He says nothing and his eyes cast down to the floor. I head to the bathroom to brush my teeth. He comes in and grabs the mouthwash from me. We both spit in the sink at the same time, our eyes catching for the briefest of seconds, but it’s like releasing the plug in a bathtub full of water. Memories of last night flood my brain.
They’re only pieces as I put them back together in chronological order. The drinks. The acid of the lemonade still raw in my throat. He walks out of the bathroom and I try to remember more. His hands on my skin while he helped with my dress. My lips on his skin. Oh shit.
I walk out of the bathroom to find him texting on his phone. No doubt to Brigette, explaining why he had to stay at my apartment last night. She probably thinks nothing of it because she feels no threat with me being Colton’s best friend. She trusts me. And I betrayed that trust and Colton’s last night.
Fuck, Juno, get your shit together.
He pockets his cell phone. “I’ll drive you to the hospital.”
“I can drive myself.” I want to ignore the confusing feelings where he’s concerned and being away from him will make it a lot easier.
“They’re like my siblings too. I want to see the babies.” He opens the door for me.
I file out with zero intention of acting as if I remember last night at all. But at some point, Colton will corner me about it—hopefully after I arm myself with an excellent excuse.
Two
One Week Later…
Juno
“Sorry, I’m all out,” Greta says, her apron smeared with frosting, proof she had a crazy morning. She only bakes what she bakes, and when she’s sold out, she’s sold out.
Matchmakers trust their guts, so I should’ve trusted mine this morning when I woke up with a sour pit in my stomach. I should’ve pulled the covers over my head, rolled myself into a ball, and forgotten anything existed outside of my bedroom for the rest of the day. But a failing business coupled with a fear of failure pushed me out of bed.
Now I stand inside Sweet Suga Things staring into an empty case that should be filled with donuts. And it probably was an hour ago when I should’ve been here.
“Your brother grabbed a bunch for the high school science club,” Greta says.
Austin, I think with a growl. Instead of showing Greta my annoyance, I smile and peruse the glass cases. “That’s okay. I’ll find something else.”
A potential new client is coming in today, and I want to look professional. So I figured some mouthwatering donuts and coffee from Brewed Awakenings might get him to sign on the dotted line.
As I’m looking over her cookie selection, I hear my last name mentioned behind me. Actually, I overhear two people having a conversation about my family. I slyly glimpse over my shoulder to find two old ladies Grandma Dori’s age seated at a table.
“Three of them just had babies. One is pregnant with their fourth. She’s now a great-grandma six times over,” the one says.
“She must be tired,” the other one says.
“You know Dori, it’s more bragging material,” the first continues.
Did they not notice me walk in?
“She acts like they’re so perfect. Even up in Fairbanks, I heard the stories about those twin boys. Always up to no good.”
“Well.” The first one lowers her voice. “I heard they’re all pretty much settled now except for three of them. Even that Phoenix lives with some hotshot music producer from LA.”
“My daughter was telling me something about her…”
Greta’s expectant eyes on me cause me to stop eavesdropping on the women who think my family is their business.
“Two of those and three of those.” I randomly point at the case of cookies. “And fill the rest with those.”
Greta’s eyes follow my finger, then she grabs a box and tissue to get to work.
“What is the big news around here now?” the second woman asks.
“Colton Stone is engaged.”
My heart squeezes. Who are these women and why can’t they see I’m right here in this small shop?
“Leta Stone’s grandson?” the one asks.
“You know she passed, right? Ten years ago now.”
That fall day flashes through my mind. The flowers I stared at the entire time so that I didn’t have to think about my parents as the pastor preached about what a great person Colton’s grandma was and how we should keep her memory alive.
“Oh, I forgot. It’s been so long since I’ve been back,” the second woman says.
“He’s engaged to some French veterinarian doing her internship with Dr. Murphy.”
There goes that fist squeezing my heart again. French, beautiful, intelligent, and has a helluva lot more going for her than me. I’m sure she would’ve been up in time to get the donuts.
Before I can turn around for a better look at them, the bell above the door rings and Grandma Dori enters the small bakeshop and cafe as though she owns the place. One of the things I love most about her is that she does what she wants, damn the consequences. The woman’s been hurt just like us. She’s lost her husband and her son, yet she lives for her nine grandchildren.
“Juno!” she says with excitement.
I turn around fully, glancing at the women to my right. Their faces pale like gossiping church women who got caught by the preacher.
“Hi, Grandma,” I say.
She hugs me tightly. She’s been hugging me tightly ever since Colton announced his engagement six months ago. She, along with all of my family and probably most of this town, thinks I’m heartbroken. Well, I might be, but I have a doctorate in denial and know how to smack on a smile and assure her I’m fine.
“I was going to go see you after I had a morning coffee with my friends.” She gestures to the women. “Come say hello.” She
