AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“How’s your momma?”
“She’s good. Taking it easy,” I say, plucking up my spoon to stir my drink.
“That’s good,” she says, and I’m not sure what else to say, so I only smile. It’s weird; I used to come in here and talk this woman’s ear off, but lately I just feel like I have nothing to say.
More like, I have too much to say and no one that I can trust to say it to.
I could say it all to Bodhi and he wouldn’t blink an eye, just offer to fix it.
The thought sends a wave of guilt crashing through me, and I sink down a bit. There is yet another conversation I’m going to have to have that I really don’t want to.
“Well, let me go check on your food and I’ll be back,” she says and turns to Sander, patting him on the shoulder as she goes.
I sip my coffee slowly, welcoming the sweet flavors as they slide over my tongue. It’s not the best coffee I’ve ever had, but it’s exactly what I need to perk up. I’m going to need all the energy I can get to make it through this awkward as hell brunch.
My gaze slides to the Subaru parked just outside the window, and I sigh, wishing I was already on my way to Bodhi.
“I’m glad we could do this today. It’s been forever since we just spent time together,” Sander says, drawing my attention away from the parking lot.
“Yeah, I’m sorry it kept getting put off. Life’s just been a little chaotic.” I roll my eyes and heave a sigh.
Sander leans his elbow against the table, resting his chin in his palm, and smiles softly at me, his eyes shining as they search my face. For what, I don’t know. Unable to hold his stare, I lift my mug and take a deep swallow, concentrating more than necessary.
“You don’t have to be sorry. I understand life is crazy sometimes.”
He reaches across the table like he’s going to take my hand, and in a moment of panic, I reach for the sugar, knowing full and well this is about to make my coffee completely undrinkable. I avoid his eyes as I dump the contents of the packet into my mug and swirl it around with my spoon, feigning complete innocence as I lift my gaze to look at him again.
Just as he’s about to say something, Debbie walks up carrying two steaming hot plates of food. I could kiss the woman with her impeccable timing.
“Here you go,” she says, setting the plates down in front of us.
We each thank her and dig in.
“Did I do alright?” I hear Sander ask and look up from my plate to see him motioning toward it.
“Oh, yeah. This is pretty much all I order here,” I say, taking an appreciative bite of the huevos rancheros. They really do make some of the best, aside from my ma’s.
“Some things never really change,” he says, voice pitched low.
I fight the urge to cringe and tell him to just knock it off. Instead, I evade evade evade.
“With huevos this good, why change?” I chuckle and continue eating.
“Why fix what isn’t broken, right?”
To anyone else, I’m sure this sounds like a perfectly normal and lighthearted conversation, but with that look in his eyes, I know my best friend is implying a lot more than sticking to my favorite foods.
I shovel another bite into my mouth and force an awkward smile in lieu of answering.
“You’re a woman who knows what she wants,” he smiles brightly. “I’ve always liked that about you.”
Just tell him you’re with Bodhi now.
I know that’s a low blow, but damn, I’m tempted to do anything it takes at this point to get him off my case. At least if I’m unavailable, then it isn’t like I necessarily turned him down, right? Sure, I didn’t pick him, but who’s to say I knew I had options before this point?
Gah, I want to just stab myself with this fork and put myself out of my misery.
Bodhi and I never discussed what this thing is between us, but, knowing Bodhi, I’m pretty sure that he’d say we’re dating… or that we’re at least on the track to dating. I could tell San, then maybe this awkwardness between us would end, but when I open my mouth to speak, the words stick in my throat, refusing to come out.
