“I’ve actually only done it twice,” Nick promised.
“It sounds like once is one too many times,” I grumbled.
“So should we warn Cole?” Tori asked.
I shook my head. “He’s a grown man.”
“He didn’t care about Natty’s heart when he broke it all those years ago,” Nick said. “And believe me, I remember it like yesterday. I had to hear about it over and over and over again.”
I rolled my eyes. “It wasn’t that bad.”
But it had been that bad. I’d been a wreck that summer and now I was still a confused ball of emotion unable to cope with anything love-related. And that was when my mind drifted back to Cole and Cynthia.
Do I tell him?
Not tell him?
Let it roll?
Act surprised?
Act like I cared?
Act like I didn’t care?
“Life generally has a way of working out,” Tori said, pushing her empty plate away.
“A bad marriage would certainly be payback,” Nick said, noticing something run across my expression so I dropped my gaze. “But you’re too much of a sweetheart to let that happen.”
“Natty is a hopeless romantic,” Tori sighed. “She’s even kept a psychotic cat for cryin’ out loud, all in the name of love.”
I shook my head. “Not true. I kept Pickles because getting rid of her would mean her certain death, and I could never do that to a living creature, no matter how much it hates me.”
“Tell yourself what you want,” Tori said. “But I think Pickles has been your way of keeping your own version of love intact.”
“No way.”
“She’s right, Natty. When you look at Pickles, does Cole pop into your head?” Nick asked, his voice softening.
“No,” I fibbed.
“Your brow twitched, sweetie,” Tori chuckled.
“So.”
“So your brow twitches when you’re lying.”
“It does not,” I protested.
“Yeah, it does,” Nick confirmed.
“Is there nothing sacred? If I’m nervous I turn into an overripe strawberry, if I fib my brow twitches…”
“Those are only things your closest friends would know,” Tori said, squeezing my hand.
“So what about the email?” Nick prodded. “You know the one Cole sent before dinner?”
I pressed my fingers along my brows so they wouldn’t move and smiled. “It was absolutely nothing. And see? No twitching of the brows.”
“Holding them down doesn’t count.” Nick shook his head. “But seriously, what was in the email?”
His email didn’t mean anything, and I certainly wasn’t going to read more into his words than what was there. Besides, I wasn’t sure I could really believe it anyway and would it change the past?
No.
“Let me guess, he saw you and realized he was making the biggest mistake of his life,” Nick said dryly. “He’d like to meet you alone and…”
Mason nodded, knowing exactly where Nick was headed with this.
“It’s not like that at all,” I assured them both. “First of all, I’m not that foolish. I work in the wedding industry, and I’m fully aware of some men’s need to have one last fling before they walk down the aisle. And second of all, I’m not a sadist. I know if I told you what was in his email, we’d all spend the next several days picking it apart trying to figure out what each line meant. By not telling you, I can pretend the email doesn’t exist.” The antihistamines were sweeping through my body and I held in a yawn.
“You not telling us what was in his email, tells me everything and more,” Nick said. “And I only hope he doesn’t break your heart again.”
“He won’t have that opportunity because he’s getting married. I just might not be doing his flowers any longer.”
“You think?” Mason laughed.
“Something tells me.” I grinned and took in a deep breath, feeling my heart rate slow and my hives begin to disappear. I had a great life filled with wonderful friends and an amazing job I got to do every day. I wasn’t going to let Cole Hill’s return topple my world.
“I know I don’t know all the relationship details,” Mason said. “But I have to say, he couldn’t keep his eyes off you and if his fiancée noticed—”
“She’d be a fool to walk down the aisle with him,” Tori completed his sentence. “But, she’s the one with a profile on a hookup website so maybe turnabout is fair play.”
“Guys, I love you dearly, but there is a big difference between Cole maybe offering a second glance in my direction after he hasn’t seen me in eight years and Cynthia who has gotten it on with complete strangers while she’s engaged.”
