by Jaycee Ford
My heels clicked across the hardwood as I moved with purpose, and I steadied myself as I descended the stairs. Once out the back door, I turned into a tiny alleyway nestled between my boutique and the bakery next door. A high wooden gate separated me from the sidewalk. With a simple lift of the latch, the gate pushed open. I stepped onto the concrete and closed the gate behind me.
“Oh my God. Is that Ellie Caldwell?”
I turned to find my most hated nemesis from high school, Angela Butler, practically right in front of me. My eyes flew up to the face of the man’s hand she was holding—the man who had possessed every inch of my body, the man who made me fall even more in love with him than I had ever thought possible, the man whose kind face was made of steel as he peered down over me. His stare was wide-eyed at first and then turned hateful.
He tugged her hand along, and I was barely back inside of the gate before I crumbled to the ground.
THE SUMMER SUN beat down on the sidewalk with the hope of fall in the air. I glanced around my boutique, still in awe of what I had been able to accomplish in the past three months.
The summer tourist season was a hit, and I had already solidified my place within this town. Although, besides a few sprints to Charlotte for shopping purposes and lingering at the new coffee shop across the street, I had barely ventured out from my apartment and boutique. I had not been graced with his presence since. I had been afraid to witness any further hand holding between the love of my life and my archrival.
I shook my head as I flipped the page of the latest issue of my favorite fashion magazine. I purchased this place on impulse, hoping to acquire my cowboy. He was still my cowboy. He just didn’t realize it yet.
When my perusal of the fashion world was over, I glanced around my boutique, trying to find something to keep me busy. The weekends were busy with a steady flow of customers during the week, but usually Mondays were dead. The bridal gowns were all neatly arranged near the back, the summer sale crowded near the front by the bay window, the shoes lined one wall, and all of my other creations were organized by racks and display tables in the middle of the floor. There wasn’t a thing to do.
I turned away from the counter and headed back to my sewing area. Random spools of fabric and patterns rested against the wall near my workstation. The floor had been mopped last night before my marathon of Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy. My nights were filled with fictitious people since I avoided the man I wanted.
A sigh escaped for the billionth time over that man. One day I would grow a pair and set him straight, but today wasn’t that day. I would remain hidden away inside my world of fashion and Mr. Darcy.
The hardwood stairs creaked under my feet as I climbed up toward my loft. The ring of the bell alerted me to a customer walking into the boutique. The steamy romance on my tablet upstairs would have to wait. I headed through my work area and into the store to find one of the sweetest ladies I had ever been lucky enough to know.
“Mrs. Ethel, what brings you by today?”
She turned toward my welcome, wearing a pair of khaki capri pants and a sleeveless, hot pink, button-up shirt. I had never seen her wear anything but pink. She clasped her hands together when I walked over.
“Oh, Ellie. You get prettier every time I see you.” She gave me a warm hug and I squeezed her gently.
“Quit buttering me up. You already have a discount.” She cackled while she squeezed my arm. “What are you looking for today?”
“Well, actually, I came to tell you about a young woman who is staying at The Inn. I think she’s around your age and she’s new in town. Being one of the only clothing stores here, she’ll more than likely stop by. Maybe you could befriend her and show her around.” She held her hands down in front of her while I pondered what she asked of me. I really could use a friend. Maybe Mrs. Ethel was helping me as much as she was helping her new patron.
“I really haven’t been doing too much. I don’t know how much fun I would be.”
“Well, whatever happened to Paul? I saw him leaving The Inn all those months ago.”
Heat blazed up my cheeks, my eyes widening at what she knew.
“Oh, honey. Don’t be embarrassed. I do have a nephew your age.”
The very same nephew who employed Paul. Why was this town so small?
“I ... uh … don’t think that’s going to happen.”
“Well, why not?”
“Isn’t he with Angela Butler?”
She could not contain her giggles.
“Oh, your ex is all over that one. Paul has more respect for himself than that.” She shook her head. “Bless her heart. I don’t know why she does that to herself. I don’t take part in the gossip at church, but gossip has been made about that girl. It’s a shame really.”
