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Jimmy grinned. “Hey, Owen. Wow! It’s good to see you. It’s been too long.” He and Owen hung out every day during high school, but once Jimmy moved to Denver and Owen went into the service, they lost touch.
“It has,” Owen said and gave him a big hug. “What have you been doing? Are you here for long? We should hang out. Catch up. I want to hear everything. Are you married? Kids?”
Jimmy laughed while shaking his head. “Oh, no. Still single. I’m here helping out the folks. My dad just had a triple bypass, and my mom needed help while he’s recovering.”
“Wow. I’m sorry. How’s he doing?”
“Real good. So far, no complications and he’s been doing great with his physical therapy.”
“That good to hear, and it’s good to see you.”
“Thanks. It’s been nice to be back, see the town, the family, and everybody.” The words felt almost automatic as they fell off his lips, but he had to admit it had been nice to be home and see everyone again. Even with all the anxiety of the coffee shop, his dad’s illness, and Roni. He’d missed his friends.
Owen gestured toward Roni’s place across the street. “I was just heading over to Roni’s. Have you seen her yet?”
Jimmy nodded, wrinkling his nose, his eyes squeezing shut. “Yeah. It, uh, it didn’t go so well.”
“Really?” Owen looked surprised. “From what I’ve heard, she’s been dying to see you again.”
“Oh?” Jimmy’s stomach dropped. “I… uh.”
“What did you do?” Owen asked with a wide grin and a twinkle in his eyes.
Jimmy brushed a hand down his face. “You hear of Frankie’s?”
“That new coffee shop down at the Riverwalk? Yeah, Roni’s been fit to be tied over that place.”
“It’s my parents’ new business.”
Owen laughed out loud. “You’re kidding?”
“Yeah, Roni doesn’t want to see me right now.”
“Oh, that’s absurd. Come on, join me. We can catch up over a latte while I wait for Brianna. Roni will get over it. She never stays mad for long.”
Jimmy’s eyebrows rose. “You realize you’re putting yourself right in the line of fire?”
“Oh, yeah, but Roni is all bark and no bite. Come on, Brianna’s meeting me there to go out for dinner. I’m sure she’d love to see you.”
“Okay, but you’ve been warned, my friend.” Jimmy walked with Owen across the street toward Roni’s coffee shop. “So, you and Brianna are still together? I’d heard she left town and moved to Boston or something.”
“She did, but she came back to help her mom sell the house and that’s when I got my chance. I won her back, we got married, and bought the house ourselves. We’ve turned it into a wedding destination venue and Bread and Breakfast.”
Jimmy eyes widened in surprise. “You’re kidding? That’s fantastic.”
“Thanks. I have to admit life is really good.”
Jimmy was happy for him. A little jealous maybe, but thrilled. “Good job, buddy.”
“I heard you’re still living in Denver?” Owen said.
“I am, though I’ve been thinking of coming back.”
Owen grinned from ear to ear. “You should. That would be great! It would be just like old times.”
“It sure would.” Maybe that would be the best thing for him. It sure worked out well for Owen. He had his life together, knew exactly what he wanted, and where he was going. That’s what Jimmy wanted for himself.
“So what have you been doing for work?” Owen asked as they walked toward Roni’s.