“That’s all I wanted to hear,” Tori said amused.
“What?” I wrinkled my forehead.
“That you still have a soft spot in your heart for Cole.”
“That’s not a soft spot. That’s just a completely objective observation.”
“Completely objective.” Nick nodded. “And unbiased. So how are we going to tell him his fiancée is actively pursuing other options?”
“We’re not going to interfere. I think we’ve already done enough damage and I don’t want to become known on the island as the wedding killer.”
“I can’t believe you’d get up at five and ride with me to the flower wholesaler on your one and only day off.” I glanced at Sophie before leaving the ferry terminal. She was grinning from ear to ear.
“You’ve been through a lot since Cole came back. I wanted to make sure you’re doing okay. Besides, it’s not every day that I’ve got gossip to share. Nothing ever happens in our little town…but this, this is huge. And my brother is in town to watch after dad so I get the weekend off, and what better way to spend it than with my best friend?”
Sophie had been taking care of her dad who’d had a stroke. Her stepmom was overwhelmed, and Sophie helped in any way she could, which pretty much ate up all of her free time. My best friend was the hardest-working, most loyal human being on the planet. I also knew to stay on her good side.
“Why am I afraid to hear what you’re about to tell me?” I smiled, pulling into the heavy Seattle traffic. Rush hour thrived on these city streets, no matter the day or time.
I’d made Sophie promise not to tell me a thing until I’d had two cups of coffee hit my veins. I needed clarity when it came to Cole, and I assumed whatever she was dying to relay had to with him.
“Don’t be afraid. Okay, are you ready?” A glint of delight sparkled in her eyes, and I slowly nodded, followed by a quick shake of the head.
“Should it wait until after I pick up the flowers? You know, I think it should.” I answered my own question. Turning into the lot, I found a parking spot next to the plain, concrete building. “It sounds like I need to be focused on what you’re about to tell me.”
“Why are you putting it off? Aren’t you the least bit curious?” Her brow rose as she flung off her seatbelt and waited for my reply.
“Fine. You can tell me when we’re inside.”
She nearly jumped out of the car, and I wondered what could be so juicy that her entire existence soared.
We walked through the automatic doors, and the chill outside was nothing compared to the temperature inside the building. Bright green foliage, colorful blooms, exotic berries, and glossy houseplants were stacked on endless tables. The air smelled fresh, and it put me in a good mood immediately. I loved my profession, and I loved that I wasn’t on the island this morning. With Cynthia and Cole wandering around, it made Fireweed feel extra small.
“Okay, so don’t let me forget to pick up my special order from Jack. I can’t tell you how many times, I’ve roamed through the aisles here, grabbing anything and everything, and then left without picking up what I specifically came for.”
“Sounds to me like you’re trying to buy time and confuse me.” She zipped up her jacket and pulled the hood over her head.
“Not at all.” I pick
ed up a bunch of Fire and Ice roses and sniffed in. These would be perfect for Monday’s order. I spotted hypericum berries and guilt flooded through me.
Would Cynthia still want those at her wedding? Even though I wouldn’t be the one doing her flowers, I could at least provide a list of things she seemed to be interested in to the next florist.
“So there I was at the Loxxy, tidying up a stack of newspapers by the library’s fireplace—you know the one right next to the lobby—when I heard a woman hollering as she entered through the double doors of the hotel. Actually, it was more like a shrill cackle.”
I could tell this was going to be the painfully long version as I stacked a bunch of pink daisies in my arms and proceeded down the aisle.
“Well, at first, I wasn’t sure if I should hide or come out to help, but then I recognized her voice so I snuck over and hid behind the library door to get a better look. It looked like she was ranting to herself, but then I saw Cole stroll into the hotel behind her. His hands were jammed into his pockets, and he didn’t seem the least bit concerned. His eyes connected with mine, and I swear I almost detected a hint of a smile.”
“Maybe it was an embarrassed smile.”
