Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
“Eve.”
I can’t stop myself from rolling my eyes.
“What?”
“We aren’t friends?” he asks quietly.
“No, we’re not,” I tell him. “Friends means we talk about what’s going on in each other’s lives, and I don’t want to be involved in your drama.”
He leans forward, glancing up as Alma approaches with more coffee, then focuses his attention back at me as he holds his cup out to her. “Thanks, Alma,” he says after she’s refilled his cup. I haven’t even touched mine.
“My ‘drama’?”
I throw my hand up in annoyance. “You know what I mean. You said she gave you an ultimatum. It’s probably something you should discuss with her.”
Zane nods, and takes another sip of his coffee. “She did. A rather nasty one at that.”
“Don’t tell me, I don’t want to know.”
“Oh, I’m going to tell you because, unlike you, I do think of you as my friend. But I get why you don’t want to be mine. I’m okay with that for now but, don’t you worry, I will make a concerted effort to change your mind.”
Fat chance.
“It seems Caryn doesn’t like Deer Ridge and has told me to get back home, and then she kindly reminded me that she can ruin my life.”
“I’m sure she’s just upset.” Although, I don’t know why. She wasn’t here for long, and as far as I know, no one ever said anything to her about me, except for Zane’s dad. Even so, everyone in town spoke highly of her.
Did they?
I could’ve sworn I heard someone talking about her, but now that I think about it, maybe not. I don’t really know. If I’m honest, I’ve tried to filter out any mention of Zane and his beautiful fiancée.
Noelle’s voice filters through my mind. “None of my business.”
“She’s the reason I was at the bar last night.”
“I figured as much when you asked me if she had called.”
“Sorry about that.” Zane looks at his mug and sighs. “Caryn’s complicated.”
“Zane,” I warn.
“No, I get it, but I need to talk, and my dad isn’t going to want to hear this. And I know you don’t either, but I don’t have anyone else to talk to. About women.”
I groan and hang my head. I should’ve stayed home.
“Fine.”
“She’s very spoiled.”
“No way,” I say mockingly.
Zane frowns. “Come on, Eve, don’t be like that. I know it sounds bad, but deep down, she’s a good person. At least, I thought she was until this trip. Caryn said some things about my dad and the store, as well as the people of Deer Ridge. And now that I’ve come back . . . I don’t know if I can leave. If I want to leave.”
Do not look for a deeper meaning here.
I take a sip of my coffee and pretend to mull his words over. Honestly, I don’t know what to say, so I bob my head a little. “You gotta do what’s right for you.”
Zane stares out the window. His hand reaches into his pocket and pulls his phone out. “Caryn? Hi.” He gets up from the table and goes outside.
“And this, people, is why I refuse to be friends with my ex.”
FOURTEEN
ZANE
As soon as I see Caryn’s name on my screen, I pick up the call and head toward the door. “Caryn? Hi.” I keep myself turned toward the window, hoping for some privacy, but knowing it’ll be useless.
“Are you on your way home?”
I look up just as Evangeline leaves Alma’s and walks past me. She doesn’t even look back or linger. Shaking my head, I return my focus to Caryn knowing any friendship Eve and I might have started is likely in the tank now.
“Zane?”
“I’m here. Sorry.”
“Well?”
Well, what?
“Here, as in New York?”
“No, I’m in Deer Ridge. I said last night—”
“And I said last night that you need to come back, Zane. Am I not making myself clear?”
A truck drives by and honks. Not sure who they’re honking at, but I wave anyway because it’s the right thing to do here. My head leans back, taking in some of the sun peeking through the clouds. Living in the Northeast means you need to absorb the sun whenever you see it. Winter depression is a real thing.
I glance down the road and see my dad outside the store, talking to a customer. He’s the reason I’m staying. Without him even telling me what it means to have me here, I know he’s happy. I was wrong to ignore him in favor of Caryn and her family.
What a piece-of-crap son I am.
“I’m not coming back until after Christmas. I know you’re worried about the party scene, and you can tell your friends that I am visiting my father. If they don’t understand then maybe they shouldn’t be your friends.”
“I can’t believe you’re doing this to me, Zane. How could you?” Cue the crocodile tears. She hiccups and cries into the phone. I can wait her out or coddle her. Doing nothing is also an option and the one I take.