Page 50 of Then Came You

Chapter 17

Almost two weeks had gone by since Gillian had seen Sam. He hadn’t called, texted, or come into the coffee shop since their confrontation. In the meantime, she’d tried to go about her business as usual, but it felt like something vital was missing. She almost hated to admit it, but she missed him. She’d become used to seeing him at the shop, but also outside of it, and she felt the loss like a persistent ache.

She was convinced Cocoa felt it too. The dog accompanied her to the shop most days, but he paced a lot like he was waiting for Sam to show up with his pocket full of treats. She’d taken Cocoa to the dog park a few times to try and cheer him up, but it wasn’t as fun without Rocky and Sam there. She’d half-hoped they’d run into each other, but it hadn’t happened. It was like Sam had completely disappeared.

“That’s it,” Savannah said. It was Friday night, and the three of them were closing the shop. “We’re staging an intervention.”

“The three of us are going out tonight,” Lauren affirmed.

“I don’t need an intervention,” Gillian argued.

“We beg to differ. You’ve been moping around here for days, and something needs to change,” Savannah said.

“She’s right. We can’t stand to see you so down.”

Gillian had told them about the attempted break-in at her house, but she hadn’t shared what had happened afterward. She’d hoped they wouldn’t question her further, but Savannah and Lauren had noticed that Sam hadn’t been coming into the shop, and they’d come to their own conclusion.

“I won’t be very good company tonight. Why don’t you two go?”

Lauren shook her head. “You’re not getting out of this, Gill. We already reserved a table at River Rock.”

Gillian sighed. Maybe it would do her some good to go out with her friends. It might help take her mind off her problems, at least temporarily. “Okay. Fine. I’ll go.”

“Yay!” Lauren said.

“I should probably go home and change, though.”

“Oh no, you don’t. You’re going just like you are. If you go home, we’ll never get you back out,” Savannah said.

Since Gillian had taken Cocoa home earlier, she had no real reason to go home. “You’ve thought of everything, haven’t you?”

The women nodded, looking pleased with themselves.

Twenty minutes later, the three of them were seated at a table near the floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace at River Rock Bar and Grill. A fire was roaring in the grate, its flames flickering invitingly and taking away the chill. Fall had arrived in Michigan, and the temperatures had cooled drastically in the past couple of weeks.

Gillian sipped a beer and smiled at her friends.

“See? Wasn’t this a good idea?” Lauren said as she dug into the basket of chips and salsa in the center of the table.

Gillian nodded.

Then the waiter came over, and Savannah sat up straighter and flipped her silky blonde hair off her shoulder.

Here we go, thought Gillian, exchanging a knowing look with Lauren.

“Are you ladies ready to order?”

“There’s so much to choose from. What would you recommend?” Savannah tilted her head to the side and gave him her best smile.

The waiter didn’t even know it yet, but he was doomed. He smiled back at her, looking extremely pleased that she’d asked. Gillian and Lauren settled in to watch the show.

“Personally, I think the New York strip is the best thing on the menu. But that’s only if you like steak.”

“Oh, I do as long as it’s juicy.”

Gillian almost laughed at the way Savannah exaggerated the last word.

The waiter nodded solemnly. “It’s very tender, I promise.”