AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Charli turned her attention back to him and smiled. “Thank you.”
“There’s something familiar about this place.” Finn scanned the room, eyes squinted in focus.
Her stomach flipped. “You remember it?”
His forehead scrunched in concentration before he shook his head. “You know how you run into someone and you swear you know them from somewhere, but you aren’t sure where?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s what this feels like.”
“We came here a lot. It was a tradition for us. We celebrated our engagement here and then every anniversary after that.”
“Every one? Doesn’t seem so creative.”
She smiled. “You used to say if it isn’t broke—”
“Don’t fix it,” he finished as their eyes met.
Was it coming back to him?
“My dad used to say that all the time. Guess I got that from him.”
She swallowed her disappointment.
“Why are you on the VIP list here?” he asked.
She glanced at the menu as she answered. “Frank Bianchi’s daughter got into a situation one time at The Shipwreck. I noticed she needed an out. That’s actually why we created the Angel shot.”
His eyebrows rose in question.
“It’s plastered all over the women’s bathroom at the bar. If they feel they are in an uncomfortable situation and need help getting out of it, they order the Angel shot. You give them water and order them a cab, while getting security to intervene if necessary—to get her away from the guy usually.”
“Oh, that’s cool.”
“You also served with Frank’s son, Frank Junior. You guys are—or were—friends.”
Finn nodded. He opened his mouth as if to say something and then closed it before looking out the window.
“Andre and Mikel told me to let you know that when you feel up to it, they’d love another set of hands working on Atlas’s renovation. After that they are moving to work on Jasmine’s place.”
“Mikel and Andre started that business after all?” He chuckled.
“Yes. And Jasmine opened The Lighthouse Inn down the road.”
“Damn. It’s really cool to see how much everyone’s accomplished.” He knocked his knuckles on the wooden surface of the table.
“They are happy.”
“Are you?” His voice wavered.
“Am I . . . happy?”
“Were you . . . before . . . before my accident?”
She focused on the setting sun as she answered. Memories of their laughter spilled into her mind, bleeding from her heart. “Yes. I mean, our life wasn’t perfect. We had struggles like any other couple. But . . . I was excited for you to get out of the Army. I felt like we were ready to start the next phase of our life.” She placed her hand over her belly. “I was very happy.”
Charli turned back to him, his brown eyes full of emotions that he’d never reveal. Sadness, grief, guilt, and others she had no name for.
