A tall blond guy in his twenties with a crew cut and massive shoulders approaches Jenna, asking her to dance. Probably one of Garrett’s friends.
She turns to me. “Do you mind? Are you going to be okay?”
I shoo her away. “I’m just fine here with my bartender friend.” The bartender is helping someone else down at the other end of the bar, but I wave to her anyway as though we’re pals.
Two more guys approach—dark hair, smiling types. I assume Garrett’s friends. Harper mostly has women friends. They ask me and Audrey to dance. The biggest guy, nearly seven feet, wants Audrey. I don’t know why big guys always want the petite women. Some kind of alpha-male complex.
She smiles and takes his hand, going out to the dance floor.
I shake my head at my guy still waiting for an answer. “I can’t. Thanks, though. Terrible cramps.”
He makes a face and moves farther down the bar to ask someone else.
Do I know how to repulse a guy or what? I finish my wine and order another. Slow dance after slow dance. My friends keep right on dancing. Stupid sappy love songs. Don’t people get that love hurts? You give your heart, and then he rips it right out of your chest. Without apology.
“Hello, Sydney,” a crisp feminine voice says.
I immediately straighten my spine and pull my shoulders back. It’s General Joan, Harper’s grandmother. Her sharp brown eyes know all, see all. “Hello, Mrs. Ellis.” Her short white hair is parted neatly to the side, and she’s wearing a lacy lavender dress that ends below her knees. “You look lovely. It was a beautiful wedding.”
“Yes, it was. What are you doing drinking at the bar instead of dancing?”
“Not in the mood. Can I get you a drink?”
“I had champagne earlier.” She peers closely at me. “Your eyes are glassy. How many drinks have you had from this bar, young lady?”
“Only two.” Plus three more before the bar. Not sharing that.
She grabs my glass. “And this is your third?”
“Uh, yeah. Hey!” She’s walking away with my drink, limping a little from her bad hip. Do I chase her down? How bad would that look to chase down an elderly woman who stole my drink?
I watch as she takes it to a trash can behind the hot food bar and dumps it. Geez! Bit heavy-handed there. It’s not like I’m her granddaughter. Though I have known her since I was five. She intimidated me from the start. Not anymore. I’m twenty-eight years old, and I’ll order a drink if I feel like it.
I turn back to the bartender.
“Don’t even think about it, young lady!” she barks, heading straight for me.
I cringe. The woman’s voice carries, even above the music. People turn to stare at us. Harper sends me a beseeching look, begging me to take care of the situation. Garrett, her new husband, immediately strides toward General Joan, but she waves him off. He remains walking by her side until she reaches her destination—me.
“Mrs. Ellis would like you to stop at two drinks,” Garrett dutifully reports.
“I got that,” I say.
He checks in if she needs anything, and she sends him off to get her a “fancy shrimp puff.”
“Drinking won’t solve your problems,” Mrs. Ellis informs me. “Harper told me you ended things with your fellow yesterday. You don’t even have to tell me which young man he is. He’s been staring at you since you walked down the aisle as bridesmaid at the church.”
“He can stare all he wants,” I say.
“He’s in love with you, girl. Go talk to him. You think love comes along any day of the week?”
I give her a sideways look. “You don’t understand. He wants to run my life.”
She grips my arm. “I had a once-in-a-lifetime love to a wonderful man who left me too soon. Don’t waste one precious moment.”
I swallow hard. Her husband died when Harper was little. And my dad lost my mom too soon as well. He always said he was glad they married quickly because it meant he’d spent as much time as possible with her.
She sighs. “You don’t have to kiss his ass. Just say hello, and things will progress from there.”
I laugh a little. She rarely curses, so I know she’s serious. “He’s pissed I turned down his proposal the morning after accepting it, and I’m pissed he keeps going behind my back to fix my life. Which is going just fine, by the way, and would’ve been without his help.”
She nods once. “So everybody’s pissed and nobody’s happy.”
“Exactly,” I say softly. She has a point. I’m miserable. I turn to look at Wyatt. He’s standing next to a beautiful brunette actress. Her hand’s on his arm, and he’s not pushing it away. I recognize her from Harper’s last TV show. He smiles down at her, saying something. I face front, a stab of jealousy making my chest ache.
