Finding Home

by Rachel Smith

  In the blink of an eye my entire lunch shifted into something different. Something I wasn’t prepared for in the least bit. It felt more like a date, which ratcheted my nerves up through the roof.

  “Come on.” Alex grabbed my hand. I followed like a lost puppy as he led me to a corner booth. Every eye followed us until we sat down, watching, gawking.

  “I don’t get it,” I whispered. My hand throbbed from his hold. I rubbed my palm gently while I tried to pull myself together.

  “Get what?”

  I slid my eyes through the restaurant, thankful to see most people had turned back to their own food, but there were still a few eyes glued to us. “I feel like everyone is staring.” My lips barely moved through my fake smile.

  Alex shrugged. “It’s a small town. People are curious because we’re new.”

  My heart fluttered. We’re new. Like the two of us were a couple just starting out. Obviously, he meant because we’d both recently moved to town, but still.

  “So,” Alex began, changing the subject and pulling me out of my schoolgirl giddiness. “You get everything unpacked and settled?”

  “Close. I still have a few boxes to get through. Although, I wouldn’t be anywhere near this unpacked if Charlie hadn’t come over last week to help.”

  He smiled. “I know she’s happy you’re in town. And probably really thankful you’ll be close when the baby gets here.”

  “It’s strange to think of her being a mom again. I’m sure it’ll be a hard adjustment for her. Bring up a lot of memories of when Matty was a baby.” I thought back to the day my perfect little nephew came screaming into this world. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. “God, I miss that kid.”

  When I opened my eyes, Alex had leaned forward and placed his hand on top of mine on the table. Warmth seeped into my skin and, at the same time, sent a shiver through my whole body. “You guys are lucky to have each other,” he said softly.

  My emotions bubbled too close to the surface. It was time to change the subject before the waterworks kicked in. “Well, we weren’t always so close.”

  “Oh yeah?”

  I shook my head. “Oh God, no. When we were little, she used to follow me around constantly. It drove me absolutely freaking insane. I tried to be as mean as possible so she’d leave me alone, but it never worked. Everywhere I went… there was Charlotte, two steps behind.”

  A smile formed on my lips at the memory. “One time, she’d been in the bathroom for hours, trying to get her hair exactly right or something. I don’t remember why, but we’d been fighting all day, and all of a sudden, she turned and started chasing me, still holding her hairbrush. We got into the family room and I did this little ‘na, na, na, boo, boo, you can’t catch me’ dance to taunt her.”

  Alex chuckled. “Very mature of you.”

  “Oh but wait, it gets better… So she’s sticking her tongue out and being a total shit. I can’t remember how it happened, but out of nowhere she chucks the hairbrush at me. Hard.”

  Alex’s eyebrows jumped so I finished. “I jumped out of the way, but the brush went right through my parents’ brand-new TV.”

  “Oh, shit.”

  “Yeah,” I agreed. “Oh, shit is right. This was back in the day where TVs were like big pieces of furniture. You know, with the wood all around it? Cost my parents a fortune. So, Charlotte freaks out, crying hysterically and being super dramatic about the whole thing. Being the awesome big sister that I am, I took the blame.”

  “What?” He looked shocked.

  “Yeah, and they made me use my own money to replace the TV. Every damn penny. I had to do chores around the house, and at my grandparents’ house. Hell, I even sold some of my stuff to my friends to get extra money.”

  Alex whistled. “Bet that took you a while.”

  “It did,” I confirmed. “It seemed like it took forever. Huh, I haven’t thought about that in years. Charlotte totally owes me a TV.”

  I jerked when Alex burst out laughing, his head thrown back as the sound exploded from his mouth. The muscles in his neck bulged and strained. I stared, dumbstruck by the sight, before letting go and laughing right along with him.

  When we finally settled, Alex’s eyes still danced with amusement when he said, “So, not really the best of friends when you were younger, huh?”

