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Bebe stifled a chuckle.
“Then how can I get a donut?” he asked.
“I’ll get you one.” Hope rolled her eyes. “Don’t you know when you’re supposed to ask for help? Grown-ups,” she mumbled.
Jay’s face lit with laughter, the crinkles around his eyes joining in the joke. “I suppose that means I should sit back down?”
“Yes, sir.” Hope dipped her head, hands folded primly in front of her. “We’ll find you and bring you a donut.”
“Thank you.” He turned to Bebe, leaning close. “See you soon, Bebe Gordon.”
An ominous flush went down her spine. At least, she told herself it was ominous. She refused to entertain anything further with this man. He would go back to Texas and live the rest of his life there, and she would stay in Peachwood Bay.
Why?
Bebe blinked. What kind of question was that?
But then, whydidshe want to stay in this town? Coming back home after her divorce had been a temporary Plan B, not any fulfillment of a lifelong dream. But the only time Texas had ever been on her radar was when Jay got accepted to UT. She’d thought about transferring after a semester to be with him, since she’d already been accepted to Georgia Tech. Except Jay had ended their relationship without a backward glance. Once again, her dreams had gone out the window.
Don’t plan your life around a man again, Bebe.
But she couldn’t help but remember his words from the other night.“Honestly, I don’t know whatmy future holds, but I know I don’t want to let go of you as easily as I didthe last time.”
Then he’d shown up to the boat parade and now behind her in the donut line. Was he being serious about his intentions or merely bored? Could they actually have a future this time?
“You’renot God, Bebe. You can’t see the future.”
Ugh she didnotwant to hear Jay’s voice in her head. Besides, men like him didnotstick around. They threw money at the situation and abdicated their responsibility. Jay hadn’t stepped foot in their hometown in over eight years.Eight years!That had to be a sign that this reaction to him was simply hormonal. Who wouldn’t feel some sort of spark at seeing their first love again, right?
“Hey, Bebe.”
She smiled at May, giving her a hug. “Hey, May. I didn’t see you in service.” They always sat together.
“Sorry, girl. I sat with Ryan.”
“Ryan?”
“You know, Jay’s physical therapist?”
“Wow. You guys seem awfully...” What? Chummy? Glued at the hip? Cliché after cliché danced through Bebe’s mind.
“Smitten.” A soft smile graced May’s face.
“Don’t you think it’s too fast? You just met.” Something that felt very much like—jealousy?—churned in Bebe’s stomach.
“Calm down, girl. No one’s declaring their undying devotion any time soon. We’re just enjoying a little flirting and the getting-to-know-you period. You know”—she nudged Bebe’s hip—“what you used to do when you dated.”
Bebe snorted. “Dating, right.”
“Don’t let Will turn you all cynical,” May whispered as she slipped an arm around Bebe’s shoulders.
Bebe glanced at her daughter, then continued in a whisper. “I’m not. I’m realistic.”
“Says every cynic.”
“I’m just saying, when you move too fast, you get burned.” Her mind flitted to Jay, then Will. Each time, she’d placed her plans for their future above reality. And crashed back downpainfullywhen life happened.
“Sometimes, Bebe, it seems fast to those who don’t know God’s plan.”
