She nodded. “The sooner the better.”
I poured more wine, wondering if she had another bottle as this wasn’t going to be enough.
“Aside from learning life altering truths, how was your evening?” Petal asked, wagging her brows. I knew she was referring to my primal encounter with Jude on his desk.
I gave her a coy smile over my wine. “Quite satisfying.”
17
Jude
Thank goodness I was moving today because without the physical and mental distraction that moving involved, I’d either be over at August’s giving him a beating of a lifetime or I’d be begging April to give me a chance.
I wanted to give her space that she seemed to need. I hoped that now she knew I’d tried to reach her and never got her letters, maybe she’d forgive my perceived infraction. I forgave her. Hell, I’d forgiven her even when I thought she’d sent that letter, which brought me back to August. Jesus…he’d been my friend. Why would he have purposefully gotten in the way of me and April?
I knew why. He didn’t think I was good enough for her. It was possible he was right, but it wasn’t for him to decide. The more I thought about it, the more pissed I got. April and I might have been young but what we had was special and he’d made sure that we each were hurt by the other. Fucker!
I didn’t own a lot so moving was fairly easy. I had some pieces of furniture ordered and delivered. The moving people set the couch and chair in the living room, a small dining table and chairs in the dining area off the kitchen, and the king-sized bed in the one bedroom. The box of pots and pans, and a four-place setting of plates arrived at the office the other day. I had the basics. It wasn’t a home really, but it was mine.
It was before noon and I was hungry. The cupboards and refrigerator were bare, except for some beer, so I headed out for some food. I remembered a cupcake place down the street called Petal’s and I wondered if that was owned by April’s friend. Perhaps I could learn something through her that would help me win April again. I took a quick shower with the hotel samples I lifted of shampoo and soap. I really needed to go to the store.
“Well as I live and breathe, it’s Jude Mason,” the woman behind the counter said when I entered.
“Petal, how are you?” I said. Like April, she looked mostly the same. She had fiery, wild red hair and a mischievous smile. I’d always liked her, and I’d gotten the feeling she’d like me, as April’s boyfriend, too.
“Oh, I can’t complain. What can I get you?”
I looked over the assortment of cupcakes. “Quite a place you have here.”
Her green eyes watched me, assessing me, and I wondered what April had told her. “I do alright. Are you still a big fan of lemon bars?”
I grinned, surprised she remembered how I’d always buy her out when she’d have a table at some fair or the farmers market. “I do.”
“I have a limoncello cupcake with lemon curd you might like.” She opened the class case and took out a cupcake with fluffy frosting and candied lemon on top.
“Looks delicious. What do I owe you?”
“On the house. In honor of your service.”
I arched a brow. “You know about my service?”
“Petal knows all.”
I laughed. The bell over the door dinged. I turned and my heart stopped in my chest as April walked in. I wondered if it would stop doing that when I saw her.
It took me a moment to notice the young girl with her. She was a pretty little thing. In fact, she reminded me a lot of April. T
he ramifications of that had me stilling. April was a mother? Why hadn’t she said anything?
April stopped short when she saw me. “Jude.”
“Jude was just getting a complimentary cupcake,” Petal said, her voice sounding forced.
“I want a cupcake,” the little girl said. She looked up at April. “Can I, mama?”
Jesus, she was a mother.
“Hey munchkin, why don’t you come back and help me decorate my latest batch of cupcakes,” Petal said coming around the corner and holding out a hand to the little girl.