Page 31

The cool October breeze makes me take a deep breath when I step outside. I walk the block from Holt’s office to the Grind, reveling in the fact that I’m going to experience a Colorado winter for the first time in years. Seattle winters are a beast on their own, but I’ve missed my hometown covered in snow.

The smell of coffee surrounds me as the chime over the door signals my arrival. I would love to have a giant latte packed with fully caffeinated espresso. Decaf just doesn’t quite hit the way I need it to. It’s not the same. My little Peanut is worth the cravings though.

Gia waves at me from across the room. She’s in one of the lounge areas where couches and chairs have been arranged around a coffee table. Her work stuff is spread across the table in what I can only see as organized chaos. As a freelance graphic designer, she can work from anywhere, and the Grind is one of her favorite spots.

Gwen is zipping around the tables, checking on people and clearing off the trash. Her curly brown hair has been thrown up on top of her head, and she’s added a cute floral bandanna that matches her pants.

“I need your help remembering to bring Holt a sandwich from Marcie’s before we leave,” I say, greeting Gia with a massive hug. For such a tiny woman, she’s got a hidden strength that goes far beyond the surface. Her fierce loyalty to the people she loves is awe-inspiring.

As we sit, she responds, “I can do that. Actually, let me call her right now. Marcie will get it ready for us to pick up in an hour.” Once she finishes placing the order, she turns her attention back to me. “How are things at the office? And I promise you can be honest. In fact, I’d love to know if the man I’m dating actually has any faults because at this point, I think he’s inhuman.”

My cackle is unladylike. “So far, I haven’t noticed anything untoward, but I’ll keep you updated. I actually love working there. Bev is a machine when it comes to keeping track of his cases, and I’m learning a lot from her.”

“Holt says he’d never have succeeded if he didn’t have her.”

“I can totally see how that would be true.”

“Y’all. This is starting to get ridiculous,” Gwen says as she plops down on the couch next to Gia. “The tourist season should’ve ended weeks ago. What the heck is going on?”

“It has been abnormally busy here lately,” Gia confirms.

“I’d say Charlie is putting out some magic spell, but they prefer the off-season to whatever madness has befallen our town.”

Gwen’s sibling owns the Daily Grind. They opened the place when they were only nineteen. I still don’t know how they did it. A ton of community support, no doubt, but still, the drive it takes to run a successful business like this at that age blows my mind.

“Do you have a short break, or can you take your time?” I ask.

“I should have about half an hour. Have you started reading the book club book yet?”

I groan. “Yes. It’s so good. You both were right that I’d love it if I gave it a chance.” I was uncertain about reading a why-choose romance, but the storyline makes the whole book sing. I devoured it in only a few days.

“Did you tell Gray you’re reading it?” Gia smirks at me.

My face flames immediately. “Absolutely not. God, I’d never be able to look him in the eye if we discussed this book. Did I tell you about the disaster of listening to an audiobook on the drive here?”

“No!” Gia and Gwen shout simultaneously.

I confess how awful the whole situation turned out to be. I had no idea that book was going to be so damn spicy. I wanted to turn it off so many times, but I thought that would make things even weirder.

“Maybe you guys should talk about the book then. It could help you figure out how he feels about you,” Gwen points out. I texted the girls after seeing Gray naked the other day. They were adamant that he has the hots for me. They said the way he acted is all the proof I need to go for it, but I just don’t know if I can let myself.

“Don’t you guys think it’s too soon to be thinking about dating someone else? I’m not even divorced yet.”

Gia straightens. “Honey, when was the last time you actually felt like you had an honest-to-god husband? Not some man-baby who sometimes slept in the same bed with you.”

I snort at her description. She has a point though. Even before I realized I was pregnant, it hadn’t felt like Chris was truly my partner. The only reason I even got pregnant was that he got drunk after a night out and I was feeling lonely. It lasted all of five minutes, and then Chris passed out. I felt so used afterward that I cried. But it brought me Peanut, so I don’t regret it.

“Am I telling you to go jump on Grayson’s joystick right this second? No. But I’d say it’s high time you start doing things solely because you want to do them and not because of some bullshit rules society tells you to follow.”

“What she said.” Gwen points her thumb toward Gia. It makes all three of us laugh much harder than is probably polite in a café.

The door chimes, marking the entrance of the most beautiful bohemian-looking woman I’ve ever seen. Her wide-legged patchwork pants look super comfortable, and her cropped T-shirt and cardigan match perfectly. She even has a flower crown in her dark blond hair.

“Willa!” Gia shouts across the room.

For a second, Willa blinks at her in surprise, as if she can’t believe someone would want her attention. Then she smiles, making her entire face light up. “Hey, girls,” she says once she gets to our table.

“Willa, this is Kylie. She grew up in town, and we finally convinced her to move back. She’s going to be at our next book club meeting. Kylie, this is Willa. She owns Garden Botanicals.”