by Mia Brown
“Sorry, sorry, my apologies,” he said. “Let’s go back to talking about the way you look in that dress tonight. Wow. I mean, I didn’t even know you had breasts until now.”
“Tad!”
He laughed. “Sorry. I can’t help myself.”
I knew then that this was going to be the last date that I had with Tad. I’d tried hard enough to make it work, but I was not at all interested in trying harder. Tad was nice, but he was too crude for me and far too annoying. He also didn’t make me feel excited.
In fact, the more I thought about it, the more I realized how much I wanted just to go home. Being on this date was making me think that there was no reason to be here. I felt guilty about how much my mind kept wandering to someone else. It was unfair to Tad, no matter how much he annoyed me.
I pushed the burger aside.
“Uh, I’m not feeling well,” I said to him.
“What’s wrong? You feel bad that I said you eat a lot for a girl?” he asked.
I sighed. “No. Of course not. I don’t care about that. I’m just suddenly not feeling well. I think it’s best if we just call it a night and I go home.”
“Really?”
I nodded. “Yeah, I’m sorry, Tad. I feel bad, but I think I just need to lie down.”
“Need company?”
“Tad, I’m serious. I really don’t feel well.”
“Ah, okay then. Let me pay for this and we can get going. That’s a pity. You look so good tonight, and I was hoping tonight would be our night, if you know what I mean.”
I smiled. “Sorry, Tad,” I said again. I couldn’t believe that he thought he was going to have sex with me tonight. It was only our third date, and I wasn’t even sure if you could call the first one a date at all. I barely knew the guy.
“I was really hoping that I’d get lucky tonight,” he grumbled, and I decided not to answer. I felt annoyed about the whole thing. Is that why he’d ordered me the strongest cocktail? Was he trying to get me drunk so that I’d sleep with him? I was glad that I had barely touched the drink. I pushed over some money to pay my half, and after a bit of back and forth, he finally accepted it. I was glad. If he had paid for the whole thing, especially a meal I hadn’t finished, I would’ve felt even worse.
“Come on, let’s take you home,” he said. “Who knows, maybe you’ll perk up on the drive back.”
Definitely not. “Let’s go,” I said instead.
As we exited the bar, I saw Houston walking right toward me. For a moment, I thought I was just imagining it, but then he stopped and stared at me, and I knew that he had seen me. I was just about to wave when he turned around and walked away before even saying hello. Beside me, Tad had noticed, and he was chuckling to himself. I wasn’t sure why he thought it was so funny.
Houston hadn’t talked to me for about a month despite our last passionate encounter. Seeing him avoid me like this when it was clear I had seen him just reminded me how little he wanted to do with me. He probably felt embarrassed from the whole thing and worried that I was still into him. He probably regretted ever sleeping with me in the first place.
The whole thing made me feel so angry. He was the one who had asked to come and live with me. He was the one who suggested we sleep together in the first place. He was the one who said we would still be friends after. It was now perfectly clear that he had only wanted to have a little bit of fun with me, and now he felt weird about it because he had hurt my feelings and hurt his father’s feelings. Had he only been with me because I was the sort of girl his father would approve of?
“Well, that was awkward,” Tad said, and laughed. “Then again, it always is a little bit tense when two people get divorced.”
I didn’t say anything. I followed him to his car, closed the door, and told him that I was feeling even more ill than before. What the hell was wrong with Tad? And why was I with him in the first place? I was most definitely going to break up with Tad. But I’d do it tomorrow when I wasn’t feeling quite so hurt and angry. Once again, Houston had come into my life and set my emotions off. When was he going to stop doing that?
Thirty
Houston
I felt angry as I walked away. I probably shouldn’t have been so rude, as it was clear that Cassidy had seen me, but I couldn’t help myself. The last thing I wanted was to be introduced to her new boyfriend. I knew Tad from around town, although we had never been friends. There was something about the guy that I didn’t like, but I couldn’t put my finger on what it was.