“He seems just fine to me,” I tell Mrs. Ellis. “I’m going to get a breath of fresh air.”
I rush from the room, but not before I hear her say, “Foolish kids.”
The icy wind whipping between buildings instantly sobers me up. Okay, he was just talking with that actress. Never mind that she’s beautiful. What am I doing running away like this? I’m bold. I face life head-on. Mrs. Ellis is right. I should talk to him. I’ll say hello. Maybe he’ll apologize, and we can work it out.
Only when I return, he’s slow dancing with the actress from earlier. Pride and not a small amount of jealousy and indignation stop me in my tracks. We just broke up! You don’t see me dancing with another guy. Mostly because I don’t want another guy touching me right now. For Wyatt, it’s no problem.
Screw it. I’m getting another glass of wine. I don’t care what the General says. She never had to deal with the likes of Wyatt Winters.
It’s now been three excruciating days since our breakup and not one word from him. Okay, he said hi as we passed each other on the way out of Harper’s wedding reception, but that’s it. No texts, no phone calls, nothing. Missing him is too much to bear alone. Thank God for my friends. I’m heading over to Jenna’s apartment over Summerdale Sweets. She’s most known for her cookies, brownies, and cupcakes. This past summer when she first opened the shop, her ice-cream sandwiches made with cake layers were wildly popular.
I ate a light dinner, knowing Jenna would provide decadent desserts. The moment I step inside her apartment, my mouth waters. It smells like chocolate heaven. My gaze darts to two bakery boxes sitting on the round glass table in the dining corner of the open living room. “Did you bring double fudge brownies?”
“Oh, hi, Jenna, so good to see you again,” she says mockingly.
I laugh and give her a hug. “Sorry. I could really use the chocolate.”
“Duh, of course I have the double fudge. What am I, new at ex recovery therapy?” She gestures to the boxes. “Help yourself. Audrey will be here any moment.” She settles on her gray sectional sofa with throw pillows in red and black. Jenna’s tall, so she picked a sofa you can stretch out on in one direction with a long chaise lounge on the side for another place to stretch out. The three of us have sprawled over that sofa many a night, sharing a bottle of wine and waxing philosophical about life, mostly men.
She’s already set out small china plates for dessert. I peek in the box, torn between a salted caramel brownie and the double fudge. I glance over at her looking cozy in her light gray knit cap, gray cardigan over a cotton T-shirt, and jeans, her long legs tucked under her. “I can’t decide.”
She gestures toward the kitchen. “Get a knife and take a piece of as many goodies as you want. You don’t want to eat multiple brownies, too rich even for you. You’ll leave here with a stomachache.”
I go to her small kitchen through an archway, grab a knife from the knife block, and go back for my brownies. I slice the salted caramel and double fudge in half and set them on a plate. I peek into the second box. Big fat homemade cookies—chocolate chunk, double chocolate chunk, butterscotch oatmeal, snickerdoodle, and peanut butter crunch. Decisions, decisions.
The doorbel
l rings, and Jenna pops off the sofa. “Audrey’s here.” She leaves to let Audrey in.
I grab a double chocolate chunk cookie, figuring the more chocolate, the better. I have so much food I just pull out one of the cushioned black leather chairs at the table and sit down. I don’t want to get chocolate on her sofa.
“I brought the wine,” Audrey says, appearing in the living room. Her long black hair stands out against her cream sweater that ends mid-thigh. She’s in black yoga pants with sneakers. A more casual outfit for her. She often wears blouses with neat Peter Pan collars and trousers or a skirt to work.
“Hey,” I say, giving her a small wave.
“How are you, Syd?” Her voice is full of sympathy, and my own throat closes with emotion. Chocolate is a temporary distraction. This breakup has been hard. I fell fast and broke up fast. It was a whirlwind that I’m still reeling from.
“Not great,” I admit.
She sets two bottles of pinot grigio on the table, which is her favorite. I bet she brought them from home. She wraps an arm around me in a side hug, pressing her cheek against mine. “I see you’ve armed yourself well with chocolate.”
