Page 26 of The Kissing Part
Her eyes meet mine. “So far no one has met my criteria.”
“And what’s that?”
She waves a hand in the air. “They’re not—”
“Not me? Shayla, let me be clear, you’re never going to have me. This is a temporary gig I’m doing as a favor.”
Her eyes flash. “I was going to say they’re not experienced enough. Someone is full of himself.”
“Oh. I—”
She puts up a palm. “Just go back to eating popcorn. I don’t want to hear one more rude thing out of your mouth.”
“You’re rude.”
“Oh, very mature. I say you’re rude, and then you say it.”
“You’re rude for hogging all the peanut M&M’s.”
She looks down at the bowl, which is pretty sparse on M&M’s. “I’m sure there’s more on the bottom.” She always hogged the M&M’s.
It’s nice to know some things haven’t changed. There’s still some small part of the girl I once knew and loved. Too bad she cared more about her career, hell, even my family than me.
8
Shayla
Owen’s being a jerk. I sincerely apologized and shared from the heart that he was the best I’ve ever had. Because helovedme. It showed in every touch and every kiss. But what’s the point of sharing with a man who’s so suspicious of my intentions, he thinks I’m acting when I pour my heart out? Tears sting my eyes. I’m not a fake. I would never…I swallow hard, pushing the emotions down. I can’t fall apart now when I’m about to go to a party with his family.
I stare out the window as the car drives down Main Street in Clover Park. My memory is of a quaint New England town centered around Main Street with shops and restaurants, and it looks exactly the same. That’s nice.
The name Happy Endings in deep red stands out on a sign over the restaurant. Through the large front windows, I can see lots of people already gathered. Balloons with Congratulations! bounce cheerfully in a light breeze from the front railing.
The car pulls around the block to park in back. Owen bolts out the door as soon as we park like he can’t wait to get away from me.
I take a deep breath and follow him out.
“Let’s go.” He places a hand on my lower back and hurries me through the parking lot to the back door of the restaurant.
“I wanted to go in the front like everyone else. Clover Park is safe. Your mom says she stops by regularly to meet with the Happy Endings Book Club.”
He lets out a breath, grumbles something I can’t quite hear, and then hustles me around the building to the front. He opens the door for me and lets me go in first. He always had gentleman manners, something his dad taught him and his brother. I like it.
The moment I step inside Happy Endings, I’m enveloped in warmth and cheeriness. I was here a couple of times before. To my right is the restaurant area with several booths and tables, where a bunch of Campbells are gathered talking and laughing. There’s a long buffet set up too. Straight ahead is a long wraparound dark cherrywood bar, which is also packed.
“I see Frankie,” Owen says, guiding me over to him in the dining area. “Hey, Frankie, thanks for understanding about the change in plans.”
Frankie inclines his shaved head. “No problem.”
“She’s all yours.” And with that, Owen dumps me, heading straight for the bar.
He’s greeted by the bartender with a slap on the back. That must be Cooper, Mackenzie’s younger brother, all grown up. He’s handsome in a down-to-earth kind of way—rumpled honey brown hair, scruffy jaw.
I look around. “Let’s go see Claire.”
Frankie gestures toward where Claire’s standing with a group of women around her age. We make our way through the crowd to her. Owen’s aunts, uncles, and cousins were frequent visitors at Claire’s house, so I recognize a couple of people right away. There’s Owen’s aunt Hailey, a wedding planner and former beauty queen. She looks nearly the same, fit with long strawberry blonde hair and just a few lines around her pale blue eyes.
Next to her is Owen’s aunt Madison with a short bob of brown hair and sharp brown eyes. She scared me the first time I met her. Probably didn’t help that she said, “Owen’s got a heart of gold, so don’t hurt him or I will take you out.” I don’t think she was kidding either. A bloodthirsty woman I’d never want to piss off.
