My eyes flow down her face until they land on her pink lips, watching as they part and whisper, “Whoa.” I swallow back a lump that found its way into my throat, the past once again pressing against reality. Being here at the diner with Raine is causing a wave of memories to hit me. “It’s updated but yet the same.”
She walks past a booth, her index finger tracing the dark wood of the table until her hand spreads against the brown leather seat. The walls, which used to be a dark red, are painted a burnt orange. However, the walls toward the front of the diner and side remain exposed brick. They’re decorated with old newspaper clippings, pictures of the building from when it was a lawyers' building, as well as the Loveitt family through the generations.
Several booths line against the windows and walls, and the middle of the diner is filled with round wooden tables and black metal chairs. In the center of each table is a small vase of fresh flowers that they change with the season and LED candles that create a warm atmosphere.
“It still feels like a scene from a romance movie,” she whispers, more to herself, but I hum in agreement. “I used to stand behind the counter and wish I could photograph people. Couples would come in and get cozy in the booths, as if this place helped to melt away the rest of the world, leaving just the two of them together. Or the families that would fill the space with laughter, sharing funny stories while they enjoyedtheir meal. I loved how happy everyone seemed to be when they came into the diner.”
“They still are,” a cherry voice chirps from behind us.
We both twist around, and Raine drops her shopping bags to the floor and gasps in surprise. “Stef!”
I try to remember the spunky version of Stefanie from when Raine worked here a decade ago. She still looks familiar, but parts of her have changed. She looks healthier now, no longer has bleached hair, and stopped wearing eyeliner that looked like it was applied with a wide-tip Sharpie. No one looks the same as they did ten-plus years ago.
“Raine Wiley!” she says, a smile lighting up her heart-shaped face, holding her arms out in a welcoming way. Raine moves quickly, wrapping her arms around Stefanie, and she practically bounces with joy.
“Oh my goodness! You’re still here? How’ve you been?” The words fly out of Raine’s mouth.
“How long do you have?” Stefanie laughs and points to a nearby table. Raine looks back at me, silently asking if this is okay, and I toss an encouraging smile her way.
Stefanie was never one to tell a quick story. I remember the nights I would be sitting in a booth, waiting for Raine to clock out after her shift, and share some interesting debates with Stefanie. She would start explaining something and then somehow end up sharing another story before turning it back around to the original topic. However, today, she only keeps Raine for twenty minutes before people from the festival start making their way into the diner for a meal.
Raine swaps numbers with her, promising they can catch up while she is in town, before she makes her way back to me. “Sorry about that.” She shrugs her shoulders shyly.
“No need to apologize.”
“Downtown Covewood looks so different now, and yet, walking back into this place feels like being back in the past.” Her lips turn up into a sad smile.
It does something to my heart. Before I can think of what I’m about to do, I place our bags onto the floor to free up my hands. I take a small step forward, the toes of our shoes tapping with the movement, and slide my hands up her jawline until they find her hair. Raine’s eyes flutter, and I want to kiss her so badly.
Instead, I tug her close until her head lands against my chest and wrap my arms around her. The fact that the bad memories overpower the good ones for Raine causes this protective force to wash over me. Ten years later and all I want to do is keep Raine happy and secure.
“I know what you mean,” I whisper into her hair before pulling back, retrieving our bags in one hand and taking hers in the other.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Now
Raine
“There you guys are!” Olivia’s voice chimes over the crowd.
Zane is following behind her with Annabelle on his shoulders, and it’s adorable. Witnessing Zane and Luke take on the role of fun uncles has me in a puddle of mush. I give Annabelle a wave before Zane places her on the ground, and she runs toward me.
“Raine! Did you like the flowers Daddy and I picked out for you?” She points to the bouquet I’m clutching.
“Absolutely! Thank you so much for them.” I bend down to her level, my knees cracking as I do, and I bring her into a hug.
“Wanna go have some girl time?” Olivia whispers into my ear.
I nod, waving goodbye to everyone, and wrap my arm around hers. A little space would do me some good, because being around Ryland has me feeling confused. I keep having to remind myself that I can’t rekindle a bad breakup over a few weeks. Things are strained between us, and I don’t know howto properly manage my emotions around him. Everything feels so foreign and yet familiar all in one.
I also have to return to Rockdale at some point. I have a job and an apartment that I can’t just run away from to chase down the idea that maybe he and I can finally have our happily ever after. Putting all my eggs in that basket is foolish and I need to make smart choices for my life. I’m just not sure what that is at the moment.
Olivia tugs me forward through the crowd of people, and I catch a peek at Ryland over my shoulder. He is watching us, and I give him a smile before turning away and following Olivia.
We venture into a few shops and end up back at The Groovy Bean because can you really have too much coffee? We’re in the bathroom, and I catch a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror. I feel breathless from laughing so much with Olivia. My cheeks are flushed, and my face holds a grin that almost has me unrecognizable. It’s been so long since I’ve felt like this.
Even in the midst of grief, joy can be found.
