Page 66 of Sundown Somewhere

A knot forms in my gut, the noodles I’ve been chowing down on starting to churn. The last thing I need to do is borrow worry. But I can’t help it. Maybe it’s a symptom of having been recently left by the man who I thought loved me—regardless of how I felt about him—but there is a small voice in the back of my head reminding me that I might be on borrowed time.

And the more I think about it, the more I listen to that voice, the more distraught I become. Because I really do think that might be the end of me.

“Why would it go south?” Rose asks. “It’s you two. If there was ever a pair that was ready-made for forever, it’s you two. The whole town has been talking about it since we were kids.”

“I’m not exactly his type.”

Understatement number two of the evening…

“What world do you live in?” Margeaux asks.

“You haven’t lived here long enough to witness the very particular brand of svelte, dark-haired women Hux seems to find wherever we go.”

The rest of the table nods; they’ve all seen it too. There’s no denying it, in all the years that we’ve been going out, I can probably count on one hand the number of non-brunettes Hux has hit on.

“Maybe not. But I’ve been around long enough to see that in his eyes, when it comes to you, he would stop the world and spin it backward if that’s what it took to make you happy.”

“That he would,” Emily agrees.

“He was your man of honor for crying out loud,” Rose adds.

“And the bachelorette weekend? He didn’t blink when I told him the plans or cost. In fact, he asked if that was really all and was I sure I didn’t need more,” Alice tacks on.

Stop the world and spin it backward…

Margeaux’s words hit me, all of the things Hux has done over the years swirling around me. He may not be a man of many words, but he’s a doer. And he’s always been right there, doing whatever I need. Bringing me whatever fruit or nut Hayes had extra of for the diner. Fixing something without being asked. Attempting to bus tables or wash dishes when I’ve been shorthanded.

Silently telling me something I didn’t understand.

And just like that, I fall for him a little harder.

Not bothering to hide the ridiculous, shit-eating grin that’s taking over my face, I look up, ready to blab to my girls. To maybe give them a bit of an overshare that will send us into a fit of giggles for the rest of tonight. And into tomorrow when we all meet up for Drafts and Dig In.

Until I see who is walking in the door.

Jeff. With another woman.

I freeze, all the joy draining from me. My lungs burn, the inability to breathe taking over. Somehow, I thought the first time I saw him again I’d be fine. I’d be able to walk right past him and not be bothered. Apparently I lied to myself.

“Who is she?” Rose asks, just above a whisper.

“No idea,” I answer honestly.

Not me—that’s who she is. And frankly, he has a lot of nerve bringing her to my favorite restaurant. Something I should probably go tell him.

“He no with you?” Mrs. Ngo asks, appearing out of nowhere.

“Oh, um…no. We…we broke up,” I choke out the answer.

“You dump him?” she follows up.

I shake my head. “No. He dumped me. On our wedding day.”

Eyes going wide, she mutters something in her native language, shuffling off in a move that I couldn’t replicate if I tried. I look between my friends, trying to hold in the awkward laughter that is bubbling in me. I didn’t exactly plan to admit to Mrs. Ngo that I was jilted like that, but here we are. Guess that’s what I get for being a regular.

“What is she doing?” Emily mutters.

“Is she…” Alice murmurs, all of us turning to watch as Mrs. Ngo marches over to Jeff’s table with a large porcelain pot.