes by to grab some orders.
