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She stared at him for a long moment. “You know what? You’re on. I’m going to kick your butt.”
“Bring it!” he said with a grin, loving the fire he’d just ignited in her heart. He could see it all over her face as she flashed him a sassy smile and slammed the door. He watched until she was safely inside her coffee shop, then drove home. He would make things right with her. It was important to him because she was important to him.
He thought back over the night. She’d seemed genuinely confused about what he’d said. Maybe she was right; maybe it was nothing. If only he’d had the courage to say something back then, maybe he would have learned he’d made a mistake. That it had been a huge misunderstanding.
And maybe he’d have even come back then.
He wasn’t sure. All he knew now was that he had a really good time tonight. He liked being around Roni, and it was so good to see Owen and Brianna. They were all working hard to make their dreams come true and helping each other do it. He couldn't help but wonder if that might be possible for him too.
Could he step back into his old life and pick up where he left it?
Was it possible that with the help of his friends and this community, he might be able to make his art career work out right here in Pineville?
The thought had his heart soaring, along with the possibility of a chance that he and Roni could rekindle what they once had.
Could they? Should they? Or had they already had their chance?
It hadn't ended well last time, but they were young.
If you want it bad enough, you can make it work.The words whispered through his mind.
Did he want it bad enough?
Did he want her bad enough?
He couldn’t make any decisions until he could answer that question.
CHAPTER9
Jimmy parked in front of his parents’ house and went inside. His mom was still up finishing the last of the dishes and cleaning the kitchen. Fatigue deepened the lines around her eyes as she smiled up at him. She'd had a long day. He was thankful he was home right now, if for no other reason than to help her.
“Everything okay?” he asked. “How’s Dad?”
“Grumpy.”
He smiled. “That’s a good sign, isn’t it?”
She nodded as tenderness filled her eyes and softened her expression. “It is. I went downtown today to see what all the fuss was about and visited Roni’s coffee shop.”
Uh-oh. He tensed, waiting for her to launch into everything that was wrong with Roni’s place, starting with Spooky hanging out on his cat tree behind the counter.
“It took me back to when you were in high school. Your dad loved that place. We used to go there all the time.”
“You did?” He didn’t expect to hear that.
She closed the dishwasher. “We did. We always ended our date nights there. I like what Roni’s done with the place. She’s made it her own but didn’t lose the welcoming, friendly atmosphere it used to have. I’d like to add some of that to our place. It feels… I don’t know… sterile in comparison.”
“Mom, Frankie’s place is great,” he assured her.
She smiled. “Thanks. Do you want some tea?"
"Nah, water is good.” He filled up a glass from the refrigerator dispenser, took a long drink, and then set the glass down on the counter and sat on a barstool. “The place used to be her grandmother's. She and her mom worked there while Roni and her sister were growing up. When her grandmother died right after Roni’s graduation, her mom needed her to stay and help. That’s why she couldn’t go to college with me in Denver. She stayed here and started working full-time at the shop.”
"Oh, I'm sorry. I remember when that happened. That was around the time your dad and I sold the house and moved down here by the river. We didn’t go back downtown much after that. Does her mom still work there?”
“No. Apparently, she got married and moved to Virginia. It’s just Roni now. She thinks of running Coffee Corner as a tribute to her grandmother's legacy."
His mom's eyes filled with understanding as she nodded her head. "I can see that. That’s really sweet.”