She shrugged. “I doubt he cares what anyone thinks.”
I had to agree. Cole never let anything faze him before, and I doubt he’d care what a bunch of islanders thought about his not-quite-sane fiancée.
“So was she mad at him about me or the situation? Because all that happened at dinner was that she found out Cole and I dated briefly in school. Why would she be that angry over an old relationship from that many years ago? Cole was as surprised as anyone to find out I was the woman behind the curtain at the floral shop, and I’d imagine Cynthia would understand that.”
Sophie stopped and folded her arms over her chest. “Honey, growing up together and dating until college is not dating briefly.”
I shook my head and carried on. “But I’m not the one with the ring on my finger.”
“Anymore,” she corrected.
I rolled my eyes and grabbed deep blue delphiniums to add to my collection.
“And I’m not certain Cynthia is all that rational.”
“Yeah, but at dinner, Tori didn’t mention we’d been engaged.”
“No, but it sounded like Cole told her as he delivered her to the Loxxy.”
A flutter entered and exited my belly in record time.
“Why in the world would he do that?” Bewilderment washed through me and so did the email Cole sent.
“Maybe he felt he’d better come completely clean since he’d already forgotten to mention their wedding florist was his ex-girlfriend soon to be known as the ex-fiancée.”
“When you put it that way, the situation sounds horrid.” I grinned unexpectedly. “But the good news for Cynthia is that the ex-girlfriend is now the ex-florist. I emailed Cole last night before bed and canceled the contract.”
Sophie looked incensed. “I’m not here to talk business arrangements. I’m here to give you the dirt.”
“The dirt?”
Her eyes widened as she forged ahead.
“I thought that was the dirt?” My brow arched.
“Not even.” Sophie picked up a bunch of roses and drew in the floral scent.
“Because I can understand Cynthia being a little shocked by finding out her fiancé dated their wedding florist.”
“I doubt you’d fly off the handle though. I know I wouldn’t. It’s not like Cole knew you owned the shop,” Sophie added.
“Yeah, but Cynthia might not believe that. Maybe she thinks Cole knew the whole time,” I offered, suddenly wondering why in the world I was making excuses for Cynthia. She was busy doing the tango on hookup sites.
Sophie dipped in front of me and shook her head. “Forget about that. What I’m about to tell you will blow your mind. I guarantee you that all your sympathy for that woman will fly out the window.”
I stopped moving and gave my full attention to Sophie.
“What do you mean?”
“She hit on Walker.”
“Like hit on him how?” I asked.
“When he delivered room service, she cornered him in her room. She ran her hands up his chest and everything.”
I stifled a laugh. I couldn’t imagine poor Walker trying to fend his way to freedom. He was a local high school senior and had a devoted girlfriend. He worked for me briefly when he turned sixteen delivering arrangements. What we both learned during that experience was that Walker didn’t understand maps or directions at all. The hotel job was perfect for him. There weren’t many floors to get lost on.
“He explained he had a girlfriend, and Cynthia explained she wouldn’t tell,” Sophie continued
I got a sick feeling in my stomach and then something occurred to me.
“I doubt that happened that way.”
“Doubt what?” Sophie hooked her finger through her belt loop.
“That she’d order room service. The girl doesn’t eat. She said so herself.”
“Well, I can get a copy of the receipt to prove it.” Sophie shook her head. “I just told you that Cole’s fiancée tried to cheat on him, and you’re stuck on the fact that she wouldn’t order room service?”
“When you put it that way, it seems strange. But I’ve seriously grown since this whole debacle sprang up. Seeing Cole with someone who he wants to spend his life with puts things in perspective.”
“Well, it gets worse.”
“For who?” I laughed.
“Walker told his girlfriend, Heather, about it, and she came blazing to the hotel.”
“Oh, no.”
“Oh, yes. And Heather wasn’t having it. She stayed there all night in the lobby waiting for Cynthia. Since Margie at the front desk wouldn’t give her Cynthia’s room number, Heather fell asleep about the time Cynthia slipped out of the hotel.”
