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ChapterThree
BRYCE
Istood in line at the counter at B&J Bistro, waiting to pay for the to-go orders of Pad Thai and Basil Stir Fry that I’d put in for the guys on B shift.
I saw Chrissy wave to someone behind me, and I turned. I shouldn’t have been surprised. I knew she was coming back to town. But I didn’t expect to run into Krystal quite so soon.
“How’s your mom doing?” I heard Chrissy ask. Chrissy owned the bistro with her husband, Todd Flynn. He was a volunteer for the department and had lived in Minden his whole life as well, which made it easy to connect with him. He was also the ringleader of the fantasy football league in the department.
The biggest difference between the two of us was that he’d ended up marrying his best friend. And mine had moved a thousand miles away.
“She’s glad to be home,” came Krystal’s response. “Thanks for asking.”
“Absolutely. Everybody has been praying, too.”
I listened to their conversation and decided it would be more awkward if I didn’t make myself known.
I turned and met Krystal’s eyes. “Hey, stranger. It’s good to see you.”
As I said the words, I figured I would be lying through my teeth. But I wasn’t.
It reallywasgood to see her. It had taken seeing her stunning green eyes and perfect smile in person to realize that I actually was at peace. I would probably never stop wondering what might have been. But I didn’t hold it against her. I wasn’t bitter or harboring a flame for her after all these years.
My smile widened when she startled. “Bryce. I didn’t realize that was you.”
I touched my finger to the rim of my ball cap and tipped it down. “My apologies, ma’am.”
She rolled her eyes. “You, of all people, don’t get to call me ma’am.”
I chuckled. “It really is good to see you. Your mom was so happy you were coming.”
Krystal smiled. “I’m glad to be here. She’s in rough shape, but the doctor said she’d be fine with time.”
“Yeah, Dylan said she was using some colorful language when they came to help her.”
Krystal’s jaw dropped and she laughed. “She did not!”
I opened my hands and shrugged. “Just saying what I heard. Apparently, the F-word was bandied about.” I kept my face solemn before expounding. “Fudgesicles isn’t a word to be used lightly.”
Krystal’s laughter grew. “You almost had me. Glad to know my mom hasn’t changedthatmuch.”
“Nah. She’s still the best.” It wasn’t hard to remember the afternoons in her kitchen, eating spoonfuls of cookie dough and working on our science homework together.
The silence settled over us, and I looked back toward the kitchen, searching for something to talk about. “So, you’ll be here for a couple of months?”
Wow. Wasn’t I the riveting conversationalist?
She nodded. “That’s the plan. Nothing back home was so demanding I couldn’t drop it for a bit.”
It was jarring to hear her refer to California as home. Another reminder that while I hadn’t left, she’d made a new life.
“I watched your last movie,” I said with a wink. Why did I wink? I wasn’t trying to flirt. Why was I making this awkward.
She raised her eyebrows. “You watchedA Nanny for Christmas?”
I raised my hands to show my innocence. “I was seeing someone, and she wanted to watch it.” Did I want Krystal to be jealous? Maybe a little. That probably made me petty. Too bad my story wasn’t true. The only women in my life were Monica and Mom. Mostly by choice.
Krystal nodded soberly. “I’m sure that’s the case.”