“Yeah.”
Jenna appears with a corkscrew and three wineglasses. “So how much do we hate Wyatt?” She uncorks the wine.
“I don’t hate him,” I say. “Gimme some wine, and I’ll tell all.” I only told them the basics before Harper’s wedding on Saturday. The next day I was working.
Jenna pours a generous glass for me and then a normal portion for her and Audrey. She takes a seat on one side of me. Audrey is sitting on my other side, even closer. She pulled her chair over, probably so she could hug me as needed. We clink glasses in a silent cheers like we always do.
“What happened?” Audrey asks gently.
“Yeah, you seemed so happy with him,” Jenna says. “We never saw you.”
“You guys saw me almost every Thursday Night Wine Club,” I say before shoving double fudge brownie in my mouth. I missed one Thursday night meeting when Wyatt and I went out for dinner in the city. I’m momentarily distracted by the explosion of rich chocolate flavor in my mouth. I could eat these all day.
“That was at The Horseman,” Jenna says. “Not the three of us hanging out, or going out even. When’s the last time we all went out?”
I swallow down brownie. “I’m too broke to go out, remember?” And now I’m in the clear thanks to Wyatt. No debt whatsoever. I wish I could appreciate that more. If only it wasn’t wrapped up with so many strings. That’s exactly why I did my own thing through Harper. And then he went behind my back again. He doesn’t think I can handle being the boss of my own life. I’ve always been the boss.
“Oh, yeah,” Audrey says. “We should plan something that’s fun but free.” She turns, giving me a meaningful look. “Do you need more wine and/or chocolate before sharing the details?”
I try to smile but can’t quite pull it off. Then I spill my guts from the exhilarating high of love to the devastating low of a proposal made for all the wrong reasons.
They stare at me, open-mouthed in astonishment.
“I know!” I take a big bite of salted caramel brownie, the delicious sweetness temporarily soothing me.
Jenna and Audrey exchange a look.
“Did you know he proposed?” Jenna asks Audrey.
“No!” Audrey exclaims. “Syd! How could you not tell us this major news?”
I swallow the food in my mouth and chase it with a healthy portion of wine. “It just happened a few days ago, and we broke up right after, and then it was Harper’s wedding, and yesterday I was working.”
“Seriously?” Jenna says, narrowing her eyes at me. “We have known you forever and you keep this from us?”
My lower lip wobbles. “I was too devastated to say it out loud.”
Audrey instantly wraps an arm around me, hugging me. “Okay, no problem. Sometimes it’s hard to talk when you’re upset, but in the future please know we don’t care if you’re blubbering your eyes out while choking out the words. We’re here for you.”
I do cry then, covering my face with my hands. Jenna rubs my back, murmuring sympathetically. Once the tears subside, I lift my head and sniffle. Jenna rushes off and returns with a tissue box.
“Thanks,” I say, pulling a tissue out. I wipe my face dry and then blow my nose with another tissue.
Audrey holds her hand out for my used tissues. I laugh a little. “I’ll do it.” Audrey’s such a nurturing person. She’ll be a great mom one day.
I return from the kitchen to find my friends whispering to each other. “What?”
“Can we see the ring?” Jenna asks.
Audrey sips her wine, pretending she was never interested in the ring.
I flop down in my seat. “I left it there. He can propose to the next damsel in distress who needs rescuing. That’s what he does, but that’s not me. I rescue myself.” I slash a hand in the air. “Already had. And then he blindsided me with his nefarious puppet-master plan.”
Audrey nods sympathetically. “It was too soon for a proposal.”
Jenna nods. “Only a couple of months ago you thought he was the most annoying—”
“Arrogant,” Audrey corrects. “She thought he was arrogant. And evil.”
“Satan,” Jenna says.
His sister turned to him in despair, and he took care of her.
He brushes Snowball’s teeth and grooms her daily after taking her in from an elderly neighbor.
He made me breakfast every morning.
My throat tightens, my eyes watering again. I take a swallow of wine.
“You can’t propose just to sneak in gifts,” Jenna declares.
Audrey sips her wine, not touching that one.
“It was a gift with strings,” I tell Jenna.
