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“Okay,” I conceded. “Let’s get brunch.”
“And a mani/pedi.”
“And… that.”
She clapped her hands excitedly and I rummaged around for a sweatshirt to throw on over my T-shirt and leggings.
“Um, no,” Stephanie announced, considering my outfit. “This look is unacceptable for girls’ day.” She promptly started looking through the bags I’d yet to unpack for something more… wellmore.
Some things never changed.
Speaking of things that never changed, walking into the Blue Creek Diner was like opening up a time capsule. The smell of coffee, syrup, and fried food flooded my airways. My eyes fell to the booth in the back where I always met Luke. A guy was sitting there, working on his laptop, letting his omelet get cold.
I felt a catch in my throat. I tried to shrug it off, but it was intense.
This diner made me think of Luke. Maybe this whole town would.
“Come on,” Stephanie said, “let’s take that table by the window.”
I nodded and followed her, grateful that at this hour on a Monday, the place was pretty much deserted. Still, I half-expected Luke to walk in.
Fuck, the memory of sitting in the bed of his truck that night at the bonfire party was seared into my mind forever.
“Something to drink, honey?” the waitress asked.
I blinked in surprised as I realized who it was.
“Marnie?” I gawped.
It took her a second to recognize me, but when she did, she smiled wide.
“Large order of fries and two chocolate shakes to the couple in the back booth,” she said, just like she did ten years ago.
“I can’t believe you remember that.”
“You two were pretty memorable,” Marnie said with a warm laugh. “You know, he comes in here sometimes. Usually with his mom and sister for Sunday dinner.”
“That’s nice.”
“He took over his daddy’s construction business after Hank died. He’s doing real well with it too. They do good work.”
“I’m glad,” I said curtly.
“He’s divorced, you know,” Marnie continued, ignoring the fact that I was getting a little uncomfortable. “He and that Van Der Stratt girl didn’t last all that long. And I’m pretty sure he’s single again.”
“I’ll have a black coffee, please and thank you, Marnie,” I said.
Thankfully, she got the hint and stopped talking about Luke. I was pretty sure she was in a huff, but I didn’t care. I didn’t want to talk about Luke Kane. I spentyearsgetting over my feelings for him and I wasn’t going to fall back into old patterns.
“That was rude,” Stephanie pointed out once Marnie was out of earshot.
“Sorry.”
“And she’s not wrong about Luke. I mean, that marriage lasted less than a year.”
“I heard.”
“He’s had girlfriends here and there, but none of them stick around long. I mean, I think his last one was—”
