Page 4 of Love at First Slice
“It was.” I nodded.
As the head cook at our local diner, Connie usually worked nights. Her dream was to own her own restaurant one day or buy the diner from Big Joe when he finally decided to retire.
“They’re pretty tight. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re engaged by New Year’s,” I muttered. I’d said the same words when Brewster wanted to talk to us as a joke. But now, with how everything was changing and how little we saw her compared to before, I didn’t think it was all that funny anymore.
Everything felt like it was about to change.
All the traditions we had somehow held on to, even when they’d left for college or travel, felt like they were about to slip between our fingers.
“Change can be hard,” Connie said. I nodded, slowly moving my attention to the cabbage and how horribly I’d been chopping it. “But it’s also part of growing up,” she added gently. I looked up at her with a frown.
“I’m twenty-eight, Con. Not eighteen.”
“I get that, but…” She shrugged. “You guys have been doing the same stuff on the holidays for almost that long. The fact you didn’t do the Halloween book club surprised me.”
“Hmm,” I muttered.
“But did you have fun?” she asked. I blinked. Had Halloween been fun? Yes, it’d been a blast.
“We did.”
It wasn’t a lie. Watching our timid friend approach a stranger with a pickup line only to go home with him had been crazy! We had stuck to our promise and walked up to strangers with corny pick-up lines, had danced and drunk the night away. It had been a night to remember.
“So… whatever has you all“—she made a face I could only imagine was her attempt to mimic my expression—“is going to be fine, too.”
“It’s Friendsgiving. They’re having it at Brewster’s house.”
“Brew—“
“Tab’s boyfriend.”
“Right. Got it.”
“And it’s more of us, not just our little group. Tabitha felt bad for her boss, so she invited him. You know, the new principal in town? So, now, so he won’t feel like the only add-on, we’re all supposed to bring a person with us.” I knew how horrible I sounded.
“Well… that happens, but it’s also the whole, you know, reason for the season. The more the merrier.”
“Why does everyone keep saying that?” I complained under my breath like a brat, hating how much I loved the sound of my sister’s laugh.
“So… who are you bringing to Friendsgiving?” I rolled my eyes.
“Me, myself, and I. I refuse to entertain all these changes.” She stared at me without judgment because my sister, being the oldest, knew me all too well. She knew I was just talking out of anger.
“Well, if you change your mind, the new waitress at the diner doesn’t have anywhere to go for the holiday. You could stop by and invited her.”
“Or you could invite her here,” I clipped. “Mom and Dad were always more than happy to add an extra place setting,” I smarted off, and I knew by the way she stared at me and took a deep breath I’d pushed too far with my bad mood.
“Okay, I see we’re not getting anywhere with this little chat.” She stood and patted the top of my head.
“Don’t do that!” I argued, but she just laughed, unaffected by my bad mood. “Want some horchata?” she asked. “I just made it this morning.”
Of course, she had. Connie could do wonders within a couple of minutes. I had no idea how she did everything she did and somehow always was so put together.So grown up.She was only five years older than me, but she had always been cooler than me.
“Yes, please,” I muttered and forced myself to smile at her when she set the cup next to me.
“You know, it’s going to be okay.” She squeezed my shoulder. “You just have to give new people a chance. Remember when Tabby moved into town? I remember you saying you didn’t like new people then.” She stood by the chair she’d just left.
“Twenty years ago,” I argued.
