“Look at you leaning on that car like some kind of model.”
Van grinned as Becca walked toward her. Tanner’s sister was wearing a sleeveless blouse and a black skirt, her dark hair twisted into a messy knot.
“Hey. What are you doing here? I thought you worked at the distillery.”
“I do.” Becca held up a piece of paper. “I’ve been sent on a lunch run. Because my boss is an asshole and thinks I’m his assistant.” She rolled her eyes. “On the plus side, it means I can enjoy the sun instead of being cooped up inside. And if it takes Murphy an hour to make up the order?” She shrugged. “I guess they’ll have to deal with that.”
Van couldn’t help but laugh at Becca’s expression. It was somewhere between disgust and satisfaction. “Well enjoy the break. I’d recommend sitting outside while he makes up the order.”
“I might just do that.” Becca winked. “Thanks.” She pulled her lip between her teeth, her brow dipping as though she was thinking about whether to speak. “So, it was good to see you on Sunday.”
“It was good to see you, too. Thanks for spending so much time with Zoe. She enjoyed it.”
“You and Tanner seemed close.” Becca shifted her feet awkwardly. “It was nice… seeing you talk again like old times.” She looked up at Van. “Do you think you two can be friends again?” she asked.
Van felt her chest tighten. “Yeah,” she said, nodding. “I think we can.” Even if part of her yearned for more.
“Do you have a boyfriend?”
Van started to laugh. She couldn’t help it. Becca was so damn obvious. “No, I don’t.”
“Nor does Tanner.” Becca frowned at her own words. “I mean he doesn’t have a girlfriend,” she added. “You’re both single. That’s interesting.”
“Is it?” Van chuckled.
“Yeah. Why are you laughing?”
“I don’t know,” Van said, swallowing hard. “It just struck me as funny. That’s all.”
“I just think it would be nice if you two… I don’t know… maybe thought about dating or something. I always thought you would when we were younger. You two look good together. And that would make you my sister.” Becca grinned. “I’d like that a lot.”
“We’re just friends, Becca. That’s all.” Van’s voice was soft. She’d always had a soft spot for the younger girl.
Becca nodded, her hopeful expression dissolving. “I guess I should go get this food.”
“Sure. I’ll see you around.”
Giving her a half-smile, Becca said her goodbyes and walked into the diner. When Kim emerged from the doctor’s office ten minutes later, Van was sitting in her car, the windows down, listening to soft music playing on the local country radio station.
“Well that was a waste of time,” Kim said, sitting down and slamming the door. “He won’t up my dose of happy pills. Not unless I agree to go to AA.” She shook her head. “I told him I’m not an alcoholic. I just like a drink occasionally.”
Van let out a lungful of air. “You drink most nights.”
“Yeah, to take off the edge. Maybe if he upped my dose I wouldn’t need to.” Kim shook her head as Van pulled away and drove toward home. “I told him it’s just temporary. To get me over losing Craig. And then he started talking about therapy.” She huffed. “Like I need therapy.”
“Everybody could benefit from therapy,” Van murmured, her knuckles tight as she turned the wheel.
“I’m not crazy. I’ve just been left by my husband.” Kim leaned her chin on her hand, staring out of the passenger window. The air was rushing through the gap at the top. “I don’t know why I bother.”
“Because you want to feel better?” Van suggested.
“Yeah. Well now I feel worse.” Kim slumped down. “I think I’ll go to bed when we get home. I’m exhausted.”
“You do that,” Van said, her teeth clenched as she pulled the car into the driveway and put it in park.
Two steps forward and one back. At least her mom had gotten dressed today. But the way she swung between moods made Van feel distinctly uneasy. In so many ways, it felt like she was eighteen again.
Her mom was drinking and volatile, the same way she’d been before she got pregnant with Zoe.
And then there was Tanner.
He was gorgeous, unforgettable, and made her heart skip way too many beats.
She was almost certain she was going to take the job at the drive-in.
And it felt like Van’s world was tipping on the edge, out of reach no matter how hard she tried to hold onto it. If she’d let herself think about it for too long, she’d be scared to death.
As soon as he saw her his body tensed up. Not in a bad way, just a ‘damn, I’m a goner, and I really don’t want her to know it’ fashion. Van was walking toward him, her golden hair rippling in waves as the afternoon sun hit it, her bare legs tan and lithe from all the running she did. She was wearing a dark blue dress, belted at her slim waist, a few buttons at the top unfastened so he could see the dip between her neck and her chest.
“I got you a latte,” he said, passing her a takeout cup. “I hope that’s okay.”
“It’s perfect.” She smiled at him, her red painted lips curling up. “Thank you.” She lifted it to her mouth, closing her eyes for a moment as she took a sip, then let out a long, deep sigh. “Oh, you don’t know how much I needed this,” she said, looking up at him through her dark lashes.
He swallowed hard, even though his coffee remained untouched. Did she know what she sounded like when she sighed?
Like sex.
Shut up.
Was his mind really arguing with itself right now?
“Bad day?” he asked, as they walked out of the square and crossed the road. One of his aunt’s friends was scrubbing the steps of the First Baptist Church. He lifted a hand in greeting, and she waved back.
“Something like that.” She inhaled deeply. “But I’m feeling better now. Thank you.”
“I didn’t do anything.” He shrugged. “But I’ll take your gratitude anyway. “ He winked. “If you’ll take my job.”
“Okay.”
He blinked. Her sudden acceptance shocked him. “Seriously?”
“Yeah.” She nodded. “I need a job if I’m staying around a while.”
“I had this whole speech memorized.” He grinned at her. “I was prepared to beg you. I’m kinda disappointed now.”
She pouted. “So am I. You want to do it anyway?”
He laughed. “Nope. Not when you’re such a pushover.”
“Shut up. And I haven’t told you my terms yet.” Her voice was almost cocky. He loved confident Van.
Loved? What the heck?
“I accept them,” he said smoothly, ignoring the thoughts whirring through his brain.
“Stop it!” Her bottom lip dropped open. “What if I told you I wanted to be paid a million dollars and have half the shares in the company?”
“I’d tell you that you’re underselling yourself.” They turned the corner, walking past the big houses that led to the creek. “You might have to wait a while for the million though. Until we’re turning a profit.”