Sizzle & Share (Surrender to Them 9)

“Yeah, okay—but I need coffee. Please tell me they didn’t close the only Starbucks in Andalusia.” I opened up the passenger side and climbed inside.

“No, that’s the one place that stays busy.” She nodded quickly and cranked up her car.

The line at the drive-thru was halfway around the building when we arrived. Starbucks was definitely the busiest place in Andalusia, and there was even a fire engine sitting in the parking lot. I was feeling groggy from the wine the night before, and I really didn’t want to go inside to get my coffee, but it was going to be a lot quicker than the drive-thru.

It’s funny how certain things bring back memories, like a familiar scent. It wasn’t the coffee that did it—it was a cologne that I hadn’t smelled in years. I didn’t have a name to go with the scent, but I recognized it. My heart started racing when I realized who was standing in front of us in line. I needed to go—because I was about to come face-to-face with one memory that I never, ever wanted to revisit. It was pain—but it was more than that. It was the loss of my innocence. A period of my life I buried so deep in my subconscious that it was never supposed to see the light of day again.

Preston. Oh no. It’s him.

“Eliza?” Someone behind me said my name, and I recognized the voice even before my heart skipped a beat.

Of course, Hudson is here too. I just walked into a nightmare.

2

Hudson

“Eliza?” The shock didn’t even register before I said her name. “Eliza Abner?”

“What?” My brother, Preston, immediately turned around in line. “Holy shit.”

“How have you been?” I immediately hugged the gorgeous redhead in front of me, but she didn’t seem to be very excited to see me—either of us.

Maybe a hug was a little presumptuous. I don’t know why that was my first reaction. I’m surprised she didn’t punch me.

“When did you get back in town?” Preston tilted his head to the side inquisitively as the shock finally registered on his face.

“She’s back for my wedding.” Eliza’s best friend from high school, Melanie, looked back and forth between us.

“Oh wow, Melanie!” I raised my eyebrows as soon as I recognized who Eliza was with. “I saw your wedding announcement in the paper. You’re marrying Dave! Congratulations!”

“Thank you.” Melanie tilted her head towards me in a nod. “What brings the two of you to Starbucks this early in the morning?”

“We’re just picking up coffee for the guys at the station.” Preston motioned towards the fire engine in the parking lot.

“You both became firefighters like your Dad?” Eliza seemed to regain some of her composure as she spoke, but her voice trembled.

“Yep, Preston decided to follow in his footsteps too.” I nodded and shrugged, feeling things inside that I hadn’t felt in years.

“Cool.” Eliza looked towards the register. “Preston, I think the nice girl behind the counter is waiting for you to place your order.”

Say something. Don’t let her walk away without saying something.

“Right.” Preston snapped back to reality and took a step towards the register.

“So are you here until the wedding?” I stared at Eliza—feeling so many emotions flooding back as I saw her beautiful eyes for the first time in years

“Yeah, I’m the Maid of Honor.” I could sense a lot of apprehension, even as she tried to have a casual conversation with me.

I guess I should expect that.

“Well if you’re going to be here for a while, maybe we could grab a cup of coffee and catch up.” I realized as soon as I said it that we were literally standing in a Starbucks. “I mean, not this second, obviously.”

“I don’t think so.” She looked down at the floor. “I’m going to be pretty busy with Melanie’s wedding.”

“Which starts with us getting some coffee, so we can go pick out my wedding dress.” Melanie turned her head toward the register. “Whenever Preston gets done ordering enough coffee to caffeinate an army.”

I should have expected rejection. Why would I expect anything more? There were so many things I wanted to say to Eliza, and it started with an apology for how things ended. I just couldn’t find the courage to push the words out of my thoughts and across my lips. Melanie and Eliza ordered their coffee, and it was ready before ours. All I could do was say goodbye before she started walking away—it was the second time I had watched her walk away, and just like the first time, her head turned back for a moment b