Page 19 of Chasing Forever

I still wasn’t used to it. Each time I thought I might grow accustomed to Tristan’s thoughtful gestures, he did something that floored me all over again. Even the jaded part of me that wanted to question whether or not all of his goodness was real was having trouble holding onto my doubts.

“Wow, Blythe. That’s—” A knot formed in my throat that I had to fight to speak past. “That’s so nice of you. I really appreciate it.” Being able to afford new clothes that actually fit Levi was one of the things I’d been stressing about, and why I was so excited to get this new job. And, once again, thanks to Tristan, that was another item I was able to check off my list.

She waved me off like it was nothing. “Please, that’s what friends do. They help each other out. I put the bins in the back of my car. We can move them to yours when we finish here.” She popped a bite of muffin into her mouth, and a second later her eyes rolled back and she let out a groan. “Oh, my God. This muffin is the best thing I’ve ever eaten.”

I let out a giggle and reached out to tear off my own bite. My eyes widened as the tangy-sweet flavor burst on my tongue. “Mm. Thatisgood.”

I took another bite, savoring the sugar and carbs in a silentFUto Warren.

A few seconds of silence passed between us as I enjoyed a piece of the scone. It wasn’t as good as the muffin, but it was still delicious. While Blythe enjoyed her muffin, I took the opportunity to check my phone for messages. I’d texted Tristan to let him know how the interview went, wanting to share the good news with him, but so far, he hadn’t responded. I knew he was probably busy, but I would have been lying if I claimed I wasn’t eager to see what he had to say.

A tiny grin pulled at my mouth when I saw his reply was waiting for me, and it grew even bigger when I clicked on it and read.

Tristan:I told you. In case you haven’t noticed yet, I’m usually right. Pizza’s on me. Text me a list of toppings you and Levi like.

I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth as a bubbly, giddy feeling swooshed over me. Suddenly remembering that I wasn’t alone, I exited out of the app and put my phone away. When I looked back up, Blythe was studying me closely from across the table.

“What is it?” I asked, reaching up to brush at my nose and cheek. “Do I have something on my face?”

Her expression gentled as she shook her head. “No. It’s not that. You just look happy,” she said softly as her mouth curled into a smile. And I could have sworn her eyes took on a glassy sheen. “It’s really good to see you like this. To see you excited and optimistic. It’s a great look on you, babe.”

Crap,if she didn’t stop soon I was going to start blubbering right here in the middle of my favorite coffee shop. “Please stop before you make me cry,” I said on a laugh. “Because if that happens, I’ll probably be too embarrassed to ever come back here. Then I’d have to make you suffer.”

Her head fell back on a laugh. “All right, I’ll stop.” She reached across the table and placed her hand on top of mine. “I just wanted to say I’m happy for you. You deserve this.”

“Thank you. I’ll admit, it feels really good. I only hope it stays that way,” I admitted, voicing the concern in the back of my mind since I’d returned.

Blythe’s brows pinched in concern. “Have you seen him since you got back?” She didn’t need to say his name for me to know who she meant.

I shook my head, staring down at the paper coffee cup in front of me and picking at the printed label stuck to the side with my nail. “No. But I know it’s going to happen sooner or later in a town this size. I keep telling myself I’m prepared for it, but I’m not sure if that’s true. I mean, I haven’t seen him since—” The words died on my tongue as I remembered back to that last beating. I still remembered how hopeless it all seemed, how he’d stripped me down until I felt like little more than a broken shell.

When I finally got away from him I wasn’t sure I’d be able to put myself back together, but each day, I managed to slide a few of the jagged pieces back into place. I was terrified that one encounter and I’d be right back there again. I didn’t quite trust myself yet to stand on my own two feet when it came to him.

Her fingers tightened around my hand in a silent show of support. “Well, first off, you don’t have to face him alone. You have people who care about you, Merritt. You have a support system. Second, we need to see about getting you a divorce.”

I heaved out a heavy sigh. “Believe me, I’ve thought about that. Filing without a lawyer is out of the question, because there’s no way he’ll agree to this. I’ve looked into hiring a divorce attorney, but the only ones I can afford are ones with lousy records. Warren’s the one with all the money. If I can’t come at him with someone who knows what they’re doing, he’ll drag this out as long as humanly possible. He’s going to make the process difficult enough as it is, but if I go at him with a minnow instead of a shark, he’ll do everything in his power to make my life miserable all over again.”

Blythe’s eyes sparked with fury on my behalf. It had been so long since I had a friend... atruefriend who would have my back in any way... that I forgot what it felt like.

“Then we’ll just have to find you a shark, won’t we?”

I shook my head. “Blythe, I can’t afford?—”

She held up her hand to silence me. “Friends. Help. Friends,” she stressed. And I’ll keep saying this until it finally sinks in. Merritt, you arenotalone. Okay?”

I sniffled, dangerously close to tears again. “Okay,” I agreed on a husky whisper.

“We’re going to do whatever needs to be done to sever every last tie to that son of a bitch.”

We shifted the conversation to lighter things after that. She asked about how Levi was doing and shared about the changes that had taken place in her life in the time I’d been gone. She’d quit her job as a receptionist at the doctor’s office where we first met, and started a small catering company, taking what she referred to as her stress cooking and using it for something productive. She was having a great time being her own boss and making a career out of something she loved.

She told me about how Rhodes proposed to her and shared some of the plans they’d made for the wedding so far. It was going to be small and intimate, just close friends and family, but from what she described, it was also going to be beautiful, and I’d been honored when she insisted I attend.

The conversation flowed so easily that it continued as we left the coffee shop and slowly strolled down the sidewalk toward where we parked. Downtown Hope Valley had always been a favorite of mine. It was full of charm and character. The buildings were a mixture of historic and new, all of them well-maintained. There was even a clock tower and a gazebo in the middle of town square where the town hosted things like outdoor movie nights and festivals.

As we passed by a small custom-furniture store, Blythe stopped to admire the dresser in the window display.

“Oh, look at that,” she said in awe, moving closer to the glass. “That dresser is so pretty. Ihaveto have that.”

---