Sin City Baby

At least, that's what my mom always told me when I asked her.

She said people in Black Oak were more practical and less about the frills than that. And now that I was an adult, I had to agree with her. The coffee in that little hole in the wall actually was superior to anything I ever got at Starbucks back in Los Angeles.

Jenn was sitting across from me, sipping on a chai tea, and cradling Marty in her arms. He slept peacefully, his eyes closed as he nestled against his mother's bosom. He seemed so peaceful, so serene. I found myself wishing I could feel half as peaceful as that child.

“So, I have a dilemma,” I said, biting my lip. “What if all three of the brothers wanted to date me?”

Jenn laughed, a loud raucous sound that filled the coffee house, but surprisingly, didn't wake up the sleeping baby.

“You're serious?” she asked, her mouth agape. “All three of them? Wow, you really have worked some magic since getting back into town, haven't you?”

“Apparently,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Quinn asked me out first – when we were at the bonfire. He knew I was uncomfortable there, so he took me out for milkshakes. But then Cason and Bennett showed up, and things just got kind of – awkward. I mean, it was like they were all trying to outdo each other for my attention.”

“Oh, tell me more,” Jenn said, a salacious grin on her face. “Because if you don't tell me, someone else will, and I'd rather get the juicy gossip straight from you, if you don't mind.”

“Well, it was strange, honestly,” I said. I stirred my coffee with my spoon, watching the cream mix with the dark roast I'd ordered. “Maybe I'm imagining it, I dunno. Maybe it’s just wishful thinking.”

“They were always a competitive bunch, so it wouldn't surprise me if they were fighting it out for your attention,” Jenn said with a chuckle. “Lucky girl. So, how'd everything end? Did you pick one to go home with?”

“No!” I laughed, feeling almost scandalized. “I'm not that kind of a girl.”

“Pity,” she said, a wry grin on her face. “Those are the details I'd really like.”

“You're incorrigible,” I replied. “It ended when I left them at the diner. By myself. I just told them I had to get home.”

“And why would you do that?” she asked. “Why not let them fight it out a little longer? You can't tell me that wasn't an insane ego boost.”

“I'm not saying it wasn't,” I grinned. “But, it all just felt weird. All that attention, all those questions – all at once. I guess I'm just not ready for all that right now.”

Jenn studied my face for a long moment as she fidgeted with the spoon in her coffee mug. I had an idea what was going through her mind. Even though she was married, I could tell that she had a thing for the McCormick brothers – unanswered questions, perhaps. And I had a feeling she was hoping to live through me vicariously.

“So what are you going to do?” she finally asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Are you going to date any of them? If so, which one?” She was smiling wide, clearly enjoying this.

I don't know,” I said. “None of them actually asked, so maybe I was imagining things after all. Probably so.

I'm just terrible when it comes to reading men. You know that.”

“Or maybe not,” Jenn said, her tone light and teasing. “Look at you, coming back into town, looking all gorgeous, and getting all the good men. Leaving none for anyone else.”

“You tramp,” I said and laughed. “You're married.”

“I'm not talking about me – for the most part,” she said. “I'm talking about all the other poor girls who are forever stuck in Black Oak. Now, they have three less guys to choose from because they're all in love with you.”

She giggled and stuck her tongue out at me. I just rolled my eyes and shook my head. It felt so good to be back with Jenn again, laughing and talking the way we used to. I didn't realize until that moment just how much I'd missed her.

“In love with me? Now you're going way too far,” I said, shaking my head, but trying hard not to laugh. “It's not even like that. Besides, I told you I'm probably misreading the situation. But, even if I wasn't, I'm not really ready to date again. Not yet.”

That got a raised eyebrow and a curious look from Jenn. I hadn't talked about my ex back in California. I hadn't told her much – only, that I was seeing someone and now I wasn't. I wanted to keep it that way too. In my mind, the less I talked about it, the less real it became. And the less real it was, the less I had to deal with it.

And in that moment, I wanted nothing more than to not deal with it; to just pretend it had all never happened.

“Still hurting after your breakup, huh?” Jenn asked, obviously trying to get more of the story out of me in what she thought was a subtle way.

“No,” I scoffed. “Not in the least. I left him, remember?”