“Young love.” I grinned. “I can only imagine the rumors that will be flying around school come Monday. Walker’s own Mrs. Robinson. You know, I still don’t believe she ordered food.”
Sophie chuckled. “Because I know that’s how you think, I happened to look at the ticket, and she ordered a cup of clam chowder, a cheeseburger, and a chop-chop salad so say what you want, but she ordered food.”
“You spied on what the poor woman ordered?” I was completely astonished. We really did live in a small town.
“There is nothing sacred about that woman. Cynthia knows exactly what she’s doing.”
“Okay, so she allegedly hit on Walker and then what?”
“She left this morning to catch a ferry.”
“Without Cole?” I asked.
Sophie nodded.
“There’s got to be more going on here. No one would break off an engagement to the man they loved over a hussy of a florist,” I laughed.
“Even if you wanted to be a hussy, you couldn’t pull that off. Not in your wool sweaters and flannels. Your idea of dressing up is switching to cashmere.”
“I take offense.”
“It’s a compliment.”
“Sure it is. I feel like the direct translation of that statement is crazy cat lady.”
“Well, you do have a crazy cat.”
“Pickles refers to herself as chemically imbalanced, and I think you should respect her wishes just as I do.”
“Is any of this penetrating that thick skull of yours?” Sophie ignored me.
“It has nothing to do with me, so there’s not much for me to say.”
“Why aren’t you surprised by what I just told you? That was my news—my big news. Cynthia might be a cheater and you don’t even make a peep about that?”
“Nick kind of broke the news last night after they left and I came to.”
“And you didn’t tell me?”
“I didn’t have a chance. She’s on some hookup site.”
“No way,” Sophie hissed. “I wish I’d known that last night.”
“Why?” I asked, and a shiver ro
lled up my spine. It was time to wrap up this excursion.
My stomach clenched as the seconds ticked by without an answer.
“What?” I demanded.
She bit her lip and took in a deep breath.
“When Cole delivered Cynthia’s bags later, I happened to be in the lobby and he asked if I wanted to have a beer with him after my shift.”
My ears began ringing, and I barely saw her lips moving. The brightly colored flowers behind Sophie spun into a kaleidoscope of geometric shapes as I stared at her.
“He asked you out? My best friend out?” I groaned. “After I canceled their contract and passed out in bed, drunk from antihistamines, he was hitting on my best friend?”
Sophie looked horrified and shook her head frantically. “He wanted to find out about you. He wasn’t asking me out as in a date.”
I stilled at the horror of it all and my shoulders sank.
“And might I say the version you gave me about how Cole broke up with you doesn’t match his side of the story at all.”
“What in the world do you mean? There’s only one version and that’s the truth.”
“Not according to him.”
My heart was beating too fast for its own good. Whatever he told my best friend flat out wasn’t true.
“All done,” I muttered, heading up to the register.
“Don’t forget about your order with Jack,” Sophie whispered as I shot her daggers.
Whose side was she on? Telling me my version of the worst breakup in history didn’t match his interpretation? Ugh.
Jack brought over a box full of lily of the valley and peonies I’d ordered, but I was so flustered, I didn’t even bother to check them other than a quick glance under the cardboard flaps. I quickly paid for all the items and hauled them out to the car and stuffed everything into the trunk. Sophie knew to keep up or she’d get left behind. Just as I never wanted to get on Sophie’s bad side, she didn’t want to get on mine and she was inching closer.
It wasn’t until we were back on the ferry that I finally had something to say.
“What did he say happened?” I asked, turning in my seat to get a better look at her. I knew she was only trying to help, but this wasn’t helping. I couldn’t afford to get myself tied up with someone who a) lies about our past b) lives in another state c) broke my heart so badly it still hasn’t mended and d) is engaged.
Love Redone in Hidden Harbor (Island County Book 2) Page 6
