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I synced my phone with the car speakers and started my playlist. It was all old songs that I loved, and I hoped Alivia would like. Ironically, she’d heard me sing several of the songs at karaoke already.
When the first song started, I couldn’t sit still and started grooving in my seat and singing along. I glanced at Alivia to see her reaction, and she was just grinning.
“See how much fun I can be on a road trip? You’re going to want me on all your trips,” I said.
“We’ll see about that,” she said as I tried to hit a high note and completely missed on purpose.
She cringed and I laughed at her.
“Seriously, if you get annoyed, just tell me to stop. I’m not that sensitive,” I said.
Alivia nodded and merged onto the highway to take us out of Castleton. I realized I’d been stuck in this town for a long time. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d really gotten out and gone somewhere. Castleton tended to feel like an island unto itself sometimes.
* * *
Alivia took me to a cool little hipster place that had lavender lattes, but also had giant pancakes that were drenched in organic butter and local maple syrup. I got both, as well as some sausage and fresh strawberries with cream.
Alivia raised her eyebrows when I ordered, but I was so flipping hungry, I would definitely eat it all. She got crepes with lemon curd and coconut cream and bacon on the side.
The place was decorated with lots of reclaimed wood from barns, and pipes as bookshelves and rickety mismatched tables.
“I found this place a while ago and I’ve been coming here every time I go on my shopping trips. I know it’s a bit trendy, but the food is absolutely incredible.”
“Trendy is okay,” I said. “I’m also fine with being called basic.” I’d had worse things said about me before.
“Me too,” she said.
A message came through on her phone and she frowned as she responded to it.
“Work?” I asked.
“Always,” she said. “Callie is in charge today. She’s the one who runs the front desk and I keep telling her that she’s going to be fine on her own, but she needs to build up some confidence that she can handle what comes up. Takes practice.”
“Where else have you worked? This clearly isn’t the first inn you’ve managed.” She had the confidence of someone who wasn’t on their first rodeo.
“Well, I worked at one during high school and college. I had a mentor, Julia, that pretty much taught me everything I know. I miss her.” She looked down.
“What happened to her?” I asked gently.
“Oh, nothing. She just moved to Florida and I haven’t seen her in years. Been too busy to take a vacation and fly down.”
Phew. The way she looked, I thought Julia had died.
“You should go see her. Tell her what you’ve done with The Honeysuckle Inn. I’m sure she’d be so proud,” I said.
“Yeah, she would.”
Our food arrived and my order took up almost all the table space, and I was thrilled.
I started with the pancakes and demolished those before the sausage and ended with the strawberries. I tried to eat slowly, but my hunger overpowered my decorum. I was setting my fork on my empty plate and sipping down the last of my latte before Alivia had even finished her crepes.
“Sorry. I was really hungry,” I said by way of an apology.
“Don’t apologize for eating. I just got distracted watching you.”
I laughed. “I’m glad I could entertain you. How are your crepes?”
“Fantastic. Want a bite?” I nodded and she cut a bite for me, speared it on her fork and held it out for me to lean over.