I nodded at this knowledge. He wasn’t seeing Angela.
“Is Paul seeing anyone?” I held my breath, waiting for the inevitable.
She met my eyes, her expression serious. “Do you really think anyone will replace you?”
Her words hung in the air like the humidity outside. They crawled across my skin, sending goose bumps up my spine. If I wasn’t replaceable, then why had he not talked to me in months?
She squeezed my arm again, then turned and walked out of the boutique. I watched her pass the window, heading back to The Inn.
I had to see him. I had to get him back. But how? How was I able to do that with all of the time spent apart? All of the years pining for him, and I only really had him for two nights. Ten years poured into two nights. I wanted those ten years to turn into forever. How could I get those two nights back and make forever happen?
• • •
The morning progressed much as it usually did. I sat perched on top of a stool behind the counter and read from my tablet. I couldn’t get what Mrs. Ethel said off my mind. I needed definitive answers. I clicked off the reading app and tapped the app that held the epitome of social networking. I had already been through this a thousand times before. Neither Paul nor Tom had made the leap to the life of social networking. Lance had; however, I couldn’t very well ask him about his best friend and ask if his best friend was seeing anyone.
I clicked the search box and typed in, Angela Butler. The search brought back hundreds of results. I scoured the list carefully and came upon her bleach-blonde hair. I clicked her name, bringing me to a semi-private page. She had a lot of different guys posing with her in the photos that I could see. Lance seemed to be in a lot of recent ones. I stopped scrolling when I found one that kept me from functioning. She had her arms wrapped around Paul’s waist, but he held her gingerly. His face appeared cross, annoyed even. Maybe I didn’t have anything to worry about except getting him back.
The bell chimed as someone walked through the door. A tall brunette, wearing a navy blue fitted tee with slightly baggy jeans, glanced around my store. I perked up, remembering Mrs. Ethel’s request.
“Hi, welcome to Ellie’s. My name is Ellie. Are you looking for something in particular today?” I didn’t think I could have been anymore spastic as I was in that moment. She glanced at me, seemingly not affected by my spasm, and continued to allow her eyes to roam my boutique.
“Not really. I was just passing by your store on the way from The Inn, and I saw the shoes in the window. A girl can’t pass up shoes.” A smile eased up her cheeks as she found the shelves full of shoes. She moved in that direction.
“Oh, are you vacationing here?” I walked from behind the counter to engage her. She seemed tentative, but also open. Lord knew I needed a friend. Besides Mrs. Ethel and a few of the random business owners around town, my pop and Gianni were all I had, and they didn’t even live here.
“No, I just moved. I’m currently staying at The Inn, but I’m not sure if it will be a permanent move.” She turned from the shoes toward me.
“Well, welcome to the area. My name is Ellie Caldwell. This is my store … obviously.” I cringed at my over exuberance, but attempted to recover. “Did you move here f
or a job?”
“Yes, I’m Jordan Hawthorne, the new history instructor at the community college.” She extended her hand toward me.
“Oh, that’s fabulous!” I shook her hand, and just like that, I knew that we would be friends. “Well, let’s get you some new clothes for the role, then.”
Operation win back Paul Harris was on!
• • •
The country was alive at Dixie’s tonight. I couldn’t believe how many people were out on a Monday. In getting to know Jordan throughout the afternoon, I realized that school was starting in two days. Everyone was getting geared up for his or her last hangover of the summer. Judging by the leeches already sucking the life out of the dance floor, there would be some hangovers in the morning.
“Ellie, how about the booth in the corner?”
I glanced at my new friend and found her confidence level so out of tune with her appearance. In an overly dramatic fashion, I rolled my eyes at her antics. “Whatever you say. Go grab the booth and I’ll go get us a bottle of wine. White or red?”
She scooted back into the corner, and I waited until she was settled.
“White, please.”
I wiped my hands down the sides of my black skirt, nervous energy pulsing through me. I glanced around the tavern with what appeared to be a composed calmness, but my heart drummed a crazy beat. He’s here.
