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Deb cringed. “That’s what I’ve heard. It makes me wish there was another option. A parish school or a private school or something.”
“One of the hazards of a small town,” Tulsi said with a shrug. “At least we’ll all be in it together.”
“That’s true,” Deb said, lifting an arm to wave as the bus rumbled to life.
“Bye!” Tulsi called out, laughing as Clem made a silly face through the window before the bus pulled out onto the street. “That girl. What am I going to do without her for an entire week?”
“Start with getting a coffee with me?” Deb said, with a nervous laugh. “I have the morning off from the office. I know you have tons of friends, but even after a year and a half I haven’t quite found my tribe. If you know what I mean.”
“Of course, and I do,” Tulsi said, sympathizing immediately and feeling bad that she hadn’t been the one to reach out. “It can be so hard to make new friends once you’re a mom. We’re all so busy with work and—”
An alarm blared from her back pocket and Tulsi scrambled for her phone. “Sorry, it’s my friend Mia. I’ll just be a second.”
“No worries.” Deb smiled as Tulsi stepped away.
“You poor thing,” Mia said by way of greeting. “What a turd Clementine is! I can’t believe she ran off like that. Pike said you were white as a sheet when you came in the shop.”
“I was really scared,” Tulsi admitted, wondering what else Pike had said about her. “But we had a talk and I got her on the bus before it left. Hopefully, she’ll behave herself at camp.”
Mia snorted. “Well, we can always hope. I don’t think she can get into too much trouble, as long as they lock up all the archery equipment.”
“Oh, God,” Tulsi said, eyes squeezing shut. “Don’t say things like that, or I’m going to go chase down the bus.”
Mia laughed. “Don’t chase down the bus. This will be good for her. She’s going to have an amazing time at camp and you’ll have an amazing time with me. I was just filling Pike in on all the activities planned for the week. He’s really, really excited about them. I can tell.”
Tulsi made a noncommittal sound, wondering if Mia was being sarcastic, but too anxious that Pike might be listening in on the conversation to ask.
“You want to come over and have coffee with us?” Mia continued. “Sawyer already left for work, and Pike and I are just sitting around until I open the shop.”
“I would love to,” Tulsi lied. “But I’m having coffee with one of the other moms. But maybe you and I could meet up for lunch before my meeting? I’d love to pow-wow before I go to the Head Starts office.”
“Sure,” Mia said. “I was going to close up from twelve thirty to one, does that work?”
“That’s perfect. I’ll meet you at the diner for patty melts. My treat.”
“Do you want this to be just us?” Mia asked. “Or is it okay if I bring Pike along if he hasn’t found something important to do with himself by then?”
“I’d rather it be just you and me, if that’s okay,” Tulsi said, trying to keep her voice light. “I’m so nervous about the meeting, I don’t think I’m going to be very good company. I’d rather catch up with Pike when I’m not so stressed out.”
“That’s fine. He doesn’t look like he’s chomping at the bit to horn in on the girl talk anyway. See you at twelve thirty, and try to enjoy your day off, okay? You deserve some fun after how hard you’ve been working.”
“I’ll try. See you later.” Tulsi said her goodbyes and tucked her phone back into her jeans. After a brief debate on the virtues of quiche vs. eggs and bacon, she and Deb headed across the street to Tea for Two. Deb had decided on quiche, but Tulsi’s head was too busy swirling for her to care too much about breakfast. She couldn’t stop thinking about Pike’s easy smile—what it meant and if it even mattered.
Whether he hated her or wanted to be friends, did it make a difference? No matter how much the stupidly forgiving part of her would like to have Pike in her life again—even as a friend, no matter how painful that would be—there was too much at stake. She’d gotten lucky this morning, but if Pike and Clem spent too much time together, sooner or later her luck was going to run out.
And then her happy life in Lonesome Point, the safe, steady childhood she’d fought to give Clem, and everything that really mattered to Tulsi would be destroyed. And no friend was worth that kind of sacrifice. No matter what Pike felt or didn’t feel, Tulsi was going to continue to hold him at a distance. She had too much to lose to even think about a friendship—or anything else—with Pike Sherman.
CHAPTERFOUR
Pike
Pike was in trouble.Deep trouble.
Turned out being nice to Tulsi wasn’t nearly as hard as he’d thought it would be. In fact, a part of him had been thrilled to see her rush into the shop behind Clementine. It had been easy to smile at her, easier to tease her, and when their eyes had met, and he’d watched his steamier memories of their time together playing out behind her eyes…
All he’d wanted to do was pull her into his arms and kiss her until they brought the heat from their past surging into the present. It was obvious Tulsi still wanted him, and he wanted her so badly the only thing that had stopped him from taking her against the wall of his sister’s lingerie shop was the little girl standing between them. And Clementine would always be between them. Even if his cock could convince his brain that going to bed with Tulsi wasn’t dangerous, Pike couldn’t forget that there was a child involved. Tulsi was a mom, with a little girl who depended on her.
Watching Tulsi pet Clementine’s hair, as her daughter hugged her tight, had nearly been enough to break his heart all over again. Tulsi was never more beautiful than when she had that sweet, loving look in her eyes, and she obviously loved her daughter more than life itself.
