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To me, Becky was a friend before she turned into my everything, but to Emmett, she was the sister he never had, and to say he was protective of her would be an understatement.
“You should feel lucky I didn’t break your nose instead, but Kate made me promise not to do it. Something about the wedding photos, apparently.”
“How lucky,” I mutter dryly as I straighten to my full height. “Besides, how is thismyfault? I wouldn’t even be here ifyou” — I jab my finger into his chest — “hadn’t invited me to come.”
“Well, you said you were going home!” Emmett protests. “I figured I’d stop by her place this morning and tell her. Although, seriously, why did I believe you? I have no idea.”
“Sorry to disappoint,” I say dryly. “Besides, you knew for the last few weeks that I was coming.”
Emmett lifts his hat off his head and runs his fingers through his hair. “Yeah, well, we both know how stubborn Becky can get. You can’t just come and talk to her about something if she sets her mind on not doing it. And trust me when I tell you, she doesnotwant to talk about you. I tried it.”
His words shouldn’t hurt, but they do.
I lift my hand, rubbing at the center of my chest. “I’m not surprised at all.”
At first, I kind of expected it. Waited for it even. Waited for Emmett to call me and rip me a new one from miles away for hurting his best friend. But the call never came, and even whenwe talked, he didn’t mention it. Not until I told him we broke up.
“It’s good to see you, man,” Emmett says, snapping me out of my thoughts as he pulls me into a one-armed hug.
I slap him over the shoulder. “Same.”
For all the bullshit that’s going on with Rebecca and my dad, I am glad to see my best friend. Our paths crossed barely a handful of times in the last couple of years, mainly when football brought us together.
“C’mon, let’s get to Letty’s. I’m sure you miss some good ol’ Letty’s special.”
My stomach growls loudly in confirmation.
Emmett chuckles. “I thought so, c’mon.”
The moment we step into Letty’s diner, all heads turn toward us, which, thankfully, isn’t that much since it’s the middle of the morning, and most people are out in the fields working.
“Well, look who decided to stop by,” Letty drawls out slowly, her accent thick as one of her eyebrows rises. “We all thought you forgot about us.”
Emmett nudges me with his elbow, and I glare at him before turning my attention to the older lady. Mrs. Letty has to be at least seventy at this point. Why she isn’t retired, only she knows; then again, she always seemed like the kind of woman they’d have to drag to the grave straight from here. This diner was her whole life and always has been.
“As if there is a chance I’d ever be able to forget about you, Mrs. Letty,” I say, flashing her my most charming smile. The one that earned me more than one extra muffin in my younger age, but this time, Mrs. Letty isn’t budging. She crosses her arms over her chest.
“So, there is a good reason why you haven’t visited your family in the last four years?”
Of course, she’d think it’s my fault; hell, they all thought I was the one to blame, that I wanted to stay away and did it out of spite or whatever. Nobody ever thought twice about why I might not want to come back.
“Things have just been busy.” I shrug, not wanting to go at it with her.
“Busy,” she repeats, the skepticism clear in her voice. “Well, boys, take a seat, and I’ll come grab your order in a jiff. Or, you know, four years.”
“Damn, maybe this wasn’t the best idea after all,” Emmett whispers as we turn around to find a place to sit. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Letty hold a grudge against somebody.”
“Why am I not surprised I might be the first?”
Spotting an empty booth in the back, I slide into the leather seat and let my gaze scan over the space. The place has hardly changed since I left four years ago. Same dark hardwood tables, the same red and white checkered tablecloths, and the same plastic menus.
“Did she get anything new?” I ask as I pull one menu and start looking at the selection.
Emmett scoffs. “Have you met Letty?”
“Stupid question.”
Nothing much changes around here. If it ain’t broken, why fix it?
