AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I make it fresh each day.”
“I’m impressed. You’re doing exactly what you always wanted to do.”
She nodded. “I do feel lucky that it all came together. But I didn’t go off and get my Ph.D. like you did, so don’t give me too much credit.”
“Well, a fancy degree is one thing. Figuring out what you want to do with it is another.”
“I get that. What are you thinking you want to do? Any chance you’ll stay here permanently?” she asked. I’d always liked Demi. We were from two very different worlds. I’d never had many girlfriends when I was growing up, but she was genuine and down to earth, and we’d just clicked all those years ago. She was a bit younger than me, but you wouldn’t know it. She’d always known who she was and what she wanted, and I admired that.
“That’s a hard no. You saw Oscar a few minutes ago. I can’t get pulled back into all that drama. I’m here for my dad. I’ll stay as long as he needs me. But if I stay any longer, I’ll just be bombarded with all the family drama, you know?”
She nodded. “You know that I’ve been through a lot with Slade and his drug addiction. He’s doing really well for the first time in a long time and he’ll move back when he proves he can remain clean for three months post-rehab. Romeo’s going to hire him at the gym, and Slade will rent the little apartment across the alley.”
“Good for him. I know how much you love him, so I’m happy that he’s doing the work.” She and I had always bonded overour family dramas. We may have come from two very different socioeconomic backgrounds, but addiction and family issues existed everywhere.
“Well, if Slade can get better, anyone can. It’s been a long road, but honestly, I think him facing a lot of his issues has made a huge difference. My family is still pretty broken, but guess what?”
“What?” I asked.
“I’m still standing. We’re all still standing, Ruby. I know what you’re going through with your mama and your brothers, but you don’t have to carry that on your own. Lean on me. Remember the times we used to just ride out as far as we could along the water, and we’d vent and let it all out? I miss that.”
My head fell back on a chuckle. “You miss losing our shit as teenagers?”
“I miss you.” She reached for my hand on the table and squeezed it. “You helped me through a really dark time, and I want to be there for you, too.”
I nodded, and she pulled her hand away, and we both broke off a piece of our lemon bars and popped them into our mouths. “Damn, girl. I missed you, too. But these… these are life-changing.”
She smiled. “It’s a new recipe. All organic.”
“They’re so good.”
“So, tell me… you don’t know where you’re going, but you don’t want to stay here. Let’s start with what you want to do. If you could dream up a position, what would it be?”
This was so Demi to do this. To tell you to make it up in your head and go with it. So, I thought it over. “I’ve been offered a really great position at the university, but if I could have my choice and there were other options, I honestly don’t think I want to teach college kids.”
“All right. We know what you don’t want to do. How about what you do want to do? Close your eyes and think up what you would do if you could choose anything in the world.”
I laughed and closed my eyes as I finished chewing. When my lids opened, she was smiling at me and all excited about what I was going to say. “Well, I’d really like to work with kids. I’ve felt that way for a while, and then I got to have dinner with Cutler Heart last night. And just talking to him about his mom and feeling like our little chat helped—it sealed the deal, I guess.”
“Oh, trust me, I heard all about it. I’m going to convince you to join us on Saturday to ride together. He can’t stop talking about you.”
“He’s really sweet.”
“He is. So, what would that look like? Would you open a practice? Work at a school?”
“I don’t like the idea of having my own practice because there are limitations. That would mean that parents would have to bring their kids to see me. If the parent is the issue, it’s doubtful they are going to offer resources to their kid, right? Plus, therapy can be pricey, and they may not be able to afford it.”
“So maybe a school would be a good idea?”
I nodded. “That could be an avenue to explore.”
“Oh, hi there. I didn’t know you were here, Ruby. I just finished cleaning up the back,” Peyton said, as she came around the corner and hugged me. I didn’t know her well, but we knew of one another from growing up in the same small town. She’d been by the bar a few times since I’d been home, and I liked her.
“Yeah. It’s good to see you. I just stopped by for a little catch-up.”
“Hey, I just thought of something,” Demi said.
“No.” Peyton held her hands up. “Do not start thinking again. Every time my girl thinks of something, it means I have to walk a 5k or go pick up trash at the park with her. I’m not in the moodto do a good deed. I’m tired from work and school. I’ve hit my limit.”