He was nice enough to everyone, but something about him had always made me slightly uncomfortable. A tad uncomfortable, I thought to myself with a smirk. Also, he didn’t seem like the sort of guy that Cassidy would end up with. Although, who would she be with? Me?
I wasn’t sure where I was going, so I just continued to walk to get some fresh air. I was so lost in thought that I almost didn’t notice a figure standing in the distance. It was only when I heard my name that I jumped up in surprise. I walked toward the figure and saw that it was Brad, my old friend and the owner of The Grilled Duck. I hadn’t seen him since I’d embarrassed myself at his restaurant.
“Hey, Brad, you gave me a scare,” I said. “What are you doing lurking in the shadows like that?”
He laughed. “Sorry, I thought you saw me. I’m just taking a smoke break. It’s such a nice evening. How about you? You look like a man on a mission.”
“Do I? That’s funny, because I actually have no idea where I’m going. I was on my way to Tom’s Tavern.”
“Tom’s Tavern? But that’s nowhere near here!”
“Yeah, I know. I just came from there.”
“You did? Where’s your car?” Brad asked.
“I walked.”
“I’m confused.”
I chuckled. “I was on my way to Tom’s Tavern, but I changed my mind, and I’ve been walking aimlessly ever since. I know, it’s a long walk, but it was necessary. Although I didn’t even realize how much I walked until now.”
“Lots on your mind, huh? Well, how about you come inside for a drink on the house. We haven’t chatted in ages anyway, and I could do with the company.”
“Aren’t you working?”
He shrugged. “I own the place. I’m allowed a little time off now and again. Anyway, did you know we’ve added on a new section to the place?”
“No. What is it?”
“A bar area. The last one was so small, and we realized that a lot of people like to come and just have a drink. It’s a great addition to the place. Come on, let’s go and get a drink.”
“A drink actually sounds great,” I said gratefully. It would at least beat walking around outside all alone with my thoughts.
It was strange being inside The Grilled Duck again. I had there so many times before, and I’d even taken other girls there, but it still managed to feel like my place with Cassidy. Like it was our place. The bar was a great new addition to the place, and I was once again impressed with how much Brad had done with his life. He was eight years older than me, but I wasn’t sure if I would be able to lay the same claim when I reached 40. I felt as if my life was going nowhere.
The bar was big, and the two of us took a seat at the end. I was glad that we had a lot of privacy to talk. Before we spoke though, he went behind the bar and poured us each a drink. Then, he spoke to the two barmen on duty that night and returned to sit with me.
“Are you sure you don’t have to work?” I asked. I didn’t want him sitting with me just because he felt sorry for me.
“I don’t have to work,” he promised me. “So, what do you think of the bar?”
“I think it’s amazing. The restaurant was already the best place to come in town, but I get the feeling that this is going to be even more popular.”
He smiled. “I sure hope so. My hope is that people come here for a drink and then end up enjoying themselves so much they decide to stay for dinner. It’s a cunning little plan of mine.”
“It’s a good pl
an. I was just thinking about how impressive you are. Like, I have no idea what I want to do with my life. And here you are with your own restaurant and bar.”
“Yeah, but remember I have a few years on you,” he pointed out.
“Nah, at my age you were just as impressive. You were out and about in New York making a name for yourself.”
He shrugged. “It’s a great place, and I’m very proud of myself, but your work doesn’t define you. Anyway, you’re great at what you do. I’ve always envied your lifestyle. You still working with your dad?”
“My dad isn’t talking to me,” I said.
“What? Still? But it’s been ages.”
I sighed. “My father is one of the most stubborn men you’ll ever meet. I’m just going to show up and start working again. At least, that’s what I think I should do.”