  I shook my head. “Definitely not. But things sort of got better as we were older. I remember this one time… we went on a double date. Charlotte had just started seeing Jared, and they set me up with his best friend.”

  The light began to dull in Alex’s eyes but I kept going. “It was horrid. The guy was a total creep. Handsy all night, trying to cop a feel any time I walked by or stood close to him.” I shuddered at the memory. “And then he made all these totally lewd sexual comments all night… ugh, it was just awful. So I finally get Charlotte alone and tell her I’m going to bail on the night because it sucked, and she doesn’t let me.”

  Alex’s face is completely blank. The only movement being the occasional blink and the tick of his jaw muscle from clenching his teeth.

  Interesting. It’s almost like he’s jealous…

  I shook my head to focus back on the story. “So anyway, we go back to the table and after about fifteen more minutes I’d hit my limit of assholery for a lifetime.” I shrugged and took a quick sip of my drink. “So the next time he made a snide comment and tried to grope me under the table, I punched him right in the balls.”

  Alex’s mouth dropped open. “You did not.”

  I raised my eyebrows, nodding in the affirmative. “Uh, you bet your ass I did.” To this day, it was one of my proudest moments. One of the few times I had actually stood up for myself.

  “Then what happened?”

  I shrugged. “He called me a bitch, so Charlotte punched him in the face.”

  “Jesus, you two were a pair.”

  I laughed. “Jared was super pissed at the guy. He took Charlotte and me home and left his buddy at the restaurant with his hands on his crotch, trying to fight back tears. We pretty much put the whole ‘sister feud’ to rest for good after that night.”

  Alex’s soft chuckle slid over my skin like the smoothest silk. His eyes never left mine, even as he lifted his drink to his lips. Everything around us seemed to fade away and it was only the two of us, looking into each other’s eyes. Butterflies took flight in my stomach, fluttering their wings. My breath hitched at the sensation. Alex’s eyes warmed as he continued to watch me. God, he was a great guy. Funny, easy to talk to, laid back. And, of course, amazingly good looking. I could picture myself falling for him.

  Hard.

  And as much as that thought scared me; of letting my emotions run free and be with someone again, it was also exhilarating.

  The sound of our plates hitting the table broke our moment. “Eat up, kids, before it gets cold,” Delores barked before she shuffled away.

  I looked down at my plate. We’d ordered sandwiches.

  “I think she says that from habit,” Alex said, as if he’d read my mind. “The other day I ordered a salad and she said the same thing.”

  I smiled and took a bite. We ate in silence for a bit before I looked up to see Alex staring. “What?” I asked.

  “You’ve got… uh…” He reached out and swiped his finger on the corner of my mouth. “Mustard,” he said. He held his finger up to show me before putting it in his mouth.

  Every muscle in my body contracted at the sight of him sucking the mustard off his finger.

  Damn, that’s hot.

  My nipples tingled, jealous that his tongue wasn’t on them. I squeezed my thighs together, hoping to will away the ache that had settled between my legs.

  He continued to watch me, knowing his little ‘suck the finger’ stunt had turned me on. Half his mouth hitched up in a smirk and his eyes dropped to my lips. I stayed perfectly still until I couldn’t take it anymore. My tongue ran the path of my bottom lip, hungry for a taste of him.

  Alex cleare
d his throat, looking away quickly. I watched his broad chest move up and down from his rapid intakes of breath.

  I continued to eat, doing anything possible to keep my hands busy and not acknowledge the lingering sexual tension. An awkward silence encompassed our table, so I racked my brain for anything to talk about. We’d already discussed my sister, which made me wonder if he had any siblings.

  “Are you an only—” My question was cut off by the shrill ring of his cell phone.

  “Sorry, I’ve got to take this,” he mumbled and swiped the screen. “Lexington.”

  He immediately stood. “Yes, sir,” he clipped. “I’m on my way now.”

  He turned and walked toward the door without a single word to me. No ‘talk to you later.’ No ‘see ya around.’ Nothing. I was beginning to realize when duty calls, Alex Lexington had a one-track mind.

