Page 24 of Finding Yesterday

“Anytime.” She smiles and waves as I head out the door.

I leave the place feeling more drained than I have since the whole wedding disaster. Inhaling gulps of the warm late-spring air, I decide I’m in dire need of a walk.

Staggering down Virginia Avenue, I realize my nerves are fried. I need to get my mind off what just happened, and taking in my surroundings has always helped.

I make an effort to notice the high-end pubs with ebony wood paneling and barrels as outdoor tables. The bricked sidewalks lead to the street patios of the restaurants, filled with young professionals enjoying lunch. The buzzing sounds of traffic and the smell of spicy fries fill the air, and I can see why everybody loves the Highlands. It’s such a nice, relaxed atmosphere filled with personality, art, and so much life.

Despite my attempt at a distraction, my brain continues trying to process the blur of what just happened. I need a tutorial or class to learn all the financial and scheduling software programs. And how long does it take to pull together a killer business plan? How can I run a business when I don’t know how to do many of the basic back-end procedures? I can’t start off on the wrong foot because I don’t have a clue what I’m doing. Having initial bad reviews can scare customers away from a restaurant before it even has a chance to get going.

I should be excited about being here, but I’m not. I’m not ready to open my own restaurant yet, and I don’t want to be in Atlanta. It’s great, it’s just not for me.

Maybe Emma is right about me—I can’t do this alone. I rush back to my car and head back to Blue Vine.

To home.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

THE NEXT MORNINGI’m eating Cap’n Crunch on Daddy’s porch, giving Winston a bite or two as I go when a car rolls into the driveway.

When I realize it’s Jack, I grab Winston and throw him into his zippered carrier.

What in the world is Jack doing here? It’s early! And doesn’t he know to call before coming to someone’s house?

“Hey, Claire.” He steps out of his car. He’s wearing that plaid jacket again, the one that makes him look good. Although let’s get real—I’d probably think he looked hot in a potato sack. Or nothing at all.

“Hey, Jack.”

There’s a little snort from the carrier, and I give it a nudge with my foot, sending Winston a mental message to shut his snout. Not that I believe in mental messages, but if they happen to be real, Winston would be the one to get mine.

“Hope you don’t mind that I just stopped by.” He surveys the place before he approaches.

“Um, I kinda do.” I take my feet off the chair. “I mean, I’m pretty swamped.”

“Yeah, looks like it.” He points at my face. “I think you’ve got some milk on your chin.”

“Thanks.” I wipe it away with the sleeve of my oversized sweatshirt.

“Can we talk?” He shifts on his feet.

“If we must.”

“Thanks.” He takes a seat before clearing his throat. “Okay, so, it seems like you don’t want to work at The Fine Bone, and I get that, I really do.”

“Good, thank you.”

“But here’s the thing. You said you want to stay in Blue Vine, so maybe you could come and work for us for just a little while? Until you find something else?”

“No,” I blurt. “I mean no, thank you. I need to keep myself available for interviews. I have several prospects in Blue Vine.” I don’t even believe those words, and I’m sure Jack doesn’t either.

He cocks his head. “Prospects?”

I keep my face serious. “Yes. Several.”

“Well, that’s good to hear…” He side-eyes me. “Given the limited career opportunities here.”

I look at my nails to see if there’s anything left to pick. There isn’t. “What can I say? I’m in high demand. And a steakhouse isn’t an ideal place for a vegetarian.”

He folds his arms, the corner of his mouth ticking up. “You know, the strangest thing. I heard you’d started eating meat.”

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