The drive to her place only took a short time. I got out and walked her to her front door.
“So,” she said, that crafty smile still on her lips. “Care to come up?”
“As much as I’d like to, I can’t. I have another early conference call tomorrow, and after those margaritas, I’m thinking I ought to get a good night’s sleep.”
“Oh, boo,” she said, playfully slapping me on the chest. “We’ll just have to make up for it this Saturday.”
“You know we will. Want to plan on the afternoon so we can get your dress situation sorted out?”
“Sounds like a plan.”
I moved in and we kissed slowly and deeply, and I felt myself being lost in it just like I always was.
She pulled away gently, smiling. “You taste like salsa.”
I grinned. One more kiss and I was off, giving her a wave over my shoulder as I got into my car, waiting for her to go inside before I took off.
Annie
Friday, the night before the big Christmas party, and I was at Apres Ski with Bethany. Mom and Dad were taking care of Parker for the night so she and I could have some fun.
The sun was setting behind the western mountains, great beams of light rising up from behind them as the sun sank. We were seated near the window, and the place was bustling. Rather than looking at the amazing view, however, I kept glancing out of the corners of my eyes.
“Come on,” Bethany said with an understanding smile. “If he was here, we would’ve seen him by now.”
I shook my head as I glanced down into my coffee, wrapping my hands around the warm mug. “I’m being paranoid, but I can’t help it. After what Gia said about Andrew being here the other day, I’m not taking any chances.”
“Makes sense,” Bethany agreed after taking a long sip of her own drink, one of those Frappuccino slushy things. “But it’s not like he’s going to pop up from behind a table and surprise you.”
“I wouldn’t put it past him,” I replied snidely. “I mean, it’d be just my luck, right? I move to another city to get away from him and he shows up in my coffee shop. White Pines was supposed to be my refuge, you know?”
“And what if he did see you?” she asked. “Would it be that bad? I’m sure it’d be awkward, but you could handle it.”
“I just don’t ever want to see him again, not after what he did,” I confided. “Andrew sliced me out of his life, and that’s how we’re going to leave it. White Pines is all about starting fresh. Running into your ex is the exact opposite of that.”
“Maybe it’s better to get it out of the way, you know? Rip the Band-Aid off, not have to worry about it again.” After saying this, she popped the dome lid off the top of her drink and used the straw to scoop up some whipped cream. After eating a bit, she scooped more and stuck the straw in front of my face. I sighed before eating it off. “There,” she said with a grin. “Whipped cream makes everything better.”
I couldn’t help but grin. “It’s just so frustrating. I’ve got this great thing going with a new guy and I’m thinking about Andrew.”
“You don’t need to think about Andrew,” she advised, leaning forward. “That part of your life is done. It’s this new guy you ought to be focused on.” With that, she leaned forward, her eyes flashing with excitement. “Speaking of which…”
I smirked. “You want to hear about the date, huh?”
“Of course I want to hear about the date. You have no idea how fun this stuff is when you’re married and mommed-out. So, how did it go?”
She was asking for juicy details, but there was something else from the other night that had been more on my mind. “He told me something, actually,” I said. “Something that was kind of personal.”
Her eyebrows rose. “Is that right? What’d he say?”
“Not hesitating in the slightest to pry for details, huh?” I asked with a grin.
“As if you wouldn’t do the same in my position.” She winked.
“He told me he’s adopted,” I said.
“When did it happen?”
“When he was a baby. His Mom gave him up because the dad didn’t stick around and she couldn’t take care of him on her own.”
“Sad story,” she mused. “But he’s successful as hell now, right? Maybe it was the right call.”
“Maybe. But it got me thinking about Andrew.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because he had the whole thing with his adoptive brother. But you remember how he was about it, right?”
“Yeah – totally secretive.”
“Even when I helped him with it. And when he finally found his brother, he didn’t tell me anything about him. Like there was this part of his life that had just opened up and he wanted it all to himself.” I checked myself at hearing the words come out of my mouth. “Is that totally selfish? I mean, maybe he had a right to keep that part of his life hidden from me.”
Bethany emphatically shook her head. “No way. Maybe when he first found out and needed time to process it, sure. But he should’ve let you in. Can you imagine having family out there and not letting someone you’re in love with know about them?”
“Yeah, you’re right. He was always so…compartmentalized when it came to his life. It was like I was some separate part he accessed when he felt like it.”
“Right,” Bethany agreed. “You can’t really be in love with someone unless they know all about you, even the stuff you’re not big on sharing. Hell, especially the stuff you’re not big on sharing. Which is why it’s so cool Duncan wanted you to know about this. It’s a big part of his life, and he’s letting you in. That’s a really good sign.”
I sipped my coffee, reflecting on her words. “There’s more,” I said after taking a moment.
She arched an eyebrow. “More?”
“More. He said his brother wants to meet me.”
“Damn, he’s really getting to it, huh? Did he say when?”
I shook my head. “Nothing specific.”
“Well, that means he’s talking about you with his family. Guys don’t do that unless they’re serious. Especially guys like him – those Type A dudes.”
“So you think I can start getting excited about this?”
“Are you kidding? Of course you can start getting excited about this. You’ve got a smart, handsome guy who’s crazy about you. And as much as I’m trying to find red flags, I’m not seeing them – only green lights.”
I grinned, a thrill running through me. And as I sipped my coffee, my phone buzzed in my purse. “Sorry,” I said, digging through my purse and taking out my phone. “Might be work. God, I love saying that.”
Bethany gave me a thumbs-up as I checked the screen.
I looked up at her curious glance. “It’s him.”
“Like, him him?”
“Him him.”
“Then what are you doing? Answer it!”
“I don’t want to be rude.”