He nodded. “That’s a great idea. He’ll see that you want to be there, then. And maybe it will make him come and talk to you. He shouldn’t be so mad at you, though. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I’m glad you think so. I happen to agree, but I also do think that I should’ve just come clean from the start. The whole fake marriage might’ve been a joke to us, but it wasn’t to him.”
“Yeah, but that’s why you carried on with it. So that you wouldn’t upset him. So in a way, you were only doing what you thought was right. He should actually be happy that you were thinking of him.”
I smiled. “You’re a good friend to say so. Sorry I haven’t been coming around lately. It’s been a bit of a weird time for me. Also, I was slightly embarrassed after we made a scene at your restaurant. I didn’t plan for something like that to happen, and I felt horrible about it.”
“Ah no, really? You felt bad? It wasn’t your fault at all. Uh, I was actually standing nearby when it happened. I don’t think you saw me though with all the commotion going, and I didn’t feel right interrupting. Anyway, I saw it all go down, and you did nothing wrong. What are the chances though that your father would be walking in at the same time as that married couple?”
“The witch and the man she has wrapped around her manicured nail?” I said, and laughed bitterly. “Yeah, it’s unfortunate.”
“I’m sorry, Houston. I actually didn’t realize how bad it was. I thought that by now everything would’ve died down. Don’t worry about it. You’ll see. It will all be forgotten about soon, but I definitely think you should at least talk to your father about it.”
I nodded. “I agree. Anyway, it’s nice to be back here again. This really is the best restaurant in town. Cassidy loved this place, by the way. It was the first time that she had been.”
“I actually saw her here the other day,” he said. “It was such a busy night I didn’t get the chance to go and say hello to her.”
I frowned. “You did? With who?” I asked, even though I already knew the answer. Still, I was hoping that he was going to say that he had seen her with her sister. I wouldn’t mind that as much.
“Hmm, some guy. I’ve seen him around town, but I have no idea what his name is.”
I sighed. “Tall, blond, a little bit cocky-looking,” I said.
He laughed. “I suppose that could be one way of describing him. I take it you don’t like the guy.”
“Ah, I don’t really know him, but I’ve never quite liked him. Also…I don’t like seeing him with Cassidy. I also don’t like that he took her here. What a show-off. Yeah, I know I took her here too, but that was different.”
“So, you’re jealous?”
“I’m not jealous,” I said. Then I laughed and took another sip of my drink. It was whiskey, which was something I didn’t normally drink, but it was going down quite well tonight. “Okay, maybe I’m a little jealous. I just don’t see her with a guy like that, that’s all.”
“So, who do you see her with, then?”
I shrugged. “I’m not sure.”
“Yourself?”
I sighed. “The whole thing is such a mess. Yeah, myself. I think. I don’t know.”
“Looks like you got yourself into quite the pickle. Why did you guys fake being married in the first place?”
“It was never planned,” I said, and I explained to him what had happened at the wedding and how Lara the witch had bullied Cassidy through school. “She was awful to Cassidy at the wedding, too. Telling her that she couldn’t believe that a guy like me would want to be with such a plain girl like her. The lie sort of slipped out of her mouth and I quickly agreed with her just to shut Lara up.
Cassidy is a beautiful woman, and nobody should talk to her that way. I couldn’t help but defend her. We never meant for the lie to get so out of control. Then, suddenly my dad was upset that we didn’t tell him, and when I tried to tell him the truth, he wouldn’t believe me. Suddenly he’s trying to throw us a wedding reception and calling everyone to tell them the news.”
“Ah shit. So you moved in with her just to please him for a while?”
“Yeah. Then it all got messy,” I said.
“Another drink?” he asked.
“Please.”
He poured us both another whiskey, and I took a grateful sip.
“I thought I hated this stuff,” I said. “But I’m really enjoying it tonight.”
He laughed. “Some things can only be cured by a good glass of whiskey.” He took a sip and shook his head. “I’m sorry, Houston. That sounds like a complete mess of a situation. So, somewhere in between that, you fell in love with her, I’m assuming?”