  Either that or he didn’t care about me at all. Maybe I’d read too much into his body language earlier. Seeing things I thought were there, but really weren’t. Figments of my imagination, due to my increasing loneliness.

  I glanced around, taking a quick inventory of people who witnessed Alex’s cut and run. The place was packed. Too many to count. Of course, the table next to me stared at the sad, pathetic woman left in the dust.

  Quietly, I finished my lunch alone at the table, wondering how many more times Alex Lexington would run away from me before he never came back.

  7

  Lizzie

  A few days after being embarrassingly abandoned at the diner, I developed a newfound determination to get my life back on track. Google became my best friend as I researched the ins and outs of starting your own business. After finding a free business plan template, I began with my statement of goals, how I would reach them, and my qualifications for achieving success.

  I studied marketing and client growth, mapped out pages and pages of financial and investment solutions to get the firm up and running. My next step was a bank appointment to secure a loan and finding adequate office space. If this town was as hard up for an accountant as the Sauced Sisters made it seem, I should be swarming with customers in no time.

  I completely nerded out over the details of my business plan, right down to the number of pens and pencils, highlighter colors, and how many staples I should keep on hand. Totally in the zone, I didn’t even register the knock on my front door until it had become an irritating pound.

  “Good gravy, I’m coming,” I scolded as I walked to the door. I swung it open to see my sister and Lily on the front step. No big deal—just one of the biggest names in country music a few years back at my house. I could be cool. I could be friends with her without drooling all over.

  Who am I kidding? I barely contained my fangirling, doing a little jump-skip as I waved and said, “Hey, Lily.”

  Behind them stood their friend, Melissa, holding a bottle of wine in each hand. “We get it, she used to be a famous singer,” she said and rolled her eyes. “Now can we come in? I’m thirsty.”

  “Finally,” Charlotte huffed and pushed her way in.

  I held the door open farther. “By all means, make yourself at home.” The sarcasm dripped from my voice and Charlotte shot me a stern look.

  “Excuse me for wanting to check up on my sister.”

  “Why would you want to do that?” I asked.

  Her eyes grew round, bulging out of the sockets like she couldn’t believe I’d ask such a ridiculous question. Lily and Melissa skirted into the kitchen, leaving us alone.

  “Why?” she repeated, sardonically. “Well maybe because you got drunk off your ass the other night, making a complete fool of yourself in front of everyone. Or maybe it’s because I had to hear from Delores that you had a cozy little lunch date the other day. Or maybe because you’ve been in this weird, funky mood ever since you left Chicago and I’m worried about you. How many more reasons do you want?”

  I had entered another dimension. It was the only explanation for the nonsense spewing from my sister’s mouth.

  I’m three years older than you and you’re scolding me like a teenager.

  I folded my arms across my chest and glared. “We were at the bar five days ago, Charlotte. Where the hell have you been all week? Huh? Too busy with your perfect husband, getting ready for your perfect child to be born? I’m glad you were able to carve out time to check on me now… five days later!”

  She didn’t answer, but simply continued to glare right back at me until Lily stepped between us.

  “Okay, maybe we should all take a deep breath and step back.”

  Charlotte shot her an equally chilling glare and Lily’s eyebrows lifted as if to say, Bring it.

  Melissa, who I’d never actually met in person until this moment, chimed in from the kitchen, “Gah, you people drive me batshit crazy.” She peeked her head around the corner. “You got a wine opener in this joint?”

  I chuckled at her boldness. “Of course.”

  “Good.” She clapped her hands together once and disappeared back into the kitchen. “Put the eye daggers away, girls,” she called from around the corner. “Time for wine.”

  Lily gave us one final stern look and followed Melissa, leaving me alone with my sister.

  Charlotte looked at her feet and mumbled her half-assed apology. “Sorry, I get worked up easily because of the baby.”

  “Sure,” I teased. “Blame it on the poor kid.”

