Page 7 of Holiday Hook Up

Bethany bit her lip. Jason’s former editor was at theMiami Herald,and he’d done a few freelance pieces for them this year. It would be cool to have a photo byline with her name in the prominent paper.

And getting dressed up and spending her evening with friends at the Lakeside Inn wasn’t the worst idea. She did love the event.

Last year, she’d paired up with Rodney Flanagan. Her Holiday Hook Up with the mechanic hadn’t really gone anywhere, but it was nice to have someone to hang out with and a date for New Year’s.

“Can you give me a couple of hours to think about it?” she asked, while refilling his paper cup.

“Sure. I’ll be at the newspaper all day. Give me a buzz or stop in.” He zipped up his jacket and tipped his cup. “Thanks for the hot chocolate for the road.” Jason headed out the door right as Rachel sauntered in. “Hey, Jason.”

“Nice to see you, Rachel. Talk to you later, Bethany.”

Bethany waved good-bye and turned to greet her best friend. “What brings you in this morning?” She admired Rachel’s chic fashion sense even in the dead of winter. Where Bethany went for warm and functional with her classic black down jacket when the temperature dipped below thirty degrees, Rachel had on a beautiful red wool coat with shiny black buttons, her long blond hair pulled off her face in a sleek bun.

“I’m working on Brandon’s order for the Holiday Hook Up. Abby called yesterday to see if I could put together a few Christmas-themed arrangements to place around the inn. I’m hoping to grab some red bows for the vases if you have twenty or so.”

“Of course.” Bethany dashed into the back, returning with a box of bows. “You can use what you need and return the rest. I’ll charge you then.”

“Thank you.” Rachel held the box in her arms. “I wish you’d change your mind about going tonight.”

Bethany had shared earlier in the week that she was probably going to pass on the event. “Well, Jason did ask me to take some photos tonight for a story he’s doing.”

“Then you’re coming.”

“I don’t know . . .”

Rachel turned her back and leaned against the glass counter. “Well, I guarantee the town will want to see a photo of me with the man I plan on hooking up with.”

Bethany couldn’t help but raise a curious eyebrow at that news. “Who do you want to hook up with? Carter Manning?” During their last gab fest, Rachel had mentioned that she’d had dinner twice now with the town’s hunky veterinarian and enjoyed his company.

Rachel picked up a tiny snow globe and shook it, watching the sparkly silver flakes fall to the bottom. “Well, Carter’s great and all, but I think there’s another guy I’m going to try hooking up with, and I’m pretty sure when I suggest it, he’s not going to turn me down.” She giggled and pushed off the counter. “Guess who?”

Bethany pulled her long wavy hair to the side. She had a feeling she wasn’t going to like this.Please don’t say Adam. Please don’t say Adam.

“Adam.”

Nooooooooooooo!

“Really?” Bethany straightened, trying to pretend that news didn’t completely jolt her off her axis. “You want to get back together with Adam?”

Rachel gave a shoulder shrug. “No. I mean, I don’t know. Maybe. I just . . . I’ve been thinking a lot about him lately. We were a couple for so many years, and we were good together. Maybe I overreacted by giving him an ultimatum. Perhaps we deserve another shot.”

“Another shot,” Bethany repeated as the hope-filled balloon her heart had been carrying burst inside her. “Right.” She took a deep breath and pasted on what she was sure was the same smile she’d worn the first time Rachel had declared her interest in Adam that night on the football field all those years ago. “Well, if that’s what you want, I fully support you.”

Rachel set the box down and gave Bethany a huge hug. “Thank you. You really are my best friend. Maybe I’ll see you tonight.”

“Maybe,” Bethany said, with a little sadness in her voice that Rachel didn’t pick up on. She watched as her best friend breezed out the door, a giant knot in her stomach twisting tight.

Tonight, Rachel and Adam could be taking the first step in reuniting, and once again, Bethany would be the supportive friend on the sidelines.

Unless Adam wasn’t interested in getting back together. She moved behind the counter and picked up a pen, tapping it on the glass counter. Her gaze resting on her cell phone.

Flinging the pen to the side, she reached for her phone. To hell with sitting on the sidelines. Not this time. Two swipes later, she had Jason on the line.

“Buttermilk Advocate, Jason Levine speaking.”

“Hi, Jason, it’s Bethany.” She took a deep breath. “I would be happy to take photos for the Holiday Hook Up. I’ll see you tonight.”

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