“Something like that.”
“So why don’t you tell her how you feel?”
“You saw her with Tad. She’s moved on. She obviously doesn’t feel the same way about me. She’s like a brand-new person now. New clothes, new look, new man. I’m the one who was left behind.”
“Are you sure? I mean, did you tell her that you were in love with her?”
“Well, no, but…”
“Then you need to do it. Hell, it’s worth a shot, anyway. Why spend your life wondering what could’ve been? I’d rather know the truth. Then you can either be together, or you can move on. Trust me, Houston. Coming from a slightly older man who has made many mistakes in his life, you need to talk to her. If you guys had been honest with each other, and with your father, from the start, then none of this would’ve happened. Don’t let an amazing opportunity slip through your fingers. One day you will look back on this and regret it. What’s that saying? Something about not regretting the things you did, but rather the things you didn’t do. It’s all true.”
I sighed. “When did you get so wise?”
“It happens when you turn 40,” he said with a wink. “Something to look forward to.”
Maybe Brad was right, but what if it was just all too late? What if the window of opportunity had now been shut closed for us?
Thirty-One
Cassidy
“So, how was your date?” Nicole asked. “Tell me everything.”
“Coffee first,” I moaned.
“Uh-oh. I know what that means. Let me get some for us,” she said, and got up.
She’d called me that morning to invite me out for breakfast, and I’d almost said no when I thought that her boyfriend was going to be there too. I loved Jonny to bits, but I hated nothing more than feeling like a third wheel. I was pleased that he wasn’t there and that I’d get the chance to vent to just my sister. She returned moments later with a tray of cappuccinos and a slice of vanilla sponge cake.
“Cake so early?”
She laughed. “Since when is it too early for cake?” she said, and handed me a little fork.
“True,” I said as I took a bite. “Thanks for the extra fork.”
“You can’t feel bad about eating cake when someone is eating it with you.”
I chuckled. “Absolutely. I mean, half a slice is nothing at all. It’s like having an apple or something. Hell, only half a slice might make us even lose weight,” I said as I took a bite. “Oh, this stuff is amazing.”
>
“I know. That’s why I bought it. I’ve heard a lot about their cake. I can make a lot of things, but for some reason, I don’t know how to perfect a simple vanilla sponge cake. I need to learn how to make this. I need to know it all. I wonder if they’ll give me their recipe. I tried to act all friendly with them when I placed the order, but they didn’t seem to notice.”
“Are you going to become a baker or something? Because if you are, I totally support that.”
She grinned and nodded. “Yeah. I’m starting culinary school next week, actually.”
I looked up in surprise. “What? Are you serious? That’s great news,” I said. “I had no idea you were really going to do this. When did this happen?”
“I ended up going for dinner with friends recently and meeting some woman who attends classes. I told her about all the baking I was doing lately, and she said that I might as well make some money while doing it. The moment she put the idea in my head I knew it was what I wanted to do with my life. I’ve saved up money over the years, so I figured I might as well just go for it. Who knows, maybe I’ll have my own little café like this one day.”
I grinned. I probably shouldn’t be surprised. With all the baking she had been doing lately, I should’ve known that this wasn’t just a hobby. It had started off like that, but lately, it had become more of an obsession, and now I knew why. “That’s such good news. I’m so glad that you’re doing this.”
“So you don’t think it’s completely insane?”
“I don’t think it’s even a little bit insane. I think it’s wonderful. And I will happily be your customer. I’ll also happily be your taster. You know, you’re going to need one of those. Someone to make sure that the product is safe before going out to the public. Thankfully, I don’t mind doing that for you at all.”
“Funny, Jonny volunteered for the same thing,” she said, and we both laughed.
“When do you start?”
“Next week. I’m so excited. I’m just going to do the one-year course, but I’ll see how it goes and maybe extend it to another year or two after that. In the meantime, I’m going to try and practice as much as possible.”
