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I grab one of the muffins from the box and pop it into my mouth. The rich taste of dark chocolate mixed with cherries hits my tongue, and I groan loudly.
“Fuck, that’s good. Did you make it?”
“No, Becky brought those.”
I guess I should have figured that out. Rebeccawas always the one who was doing something in the kitchen. Usually, I was the one who she’d bring the first batch of whatever new treat she came up with. She always joked that it was because I had a strong stomach, but the reality was that I didn’t need a strong stomach. Everything that she prepared was just that good.
My thoughts run a hundred miles an hour as I polish off the rest of the muffin and dust off my palms.
“I guess I should let you guys rest.”
I push to my feet, but Kate’s soft question stops me in my tracks.
“Miguel?”
“Kitty,” Emmett tries to take her hand, but she brushes him off.
“No, Emmett, I have to say this.”
I look at her, my brow rising. “Say whatever you want to say.”
“I love you, but you hurt Becky one more time, and you’ll have to deal with me.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything different.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
REBECCA
“Hey, can you keep an eye on the café?” The door to the kitchen closes behind me as I glance at Jessica, who’s making an order for a customer. “I want to drop these off at school for Savannah. She was supposed to pick them up, but she forgot. I shouldn’t be too long.”
Since Savannah coached peewee football for the summer, she brought her team muffins every Friday so they could wrap the week up on a high note. It was really sweet, and I had so much fun decorating them differently each time, but today, she was nowhere to be found.
Jessica glances up as the machine buzzes, the smell of caffeine spreading through the room. “Yeah, sure.”
“Thanks.” Untying the apron around my waist, I eye the coffee pot. “But before that…”
I quickly make Sav’s favorite order, placing the lid on the to-go cup so it doesn’t spill. Coffee in one hand, the bag with goodies in the other, I jump into my truck that’s parked in the alley next to the café. It takes me a few tries, but the dumb thing finally comes to life.
I wave at a few people as I pull out of my parking spot and drive toward the school. Since there aren’t many students inBluebonnet, all grades are on the same campus, only in different buildings, with the athletic fields situated by the parking lot. My gaze falls on the high school football field. It’s a natural reaction. I’d spent countless hours of my childhood sitting on those bleachers as I watched Emmett and Miguel practice and play football. It didn’t matter if it was sunny or raining. If they were on the field, I was usually right there with them, a book in hand, cheering them on.
I expect the field to be empty, but just as I’m about to look away, my gaze zeros in on the lone figure jogging around the track. Almost on instinct, my foot lets off the gas, and the truck slows down. My fingers tighten around the steering wheel as the figure moves closer, the anticipation making my heart beat wildly in my chest.
Of course, it’s him.
Miguel.
Who else would it be?
I was seriously starting to question what the hell I did to deserve this much bad luck when it came to this man.
It shouldn’t be this hard to avoid him. Yes, Bluebonnet was small, but still. It felt like I was being punished for something.
He’s wearing a pair of basketball shorts and sneakers. A ball cap is propped on his head, but even so, I can see his hair curling around the brim, headphones covering his ears as he jogs under the bright morning sun. His skin glistens with sweat, making me wonder how long he’s been at it.
I sink my teeth into my lower lip. I know I should drive off, but I couldn’t force myself to look away.
It had been years since I last saw him work out or play. The day we broke up, I made a promise to myself to not seek him out. I blocked him on social media. I didn’t watch sports on television, not that I had time to do it anyway. I wouldn’t even have known he made it to the pros if I hadn’t heard it from thepeople in town, especially after his team made it to the playoffs last season.
