A moment later, her phone buzzed with the number. Fifteen years. Joined at the hip through eighth grade. Surely there would still be that connection? She needed that connection. Staring at the screen, she let the anxious palpitation beat a few times, then hit Send.
“Hello?” A sweet, feminine voice lilted on the other end.
“Hey, Trace. I’m back.”
Giggling in her delightfully soprano voice, her childhood best friend woo-hoo’ed. “About damn time. I can’t believe it.”
“Grady gave you a heads up?”
“Yes. You have a good brother. I’m so sorry to hear about the divorce, but I’m thrilled you’re home. I missed you.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t the pen pal I promised to be.” It had been so lonely, moving so far from her friends and family. And she’d tried so hard to fit in. Foothills to Beverly Hills at age fourteen. Ouch.
“Me neither. You ended up in ritzville and I got a boyfriend and was convinced the world turned only for us. No wonder we didn’t keep in touch.”
“I’d forgotten about that. I think the last email I’d gotten from you was a picture from homecoming freshman year, you in your fire-engine red dress with quite the hottie on your arm.”
“And you sent that one of you in the Vera Wang homecoming gown.”
“Ouch. Let’s not dwell. I’m turning over so many new leaves, remembering what I liked about me. My cheating bastard ex-husband and charmed life was…”
“Not you. We were always halfway up a tree or making mud pies. I can’t imagine how rough that transition had been.”
The damn waterworks threatened with fiery pressure behind her eyes, but Haley hadn’t shed a tear in years, and when nothing came, no relief from the pressure, she feared she had forgotten how. Or maybe her body knew Nate wasn’t worth it. “Chocolate pie instead of mud is a bit more my therapeutic dessert these days.”
“Me too. How about I come over Wednesday morning and bring coffee and breakfast? I don’t know if Grady told you, but I’m leaving in a few days for the summer. I’ll be back end of August, and when I get home, we can stay up all night, watching movies and talking about boys and eating popcorn.”
“He did tell me. I’m bummed but I’m glad to hear you’re going on an adventure. We’ll catch up over coffee. And consider yourself fully informed, the house is unfurnished and covered in dust and dead rodents.”
“Attractive. I’ll bring a picnic blanket and we can sit outside.”
“See you soon.”
They disconnected and Haley shoved the phone in her back pocket. The old Haley was always at the top of a tree, covered in mud. After ballet and martial arts and basketball and even science club. Finding the old Haley again might be a worthy adventure.
By the time she carted all five boxes of her belongings into the house, the shadows had grown long and her arms and back ached. And her tummy growled. She flipped the switch in her desolate bedroom, a single bulb on the ceiling fan lighting up, but not without a few crackling flickers. Humph. Pulling her phone out, she searched for delivery.
Crap. First world problem. No delivery service in rurality. Not even pizza. Grumbling, she shoved her phone back in her pocket, grabbed the keys, and ventured out in search of food.
Main Street was bustling for a Monday night. Larissa’s Diner was as cheery as the day she’d left, but sadly closed for the evening. The bank hadn’t changed a bit, but was dark now that business hours were over. She’d avoided Tracey’s Apparel like the plague as a child, but it sounded fun now. Coffee shop on every corner, where it had only been every other corner back in the day. Some things changed. A few new shops, restaurants, and inns added character.
She was relieved to find no big-box retail had taken over. Essentially the base camp for dozens of mountain adventures, the town still held that artsy-tourist vibe.
Ahab’s was packed and looked too crazy for a quiet dinner alone, but she knew it was the hub where the cool grownups had hung out. Naturally, that hadn’t included her parents. Amber streetlights, updated since she’d last been here, flickered on as she scanned the streets. Sutherland’s Hardware was closing up for the evening. Good to know they were still around. She’d be investing a hefty sum there as she fixed up the house.
Maybe Pippa Sutherland was back in town? Or her older brother, Asher. Haley had always had a huge crush on him. Like all the other girls at school. Not that she was looking for a relationship of any sort right now. Ouch.
Ooh, a hole-in-the-wall pub. That was new. The narrow cedar structure with black trim and a sky blue old-fashioned door said cozy was its goal. She parked out front, checking in the mirror to be sure she didn’t look as if she’d spent the last week on the road, nor buried a dead raccoon in her backyard a few hours ago.
When she stepped onto the sidewalk, she could already smell the yummy scent wafting out. The rustic blue door opened, and a smiling couple exited the restaurant, gazing at each other, walking hand in hand. Happy and adorable. Jerks.
She shifted her purse over her shoulder and stepped inside. The mouthwatering scent of smoked meats and cheeses, homemade sourdough, and fresh brews filled her anticipating tummy. Famished, she nearly orgasmed at the impact of the savory smell.
Not too many tables, but filled enough to feel loved, the place was cozy without being cramped. Behind the register, at the edge of the bar that dominated the main wall, a collection of t-shirts and ball caps were neatly folded for sale, both themed with the restaurant’s name in block lettering, and others that had clever sayings and “Foothills” emblazoned across the chest or back. Below the register, a refrigerated display case was filled with smoked meats and cheeses from the pub, some of Grady’s Black Op beers, and a collection of cookies from Trace’s mom’s bakery, were labeled for individual sale. Warm and fuzzy at the familiar touches, Haley felt at home already.
The bar itself was a gleaming polished wood, the center of which was home to a half dozen taps. Corrugated metal siding with an iron-finished pipe footrest made up the base of the bar, twelve black leather bar stools were filled with ten happy diners.
As she moved to claim the corner spot at the edge of the bar, a roguishly deep voice radiated out from the kitchen, the vibration sending shivers over her skin as if priming her for something scrumptious. The body that followed triggered an unconscious dopey-grinned hair flip. Tall, freaking built with a black t-shirt hugging powerful shoulders… pecs… abs…hmm, nice view. Forcing her eyes north, her gaze landed on the face.