I focused on the bar in front of me and strutted like any Manhattanite would. My skin tingled. I knew he was watching me. When I reached the bar, I hopped onto a vacant stool and rested my chin on my fist. I shifted my eyes without turning my head in an attempt to see down the bar, but I couldn’t see past a cowboy hat in my way.
“Well, hey, Ellie! How’s the store?”
I shifted my eyes to see Mrs. Betty, the owner and bartender of Dixie’s Tavern.
“It’s going really well. Thank you for asking.”
“What are you having tonight?” she asked as she wiped the bar in front of me.
“A bottle of Pinot Grigio, please. And two glasses.”
I couldn’t investigate the bar much. An uncorked bottle and two glasses were placed in front of me too quickly. I carried the bottle and glasses back to my table, making sure I was still strutting as best as I could, and joined my new friend. We found ourselves within an easy conversation. I introduced the town to her as she introduced herself to me. She was born and raised in Charlotte, and we had already started planning shopping excursions.
While still talking to Jordan, my heart thumped again. Fire scorched my skin from the electricity pulling me to turn away from her. My eyes lifted to the other side of the bar. A pair of blue ones peeked over a shoulder and from underneath the brim of a black cowboy hat.
“Oh my God, there’s Paul,” I mumbled. My eyes were drawn to him. He turned away, hanging his head a bit, so I proceeded to tell Jordan who Paul’s friends were, including the ex. Those eyes of emerald also caught me looking at him. He turned away when a certain hated blonde strolled by. He’ll never change.
“With their friend, Tom, who is sitting to his right.”
She leaned back and forth, trying to get a view of everyone, and then stopped suddenly.
“Ellie, I have to run. I am so sorry. Can we do this another time?” She began scooting out of the booth with her purse tight within her grip.
I paused with my glass halfway to my mouth. “Sure, the festival is Friday. We can do that. Stop by the store this week for lunch.”
She rushed off, leaving me with a half of bottle of wine. I poured another glass and chugged it. I proceeded to empty the bottle into my glass as I watched Tom mingle with Angela, and then Lance ran off after her. What was up with this girl and those boys! As long as she stayed away from Paul, then I didn’t care who or what she did.
Paul shifted on his stool and caught me staring, but I didn’t blink away. I wanted him to know I was staring. I kept my eyes glued to him as I took a long sip from my glass. He didn’t shift his stare away from me either.
It’s now or never.
I scooted out of the booth and steadied on my heels. Placing one foot in front of the other, I strutted directly toward him. The Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat. I licked my lips with thoughts of kissing down his neck. I came to his side, mere inches away, and my knees weakened from months of missing his scent. I licked my lips again, knowing his eyes would be drawn to them. And I was right.
“Hey.”
“Hey, El,” he whispered.
I just wanted to throw my arms around him and drag him home with me, but first things first.
“So … do you want to tell me what the fuck happened to you?”
ALL OF THE breath left my lungs when she scooted out of the booth and walked over to me. I saw her as soon as she walked in the door. My heart ached with need, my jeans tightening at the sight of her. I had avoided downtown all summer, but something told me that I needed to come out tonight. I swallowed from thirst as her breasts bounced underneath her deep purple tank. The V-neck plunged to the depths of her cleavage. I wanted to expose her in this very bar. She was always short, but with that black skirt and those heels, her legs looked a mile long. The memory of them wrapped around me and twisted with mine caused me to swallow my thirst once more.
I met her eyes, the specks of green and blue so intense. Her skin glistened from the humidity in the air. Her red locks hung down her frame with a slight curl at the ends. I longed to run my hand through the layers of silk and immerse myself in the pure scent of sunshine. She stopped close to me, but not close enough. Her chest grazed my arm. My fingers twitched upon instinct. Behind the wine swimming in her eyes, they were sad. The life that radiated from her seemed void. What had happened? I breathed out a silent sigh. What douche bag broke her heart?
