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She frowned. “No thanks.”
I didn’t know what else to say, so I thumbed toward my house. “I should go.”
“Yeah, you do that.”
The vulnerability in her eyes when she’d opened the door was gone now, shuttered over with anger and sadness.
“I hope we can be friends,” I said.
Josie opened the front door in response. I guess I should’ve been grateful she stopped shy of telling me not to let it hit me on the ass on the way out. She didn’t speak again until I was out on the porch.
“We can’t be friends. I don’t like cowards. Goodbye, Fox.”
CHAPTER 33
Pity Party
Josie
“Hey, Josie.”
I forced a smile and pushed my sunglasses farther up my nose. “Hi, Bernadette.”
The next day, I’d debated going to the grocery store to pick up a container of coffee instead of stopping by Rita’s when I realized I’d run out. Now I was kicking myself that I hadn’t.
She pointed behind her. “You heading to the Beanery?”
“I am.” She had a brown apron tied around her waist, so I figured she was working at her sister’s place. “Are you helping Rita out today?”
“I opened for her. She’s the class mom at her kids’ school and went for some bake sale this morning. But she’s back now, so I’m going to Bettina’s for some lunch. You up for joining? Bettina made chicken pot pie, so there’s plenty.”
“Thank you for the offer, but I have a lot to do today.”
“Another time, then?”
“Sure.”
“Saw Fox last week when I went to pick up Opal from work. Her car was in the shop for new brakes.” Bernadette shook her head. “The woman drives for a month after hearing the sound of metal on metal, yet is surprised when she needs her rotors shaved down every time. Anyway, I went into the office because I was a few minutes early, and Fox was there. The mansmiledat me. You know how long it’s been since I saw that man’s smile? I wasn’t sure he even had teeth anymore.”
I guess word hadn’t gotten around that he’d dumped me yet—not surprising since Fox hated everyone knowing his business. But I wasn’t about to ignite a gossip fire. Plus, if I had to say the words out loud, I’d probably wind up crying again. It was bad enough that I had to hide behind dark sunglasses today because my eyes were so puffy. Luckily, my phone rang, giving me a perfectly timed excuse. I pulled it out of my purse and held it up as evidence without even checking the screen to see who it was.
“Sorry, Bernadette. I need to answer. I’ve been waiting for this call. But it was nice seeing you.”
“You too. Enjoy the weather today.”
I pushed the Ignore button, yet brought the phone to my ear as I walked away, waving. “Hello?” Once there was enough distance between Bernadette and me, I stopped pretending I’d answered and lowered my phone again. A few strides later, it beeped, letting me know I had a message. There was also a second message from a call I must’ve missed while I was in the shower earlier. I pressed play as I walked the rest of the block to the coffee shop.
“Hi. This message is for Josie Preston. My name is Florence Halloran, and I’m calling from Rehnquist University. We received your resume for the adjunct professor position, and I was calling to set up an interview.”
My heart sank. I’d completely forgotten I’d submitted an application online. It felt like so long ago, but it had only been four or five days. Yet so much had changed. Should I bother to call the woman back? Would I even consider staying in Laurel Lake now? I really liked it here. Life was simpler, and the pace was nothing like New York. And I’d made a lot of friends—not many my own age, but I was sure I’d meet plenty of younger people if I got the job at Rehnquist. I felt a true connection here—to nature, to the community, to my dad. The only thing people in Manhattan were connected to were their phones. ButcouldI stay here and see Fox next door every day? The thought of pulling into my driveway while he walked another woman into his house after a date made me feel sick.
Oh God. Imagine if I heard them going at it through an open window?
The rest of the message from the woman at Rehnquist had finished playing, though I didn’t absorb it because I’d been too lost in thought. But it didn’t matter what she’d said since I wasn’t in the right headspace to make a decision about calling her back, so I kept the message, scrolled to the next one, and hit play.
“Hi, Josie. This is Lauren Cahill from HR at Kolax and Hahm. I sent you an email the other day to confirm you’ll be returning on the tenth, at the conclusion of your medical leave. I didn’t hear back, so I thought I’d check in. Please give me a call when you have time. Two-one-two—”
I swiped up to stop the message as I arrived at the front door of Rita’s. Everyone seemed to want a decision from me today, but I’d be lucky if I could pick the coffee I wanted. I tossed my phone back in my purse and decided to concentrate on that first. Caffeine would make facing the day easier.
