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“It should be just the extra space I need,” Chris explained. “And I can probably cover any renovation costs.”
Grampa sat back in his seat, thinking it over.
“No,” I said. “I’m not working in the same building as him.”
“Uh, ‘him’ is sitting right here,” Chris said.
“Sav,” Sean chastised. “Don’t be rude.”
“It’s just a small office space,” Chris said. “It’ll be low foot traffic, so it shouldn’t interfere with the bookstore at all.”
“I said no.” I pushed my chair back from the table, seething. The legs scraped loudly against the wooden floor, but I didn’t care.
I needed to get out of the room.
I stood and walked out, heading to the bathroom for some space.
Memories invaded my mind, bringing me back to the moment I hated to relive all those years ago. The night that changed us. After years of friendship, passing glances, and late-night phone calls, not to mention too many drinks, I was convinced I could seduce Chris that night.
Unfortunately, it didn’t go the way I had planned.
What had I been thinking? That he would actually be into me? Chris had a new beautiful woman hanging off his arm every week.
After our awkward night together, I had briefly considered pretending nothing happened between us, to go back to the way things were. And then I saw him with another woman at a restaurant in town. Just a few days after the night we had kissed, no less. I felt hurt and betrayed, shoved aside, and ignored, like I was a cheeseburger when he was only interested in prime rib.
There was no way I could face him again after that.
I ignored his attempts to call and text me. If I knew he’d be somewhere, I made a point to be somewhere else. I’d skipped plenty of get-togethers and nights out because I found out he’d been invited.
When I did sometimes run into him in the grocery store or around town, even if he said hello, I walked away without speaking. At first, he called after me and tried to get me to stop and talk. Eventually, he said things like, “Well, I see you’re busy, I won’t keepmadam,” and “tell the fire you’re rushing to I said hello” and other cheeky things he probably thought were cute.
He talked to me like he always had—teasing, flirty, sassy.
Like nothing had ever happened.
Even though he tried to pretend we were as close as we always had been, I ignored him. I had to. It hurt a little every time I saw him or was reminded of him in any way.
When I did respond to him, it always turned into an argument. I just wasn’t ready to be civil, I guess.
And one rejection was bad enough. I couldn’t take the risk of being his friend again, letting my guard down, and making a fool of myselftwice. So I’d promised myself I’d never be stupid enough to fall for Chris’s charm ever again.
I took a few deep breaths, wondering what the hell I would do if Grampa decided to sell Chris the space. There was no way I’d be able to keep that promise to myself with Chris working anywhere near me.
3
CHRIS
Guilt burnedthrough my veins as I leaned against the table. Everyone had grown quiet after Sav left the room. A few seconds later, Sean broke the silence.
“Well, that was awkward,” he said and shook his head. He glanced at me. “Sorry about her, man.”
“Give her a break,” Nicole said, touching his arm. “It means a lot to her.” She looked at Jackson. “She’s always talking about how to improve the store.”
Jackson nodded, scrubbing at his salt-and-pepper beard. “She cares and wants Sparks to flourish. She doesn’t want to give up.”
Sean sighed. “Yeah, I know. The bookstore means a lot to her.” He stood, grabbing his plate and Nicole’s. “We need to head home soon. Nicole’s on cafeteria duty for breakfast.”
He carried the plates into the kitchen as Nicole said goodbye. Sean thanked me again for coming. “Sorry about Sav. I don’t know what got into her.”
