Page 48 of Gin & Jewels
She went behind the counter, and I stepped up to the other side. “Feel free to fill it out now or bring it back.”
“Thanks,” I said again and took the paper from her. Taking a seat at the counter, I filled out the application using my fake name, Jeff’s address, and a phone number I had to write on my hand to remember.
Fuck, I hated this.
It had been almosttwo weeks since I’d last seen or heard from Cassie. Seth submitted a missing persons report, and that was that. I was done with physical therapy, and my arm was more or less back to normal. I hated to leave Vegas, but I had to see my mom.
Like always, after the plane touched down in Nashville, I rented a car and drove to my mother’s, but this time when I arrived at her house, she wasn’t there. Mom had gotten the job at Dovie’s, and I was happy for her becauseshewas happy.
It felt strange entering the house without her there, so after I put my bag in my room and freshened up, I drove to the diner. When I got there, the place was empty because it was after lunch, and the lunch crowd had come and gone.
“Bradley!” Mom yelled from behind the counter and then rushed to give me a hug.
“Hey, Mom.”
She kissed my cheek and hugged me tighter. “I’ve missed you so much.”
“I’ve missed you too.”
She pulled back. “How’s your arm?”
“It’s great.”
“Good. Are you hungry?”
I grinned. “I’m always hungry, Mom.”
“Let me get you a sandwich or something. Sit at the counter.” She motioned to a seat, and I took it while she asked the cook to make me a turkey club. “So, what’s been happening?” she asked as she rested her elbows on the countertop.
I shrugged. “Vinny and Tessa got married. Paul is officially in Virginia at Quantico, and that’s about it.” Besides everything with Cassie.
“I’m still holding out hope that you’ll get married like your friends.”
I rolled my brown eyes. “I know, but notallof my friends are married.”
“Yet.”
I chuckled. “Yeah,yet.”
“But, you know, this girl started working here this week, and she is absolutely adorable.” Mom grinned. She did this every time I came to visit, and I wasn’t sure how she kept meeting single women to try to hook me up within such a small town where I practically knew everyone already.
“Mom,” I groaned.
She held up her hands as she raised off the counter. “I know, but one of these times, it will be the girl of your dreams. I just know it.”
I took a deep breath, thinking about Cassie. Could she have been the girl of my dreams? We barely knew each other, but there was just something about her that drew me to her.
“… you’ll meet a woman who you’ll start to care about, and then before you know it, you’ll never want to go a day without her.”Paul’s words played in my head as I watched my mom grab a plate with a turkey club and fries on it.
“Eat up. I just have a few more tables to help, and then my shift is over,” Mom stated.
The next morning, I woke up early to do yard work. The grass was overgrown, and the weeds needed to be pulled since it had been over a month and a half since my last visit. I started with the small lawn, carefully mowing to get the lines perfect. When I was done, I looked up and my gaze connected with Holly’s as she sat on Mary’s porch watching me. I smile and waved, and she did too.
When I walked back to the front yard after putting the mower in the shed, Holly was waiting there for me. “Hey,” I greeted.
“Hi,” she beamed.
“How are you?”
