Page 39 of As a Last Resort
I blinked.I wasn’t expecting her eyes to fill with little pools of water, and her to smile at me.I nodded, and all of a sudden, seven years of not speaking evaporated.She lunged forward and hugged me, nearly spilling my latte all over her and the floor.I didn’t even mind that when it felt like it was time to part, she held on tighter like she always used to.
“Do we both get to fall apart now?”I asked.
“I don’t see why not.”
Twenty minutes flew by reminiscing about high school and catching up on more recent life changes, including scandalous bartending stories that should absolutely be made into a coffee table book.
Lexi’s eyes sparkled when she talked about the wedding.“We’re doing it out back at Mom and Dad’s on the water.It was supposed to be low-key, but you know how Mom is.”
“So, it’s looking more likeSouthern Living’s Celebrity Edition version of low-key?”I asked.
“Exactly.And you’d love the restaurant catering the rehearsal dinner.It’s a new place on the island.More of a city vibe.The food would blow your mind.”
“It feels like a lot’s changed, but it’s all still weirdly the same.Like this place.It doesn’t feel like it belongs on the island.It’s so…” I searched for the right word.
“Amazing?”Lexi asked.“Yeah, I know.A lot of places have gotten a makeover like this in the past few years.It’s starting to look like something out of a movie, each place getting more trendy as the younger generation takes over.Do you remember when this place was called First Cup?”
“They sold Folgers as their special brew.How could I forget?”
“That was the barista’s grandma.She took over about three years ago and has completely revamped the place—the menu, staff, everything.She’s even been written up in one of those magazines for baristas.Apparently, it was a pretty big deal.”
I was so thankful we could fall into a comfortable rhythm.It felt familiar, yet something was different.That’s the thing about best friends, right?You cannotspeak for years, but pick up right where you left off, like no time had passed at all.Being with her was so easy, but there was a hum of uncertainty pulsing through my veinsas we talked.A low electric current of self-doubt.I kept wondering when she was going to get up and walk away, done with walking down memory lane once she remembered the moment where I left her and didn’t look back.
“So, tell me about this guy,” I asked, hoping to keep the conversation going.“What’s he like?How’d you meet him?Tell me all the things.”
“Rex is one of the good ones.”Lexi’s cheeks grew rosy.She told me about his job as an assistant football coach at Mississippi State, but how he wanted a head position.He’s always loved high school kids, so when a position opened up to coach Rock Island’s team, he applied.The school flew him down for the weekend and on his last night in town, he sat down in front of her at the bar.He said it was love at first sight.
“I’m sure your dad loves him.”
“I think he likes Rex more than me.Like, for real.”She laughed.“He’s a total gentleman.Completely swept me off my feet.”
She held out her hand.“Turns out his grandmother liked to collect expensive jewelry and left him this.”
“It’s stunning.”
“Thanks.”She looked down at her ring and smiled, like she was seeing all of its captured memories play out before her.“So, what about you?Are you dating anyone up in the city?”
“Was.But not anymore.”I took a long sip of coffee.I’d texted Jack (and emailed, just in case) letting him know about Robby’s situation and that I was leaving for a few weeks.I told him I wanted to touch base and at least clear the air but I hadn’t heard back from him.
“Was it serious?”she asked.
We always had this type of friendship between us where she knew what I was trying to hide anyway, regardless of what I said, soit never helped to put off the inevitable.But the truth was, I didn’t really know how to answer the question.Six months in terms of my average dating time wasn’t short.But did I ever really see myself marrying him someday, owning a house with a white picket fence, a dog, and two and a half kids?No.
But I didn’t see that for myself, period.
“I guess it was an answered prayer in a way then,” she said tentatively.
“Yeah, I guess so.And he chewed with his mouth open.”
“Ugh, Ihatewhen they do that,” she gagged.
My gaze traveled out the window down Main Street and started walking the docks of the marina.
“So,” she continued, following my eyeline, “I heard my brother brought you over.I bet it was a blast from the past seeing him and Patrick again.”
“He seems to be doing really well with the whole ferry thing.”
“I can’t tell if having Rex as the head football coach has made things better or worse for Austin.On one hand, it took some of the heat off him, but on the other, it’s like Dad’s watching what could have been, play out right in front of him.But with someone else.The ferry thing has worked out for him so far, but it isn’t what he wants long term.”She started to smile and leaned in.“Do you remember when we used to sneak into his bedroom and look for his money?”
