Page 150 of Give Me Love

I laugh. “If you’re asking me to be a piece of bread with peanut butter spread on it, then yes, I’ll do it.”

“Yes!” she yells into the phone. “She’s gonna do it, guys.” I hear her kitchen staff cheer.

“You’re so dumb,” I say with a smile.

“Well, you chose me, so what does that make you?”

“I didn’t choose you. You just sort of happened. Like a ketchup stain.”

“You’re really comparing our friendship to a ketchup stain?”

“Yeah, it was an accident, but every time you look at it, you remember how good whatever you were eating at the time was. It makes you smile and want more.”

“And I’m dumb?”

I laugh. “Whatever.”

“So, when are you going to tear down that wall?”

I sigh. “As soon as Bryce signs the papers for the building next door. Which is supposed to be this week. I’m in the process of moving everything and covering it.”

“I can’t believe you’re expanding.”

“I know. I can’t believe any of this sometimes.” I look toward the shop. I’ve removed the beads, and all the tables and chairs are shifted to the far end. We’ve closed down, but we’ve set up a coffee stand out front so people can still grab their favorite drink before going into work or to help kick-start their day. Becca is out there now; poor thing is buddled up like an Eskimo, and it’s not even winter yet. She’s always saying how cold she is, though.

“It’s like your life went from crap to fabulous.”

“Gee, thanks.”

“Hey, just being honest. Anyway, I gotta go. They need me to actually work around here. Who knew?”

I chuckle. “Bye.”

“Bye, Kat.”

I exhale and slide off the desk. “Guess I better get back to work, too.”

_____________

Halloween arrived with a bang. The club was decorated to the fullest, someone chased people down the street with a chainsaw, and the line was longer than ever. Claire and I rocked the hell out of our peanut butter and jelly costumes. We spent the night dancing at Red, got too drunk and regretted it all the next day. Bryce didn’t dress up, but kept his usual suit and tie on, while Austin looked like John Travolta fromGrease. Jace was missing in action, saying he had plans, which left Bryce and me wondering who those plans were.

Oh, and Claire’s brothers actually came and hung out with all of us. Bryce seemed to like them, which was cool. Austin was acting weird, though, and Claire didn’t appreciate it. The two ended up arguing over something stupid but disappeared for a while and came back friends again.

I meant to ask her what they did to make them both smile, but Bryce told me to stay out of it. Said it wasn’t my business. Normally, I wouldn’t listen to him because they’re my close friends, so I feel it is my business. But in a way, I think he may be right. It might be best if I do stay out of it.

They clearly like each other, but there’s a reason they haven’t made anything happen yet, and they both know what that is.

Besides, I have my own things to deal with.

____________________

A month passes, and fall ends abruptly, giving room for winter, which brings us snow and a storm we never saw coming.

Not only literally but metaphorically.

The snow was thick, and the roads were icy. Everyone in Atlanta had to stay home because we can’t drive in that shit. Grocery store shelves were empty. You couldn’t find milk or bread if your life depended on it. And it halted construction on the shop, which sucked.

We spent Thanksgiving at the ranch with the whole family…even Mary. It was a day to be thankful, a day to remind me once again what I’ve always missed out on, but how lucky I am to be able to take part in it now.

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