  She lifted her head, her similar green eyes meeting mine, and she smiled. “You know I love you, right?”

  “Yeah,” I sighed and threw my arm around her shoulder. “I just wish you could show me by being less of a pain in the ass.”

  Her elbow connected with my side just as we entered the kitchen.

  “So whatcha up to today, Lizzie?” Lily asked as she pulled three wine glasses from the cupboard.

  “Actually, I was just finishing up my business plan. I’m seriously considering opening an accounting firm in town.” My chest swelled with pride. I couldn’t believe I was really going to do this.

  Melissa’s face brightened. “Impressive! What made you decide to start your own place?”

  Nobody will hire me because I’m a home-wrecking slut, crossed my mind. I shook my head free of those thoughts and answered, “Actually it was the Saaaauuuu…” I caught myself before calling Lily’s sisters-in-law the ‘Sauced Sisters’ in front of her. “Um… the other night up at the bar, the girls mentioned there wasn’t an accountant in town.”

  When nobody replied, I finally looked up from my wine glass to see three sets of eyes staring, blinking simultaneously.

  “Are you serious about this?” Charlotte finally asked.

  “Of course I’m serious.” I lifted my hands in the air and let them slam down onto my thighs. How could this be so hard to believe?

  Melissa jumped right in. “Okay, before you guys start in on each other again, you need an office, and I have the perfect listing for you right uptown.”

  She guided me to the kitchen table and whipped out her phone, mumbling as she pulled up the information. “Perfect… just perfect… going to love this.”

  My head spun, wondering how I’d gotten to this place in my life. It didn’t help having a mega superstar grinning at me across the table.

  “Here! This one is unbelievable, and even a decent price.” Melissa shoved the phone in my face. I had to lean back a bit to even focus on the screen. As I took the device from her hand, a flutter of excitement began to build deep inside me. The space was incredible. Not too big, not too small. Located just off of Main Street in Glenview, I could walk to work when the weather was decent.

  I flipped through each picture, visualizing the best way to utilize the space. In time, there was enough room I could hire another accountant if I wanted.

  “What do you think?”

  I looked up and smiled at Melissa. “I think it looks perfect.”

  “Good, because I just texted my boss and he can show it to you tomorrow morning.”

&n
bsp; My jaw dropped in disbelief. “Seriously?” I asked.

  She nodded. “Yup. Ten o’clock work for you?”

  “Um… yeah,” I answered, flustered at how quickly this seemed to come together. “Oh my God, you guys, I’m really going to do this.”

  Melissa squealed. Lily clapped her hands, and Charlotte poured us all another glass of wine.

  I sighed. “Now I just need clients.”

  Lily laughed. “I can see if any of my old buddies in Nashville need help with their taxes.”

  My wine glass froze halfway to my mouth. “Seriously?”

  She giggled. “Well, I assume they all have an accountant already, but I’ll be your client. The bank handles all my investments and whatnot, but they don’t do taxes. You want the job?”

  “Yes,” I blurted immediately.

  The four of us laughed, falling into a comfortable conversation about anything and everything while we continued to top our glasses with wine. Kids, jobs, family members, books. It felt great to be around such friendly women.

  As the empty bottles gathered on the countertop, I realized this was the work of only three of us. Charlotte, being pregnant, hadn’t drank a drop.

  “Guys, we went through a lot of wine for just three people,” I said.

  “Yup,” Lily agreed. “I’m not nursing Carter anymore; I need to make up for lost time.” She winked at me across the table. “Until Justin knocks me up again, at least.”

  I giggled at her comment and then felt an uncomfortable vibe. Looking around, I noticed Melissa and Charlotte staring at each other across the table. Back and forth, my eyes darted from one to the other until I saw Charlotte give an almost imperceptible nod of her head.

  “So,” Melissa chimed in, “tell us about your lunch date with Alex Lexington.”

  My smiled faded and I looked to my sister.

  “What?” she asked, her eyes wide with innocence.