I nod and look at my brother. “You going with me?”
He shakes his head. “As much as I hate to miss Haven putting you in your place, I have a date.”
I should probably ask him about who he’s dating, but I don’t have time right now. I look back at my dad. “See you later, Pops.”
“See you later, son.”
Fifteen minutes later, I finally get out the door. My mom wasn’t letting me out of her sight until I told her everything I wanted to eat this week. It sounds like she plans on packing at least fifteen pounds onto me in the next seven days, but I can’t focus on that. I need to get to Haven and figure out what the hell she’s been up to since I left last time. We talk a few times a week, either on the phone or email, and she’s not once mentioned leaving the library to go work at On the Rocks.
Haven and I have been friends for as long as I can remember. She knows me better than anyone. We are opposites in so many ways, but none of that matters. The truth is, I miss her. I miss her more than I ever thought possible. I thought for sure I’d leave and we’d lose touch, but if anything, we’re even closer now.
She’s always sending me care packages. She worries about me constantly, and she’s always there to listen to me. I thought I did the same for her too, but I guess not if she doesn’t even tell me about starting a new job.
On the Rocks is right in the middle of our small town. I park down the block and walk in. The man at the front door nods his head at me and I walk on in. I’ve only been in here a few times, and it hasn’t changed much since the last time, but I spot Haven almost instantly.
She’s in a deep conversation with the woman next to her, and I can’t keep the smile off my face. I start walking toward her, and as I get closer, my steps slow, and my gaze travels down her body. What the fuck?
I look up at her face as she concentrates on filling the mug from the draft fountain. My heart skips a beat in my chest, and I put my hand there and rub it soothingly. For some reason, I’ve been nervous about seeing Haven. The last time, it felt different. Not bad... but different. I’ve tried to forget about my reaction to her, chalking it up to too much time out in the field or simply just missing her, but looking at her now, feeling the stir in my lower belly, I can’t just ignore it. Not anymore.
I take a deep breath and can’t fight the feeling that my whole life is about to change.
Chapter 3
Haven
There has to be a full moon out tonight. That’s the only explanation because I feel that I’m in some kind of alternate universe. I’ve been asked out once, someone offered to buy me a drink, and I swear one cowboy patted me on the ass. However, when I turned and wielded my tray like I was going to hit him with it, he apologized and said it was an accident.
The bar has picked up. The live band has started, and it seems everyone showed up at once.
“I’m taking five,” I tell Briony and the others.
I walk to the back and head straight to the private restroom for employees. Locking the door behind me, I walk over to the full-length mirror.
I look at the front of me and then turn to the side. At first, I wonder if it’s too much—but I know it’s not. My skirt is barely above my knees. And my shirt is tighter, but it fits, and there’s nothing hanging out. I bend over and heck, there’s not even a hint of cleavage.
When I stand back up, I take a step toward the mirror. I have the mascara that Emmaline talked me into buying on, and she’s right. It does make my eyes stand out more. I nixed the whole lipstick idea, but the lip gloss does give my lips a nice sheen to them.
I shake my head in confusion. Really? Can buying clothes that fit really make such a difference? I’ve always gone around in jogging pants and T-shirts and never thought anything of it. It makes me wonder if I’d made a change in high school, could I have been more popular?
As soon as I think it, I smash that thought down and laugh into the empty room. Heck, I didn’t care about being popular, and quite honestly, I don’t like being the center of attention. I smooth my hands down the length of my skirt. I need to get back to work.