“Hey.” The sound of her voice halted my heart. Just the sweetest whisper from her pink lips was all I ever wanted.
I cleared my throat in the hope that the yearning need that pulsed through my body didn’t come out when I spoke.
“Hey, El.” I lifted my mug to take a sip, attempting not to seem interested, because that was what I had to do in order to keep some sort of composure.
“So … do you want to tell me what the fuck happened to you?”
I cringed at her choice of words. I played it off, continuing with my sip. I let her question hang in the air as I settled any emotions. What the fuck happened to me? I couldn’t hide my smart-ass smirk. A guy answers her phone and she cusses at me. I shook my head. There was a piece of the puzzle missing.
“I’ve been here, Ellie. What about you? I’m surprised you made the move. And alone at that.” I took another sip of my beer and didn’t look at her. So many emotions buzzed through me. I didn’t want her to see it in my eyes. I kept them forward when Tom called her over.
I swiveled on my seat, blocking them out to compose myself. Before I could focus on anything around me, a stern look from my best friend caught my eye from across the bar. He cocked his head to the side, and I obliged. I stepped off the stool and weaved through the crowd of people. When I approached, he wore his careless face, but I knew my best friend’s eyes.
“Was that Ellie?” Lance glanced past me, and then his eyes flicked back to mine.
“You did know she moved back here a couple of months ago, right?”
“Yeah, but I hadn’t seen her.” His eyes roamed past me again and landed on Ellie. That same look appeared in his eyes as it did all through high school. I was an idiot. No one could ever get over Ellie.
“Why don’t you go over and talk to her?”
He shook his head, self-doubt etched on his face.
“I think I’ll stick around Angela.” With a shrug, he added, “It’s better this way.”
He patted my shoulder as his head hung slightly, and went back in the corner. The guilt of what I had already done with Ellie and to my best friend consumed me. I glanced back at the bar. Ellie conversed with Tom and Mrs. Betty. Our eyes met and my heart broke. How could h
e ever give her up?
Torment and agony sucked the life out of me. I needed her like I needed air to breathe. I was only a ghost until she had awakened me and brought me to life. I fought to crawl out of the black hole that I had succumbed to, but it was no use. Only Ellie could pull me from it, but how could I get her back? How could I keep it from Lance?
I walked back over and acted like the friend I had always been. I slapped Tom on the back, welcoming myself to the group.
“So, is this guy pumping you for information about your new friend?”
Ellie smirked at me and then at Tom.
“Yes, why are you pumping me for information about Jordan?” Her smile lit up the room and my heart.
“This guy likes to walk in on women at The Inn apparently.”
She gasped at my remark and looked at Tom. “You didn’t.”
“While she was in the tub!”
She gasped again at my statement, and then swatted his arm. “Thomas McCloud!”
“What?! She didn’t hear me knocking!”
Ellie glared, and he added, “I am innocent in all of this!” He chugged his beer as he stood and dug out a few bills from his wallet. “I’m getting out of here. Y’all have fun.”
I watched him leave, and then glanced around Dixie’s. Neither Lance nor Angela was in sight. I sidled up on the barstool again, right where I left off with Ellie. Mrs. Betty came back to refill my beer.
“One for Ellie here and two shots of Jack.” I placed my order with Mrs. Betty, and she nodded and turned away.
“Trying to get me drunk, cowboy?”
I couldn’t help my smirk. Mrs. Betty placed two shots and two beers in front of us. I scooted one shot over to her and grabbed the other one. I raised it up to her, feeling the burn before the whiskey even passed my lips.
“Here’s to miscommunication.” I downed it while she remained frozen.
Mrs. Betty passed again, and I lifted my finger for one more. Ellie remained still, holding the shot in her hand, and I didn’t even look at her. I had no idea what to do. Another shot was placed in front of me, and by the time I downed that one back, she slammed the empty shot glass on the wooden bar. I turned my head toward her, and our eyes met. I wanted to rip my heart out of my chest and not feel any of this. If I could cut off my emotions, I believed I could survive.
