Page 101 of Something Borrowed

Exactly.

Chapter 48

The days following the breakup with Vic dragged monotonously. And was that what it had been? A breakup? And he had instigated it? Cal could hardly get his mind around it. Even having shut down for the holidays, work was too slow to occupy his thoughts. Few jobs trickled in—and it would no doubt keep being a very slow trickle until people paid off their Christmas-maxed credit cards and then there’d be a spring flood.

He had hoped the chores related to helping Carrie pack up and relocate would be a distraction. If anything, however, spending time with her made it worse.

He’d made the mistake of telling her about the incident at Jack’s and what he’d learned about Vic’s past—not to vilify Vic. The opposite. He wanted Carrie to tell him he was overreacting and that people make mistakes and deserve second chances, yada yada yada. But what had he been thinking? Of course, Carrie didn’t do that. If anything, the story fueled her fiery opinion that romantic relationships were “for the birds.”

“And birds are pretty much the only creatures that are actually monogamous and mate for life,” she added, snickering. Then she continued with a lecture on how lucky he was to have found out about Vic’s character earlier rather than later.

“It may feel bad right now, but you should stop moping and thank your lucky stars. You dodged a bullet,” she added as her finale.

He nodded, but he wasn’t sure he’d dodged anything. His heart ached for Vic’s company—literally. The pain of longing for her was a huge knot under his sternum. He may as well have been shot.

Chapter 49

“Hello!” Gwen and Madeline coursed in unison when Vic strode into the shop.

“It’s been too long,” Gwen added.

“Waaaay too long.”

Which was hilarious because she’d been in with Michael just two days earlier—but Vic also knew exactly what they meant. She paused by the payment counter and inhaled audibly through her nose, relishing the familiar, soothing lemon-candy scent of the shop.

“This place is my happy place, for sure,” she said and wasn’t embarrassed saying it aloud.

Madeline laughed. “And remember you used to wonder why Gwen and I were so sure you were one of us?”

“I do remember—” Vic dropped her purse, unwrapped her scarf, and peeled off her puffer coat. “It feels like forever ago, but I’m still so grateful.”

“So, tell all, tell all!” Gwen commanded when Vic returned from stashing her winter things in the staffroom. “It feels like your week off was ten months long. How was your visit with Michael?”

But Vic didn’t get a chance to say. The minute she opened her mouth to reply, the bells over the door jingled, and a rush of customers flowed in—and the deluge didn’t stop. The three of them barely managed to squeak in their lunch breaks.

“Ooof,” Madeline exclaimed when she locked the door after the last person left at the end of the day—fifteen minutes after their usual closing time. “Which one of us foolishly said this is their happy place?”

Gwen and Vic both shook their heads and laughed. Madeline could feign as many complaints as she liked; she wasn’t fooling anyone. She loved the store best when it was a madhouse.

Vic bit her lip, then took the plunge. She’d been wanting to ask all day but hadn’t got the chance. The worst they could say was no.

“I know it’s last minute, but do you guys have dinner plans?”

“I do now.” Madeline grinned.

“Grant won’t mind?”

“Well, he’ll die of loneliness for me, of course, but that’s good for him once in a while.”

“It’s perfect for me too. Daniel’s taking the crew to a movie, and I’d already begged off.”

Vic felt a twinge at Madeline and Gwen’s mention of their men and the tangible affection they obviously felt for them—but it wasn’t jealousy. Not at all. She was happy for them. It was longing, maybe?

“Yippee!” Madeline said. “Thanks for wrangling us into this. Without you, Gwen would’ve just gone home and done more work.”

“Guilty as charged.”

Vic gave Audra a quick call and let her know she’d be late but would bring her home something for dinner.