“Did he ask to be part of your business?” Audrey asks.
I slap the table. “He said he automatically was since we’d be married.”
Jenna cocks her head. “That’s kinda true for most married couples, isn’t it?”
My temper flares. “You’re missing the point!”
Jenna’s immediately contrite. “Sorry. He sucks.”
“Totally,” Audrey chimes in. “We hate him.”
I sigh. “You don’t have to hate him. He’s not evil. He’s just wrong.”
“So wrong,” Audrey says soothingly.
I take a bite of double chocolate chunk cookie and chew, feeling marginally better. “So this is just how he is. I have to accept that. He fixes things. He’s a fixer.”
Audrey nods. “A man who fixes with misplaced intentions.”
Jenna and Audrey exchange a look, which I pretend not to see. Something tells me they think I’m overreacting to Wyatt’s big gesture. But it feels wrong to me. He wouldn’t accept that I can do stuff on my own, and I won’t accept that he wants to be the big boss man who runs everyone’s life. That’s for his sisters and other failing businesses who ask for his help. I never asked. Well, I did ask for a loan before we were involved, but quickly nixed the idea when it was clear he wanted a piece of my restaurant.
I reach for more cookie, surprised I finished it. I was so lost in thought I didn’t even notice I chowed down.
“Wyatt is like a repairman for your life,” Audrey says thoughtfully. “But if you don’t call the repairman to fix stuff, then it’s an imposition.” She lifts her palms. “Like, what are you doing in my house fixing stuff?”
“Exactly!” I exclaim. “That’s exactly it. And he just wouldn’t listen.”
Jenna purses her lips. “Despicable.”
“Not that bad.” I feel obligated to scale back on how horrible he is. That’s not the man I know, though I appreciate the support. “He had good intentions. It’s just I didn’t need or want a repairman, like Audrey said. He offered to help, and I turned him down. But then he went behind my back to Drew and then Harper.”
“Let’s get Harp in on this,” Jenna says, pulling out her phone.
“No,” I say. “Isn’t she in Aruba on her honeymoon?”
Jenna taps her phone. “They leave tomorrow. She had an appointment today she didn’t want to miss at the obstetrician. They’re finding out the sex of the baby.”
“Put her on speakerphone,” Audrey says.
I finish my wine in one long swallow. I love Harp to death, but I don’t expect her to understand. She thinks Wyatt’s awesome. She’s the one who accepted his offer to pay off my loan as an engagement present. She knew before I did that he was going to propose and exactly what he was up to. She should’ve told me. Knowing Harp, she probably thought it was romantic. She’s so gaga for Garrett she wants everyone to be in love like they are. It’s not that easy for some of us.
Harper’s warm voice rings out. “Hi, ladies, drum roll, please.”
I dutifully drum roll on the table.
“It’s a girl!” she exclaims.
We all cheer and congratulate her.
“We’re having wine and chocolate in your honor,” Audrey says.
“Thanks,” Harper says with a laugh. “We’re both so happy. I’m going to shop for some cute girly outfits on our honeymoon.”
“So sorry to bother you,” I say. “You must be packing and getting ready.”
“Nope. Just relaxing at home. It’s not a bother. I thought you called to find out about the baby.”
I wince. In my own misery, I forgot about her big news. “Yes, but also Jenna wanted to check in with you on my, uh, personal situation.”
“Oh,” she says. “Are you doing okay?”
“Awful,” Jenna says. “Wyatt proposed just to fix Sydney’s life, which did not need any help, thank you very much.”
I shove her. “Don’t make fun. I have a legit reason to be mad.”
“What happened?” Harper asks.
Audrey fills her in on all the facts: He proposed. He paid off my loan. We fought and broke up over his heavy-handedness. He went behind my back twice.
We all stare at the phone on the table, waiting for Harper’s opinion.
“Syd, he can come off the wrong way sometimes, not always choosing the best way to express himself, but I know deep down he’s a good guy.” Harper pauses. “I thought it was a romantic engagement gift. Didn’t he tell you that’s what it was?”
Fetching: A Frenemies to Lovers Romantic Comedy (Unleashed Romance, Book 1) Page 17
