Page 16 of Right Where You Left Me
“Yeah, alright. Thanks Riv.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Why do you think something is wrong?” I scuff the toe of my boot against the sidewalk. I still haven’t moved from the front of the candy shop and I don’t know why. Do I want to see Emma walk out? Do I want to ask her what has her so upset? I feel this weird anxiety starting to spiral in my stomach over it, and I don’t like it. That haunted look in her eyes is seared in my brain now. I scrunch my eyes closed tightly and let out a breath before I start walking to the diner.
“Because I’m your best friend and I can tell by your tone.”
“I ran into Emma.” I sigh.
“Okay…?”
“And she was crying, on her way into the candy store.”
He lets out a wounded sound. “Poor thing.”
“No.” I say. “We’re not doing that, it was just. Odd. But, it’s over now and I’m heading to lunch. I’ll see you at home.”
River grumbles something at Peyton before he says, “Love you, bye.”
Piper and her family are already seated with drinks by the time I get there, and from the look she’s giving me, my sister is not pleased by that fact.
“Don’t start.” I say as I sit myself in between my two oldest nephews. I ruffle their dark hair, pecking a kiss on Tyler, the older of the two’s, cheek.
He promptly wipes it off and nudges me. “I’m too old for that.” He says haughtily and I try not to laugh at how serious he is.
“You’re eight.” I say, nudging him back.
“I’m not too old yet!” Brody says, getting up on his knees and shoving his face up close and personal with mine. “I’m only six.”
“And that’s why you’re my favorite.” I joke, kissing his chunky little cheeks.
“What’s that?” Dylan, the youngest of the three asks me. He’s pointing to the bag I set down on the table and from the smirk onhis tiny face I can tell that he knows exactly what I brought for them. This three-year-old can’t fool me.
“I brought treats for us to share after lunch. Nothing orange.” I say turning to Brody.
He shudders making Piper and I laugh. “Good.” He says, his voice sounding haunted.
“Want to explain this new development, dude?”
“Bug guts.” Tyler says, sipping on his lemonade.
I look down at him in slight horror. “Um… what?”
“I smashed a real big bug.” Dylan says, deadpan. “Brody saw it and frew up.”
Brody shudders again. “It was so gross, Aunt Saggy.”
I wrap my arm around him and kiss the top of his sweet little head, not even griping about the name they’ve called me all their lives. It started when Tyler started talking, Sagey turned into Saggy. It was never corrected and so, Aunt Saggy is here to stay.
“You said you didn’t know why the anti-orange movement, Pipes.” I say, fighting a laugh so I don’t hurt Brody’s feelings.
“I didn’t.” She says horrified. “I had no idea that happened.”
Hank chooses that moment to step in, clearing his throat. “So, Sage. How’s work?”
“Good.” I say fiddling with the cup of water in front of me. “River actually called me on my way here to tell me I have a big piece booked for tomorrow, so. That’s exciting.”
“Is that why you were late?” Piper snipes at me.
