27
XANDER DAWSON
“Hi, welcome to Tiffany’s Table. For one?”
Smiling at the woman who looks entirely too chipper to be standing outside behind a hostess stand in the near-freezing temperatures, I reply, “No, I’m meeting two people who’re already here. Can I go in and find them?”
“Of course. Enjoy!”
A rush of warmth hits me as soon as I pull open the door, a shiver wracking through my body at the harsh contrast. I don’t know how it’s possible, but I swear, it’s colder here than it was when I left Copper Lake. For technically being a desert, the eastern part of Washington state is bitter, chilly, and dry in the winter. An obnoxious combination of chattering teeth and chapped cheeks. I landed in Washington the night before last, but it was so late, I spent the entirety of yesterday being lazy as fuck in bed or on the couch, watching re-runs on Netflix, except for the brief couple of hours Bastian stopped by.
My to-do list is a mile long while I’m here, but the one thing I’m doing before getting started on that is meeting my friends for yummy food and mimosas. Sunday Brunch is something me,Travis, and Charlotte, Travis’s sister, used to do on a regular basis. It’s one thing I miss about being back here—probably one of the only things, if I’m being honest with myself.
Travis and Charlotte are easy to find once inside the dining room area. They’re in our favorite spot in the far-left corner, right beside the window that has a gorgeous view of the Columbia River. Travis and Charlotte are carbon copies of one another on the outside. The same blonde hair. The same deep blue eyes. The same little button nose. But personality wise, they couldn’t be more different. While Travis isn’t necessarily what I’d call docile, he is a lot more laid-back and go with the flow than Charlotte is. I love my best friend, but he’s been known to be quite the doormat in the past, and his sister would never allow that type of behavior.
Charlotte spots me first, a warm smile tipping her lips upon my approach. “There you are. Started to think you were standing us up,” she teases.
“Ha ha,” I deadpan as I slide into the open seat. “I needed to take a shower, and it wasn’t until I was fully undressed and had the water running that I realized I didn’t have any shampoo. So, I had to get dressed, run and grab some, and then head home to get clean.”
“Mmhmm. Probably too busy talking to yourboyyyyfriend,” Travis interjects with a snigger.
“What are we, in elementary school?” I laugh, instantly feeling lighter being around these two. “And he isn’t my boyfriend.”
“But you were talking to him this morning?” Travis presses with a knowing grin.
“Well, yes, but it was on my way to the store. He’s not why I’m late.”
It’s the truth. Cope was getting up and ready for the gym when I called him during my walk to the store down the block.I’ve been gone a couple of days, and I already miss him. Which is wild to me, seeing as how I was away from Henry for weeks, having barely talked to him, and I didn’t miss him, even if I tried like hell to make myself believe I did. I guess it goes to show how different relationships can be. Not that Cope and I are in a relationship…although, I don’t know what else to call us. We’re not just friends. That ship sailed. And both of usdidsay we wanted to see where this goes, so mayberelationshipis the right word.
Our server comes up and drops off a glass of water and a mimosa to me before she takes our order. As soon as she grabs our menus and walks away, Travis pins me with a look. “Okay, spill. What’s been going on with you and Mr. Rodeo?”
“Yeah, do tell,” Charlotte chimes in. “Because Travis has been skimpy as hell with the juicy details.”
“I told you everything I knew!” he exclaims, to which Charlotte rolls her eyes, clearly not believing him. I’m sure he’s telling the truth, because I haven’t told him much lately.
Giving the Cliffs Notes version, I dive in, filling them in on everything that’s happened with Cope and me. By the time I finish, our food’s arrived, and we all dig in. After laying everything out, I’m suddenly nervous about what they’re both going to say. Their approval is important to me, and I want them to like Cope and this thing we have going on, especially since neither of them cared for Henry at all. Anybody who’s ever dated somebody their friends hate can understand how straining and stressful it can be.
Travis washes down his bite of French toast with a swig of mimosa that is far more champagne than orange juice at this point. “Sounds like you got it kinda bad for this guy, Xan.”
I shrug, feeling about two feet tall and frayed wide open. “I mean, yeah, I guess. It just has felt like things with him and Ihave been magnetic since the very first meet, and that’s hard to ignore.”
“But realistically, how much longer are you staying in Copper Lake?” Charlotte asks. “If you start something with him, are you prepared to do the long-distance thing? That’s not exactly ideal, nor is it as easy as some people think.”
“Yeah, I know,” I reply as I push my eggs around my plate, avoiding eye contact.
But Travis is smarter than that.
“Holy shit,” he mutters, breathing out a laugh.
My head snaps up, gaze darting to meet his.
Charlotte looks between the both of us. “What?”
A grin splits his face. “You want to move there, don’t you?”
My stomach lurches clear into my throat at the question, unsure about how they’re going to take it. I’ve never been much of a liar, though, so with a deep breath, I nod. “Yes, but not because of him.”
“Bullshit.” Travis chuckles.
