Page 103 of Ablaze

So now, whenever Bella visits Tahoe–or on the rare occasions I’ve driven to the East Bay–the three of us make it a point to hang out and catch up.

Like today, when they both decided to come see me at the café.

I’m just about to tell Rani that I’ll pack a box of the mini cakes for her to take home so Darian and Arman can try them, when the doorbell chimes and I hear a Southern drawl I haven’t heard in quite some time.

“Well, hey there stranger! How have you been, Betty? Didn’t realize you still worked here. Usually Samantha’s the one at the counter.”

I turn over my shoulder to see Jessie greeting Betty. Same red hair with the bangs just a bit too long over her eyes. But . . . she looks different, too.

Betty gives her a polite smile. “Good to see you, Jessie. Samantha’s in the back baking. What can I get you to drink?”

Betty chances a glance in my direction, and Jessie’s head snaps to follow her gaze. Her eyes widen when she sees me.

“Well, I’ll be! If it isn’t my old boss, Mala Sharma, at her old stompin’ grounds!” Jessie eyes the two ladies sitting by me as she walks up to our table, dismissing a waiting Betty. “I heard you were back in town, so I thought I’d come by and see for myself.”

I excuse myself from the table and get up to give Jessie a hug. “Good to see you, Jessie.” I smile down at her obviously pregnant belly under the long maxi dress. “I see congratulations are in order. How have you been?”

She runs her palm over her stomach. “Oh, well, I’ve been busier than a moth in a mitten, as you can see. Been seein’ this guy named Todd for a while now, and,” she looks down and smiles at her swollen belly, “we’re havin’ a baby boy. He’s due in about three months.”

“That’s great, Jess. I’m so happy for you!”

She straightens as if just realizing she got carried away with her emotions and blows at her bangs. “Well, I suppose I should be saying the same thing to you?”

My brows fold. “What do you mean?”

She tilts her head as if waiting for me to figure it out, but when I don’t respond, she adds, “You and Dean? Mala, this is a small town and I’m not one to gossip, but I won’t play deaf, either. Now, don’t pee on my leg and tell me it’s rainin’. I’d love nothin’ more than just the truth.”

Her mouth turns downward and, despite the fact we’re not close, my heart still tugs for her. I know how much she cared about Dean.

“Was it you he was talkin’ about that day when I heard him on the phone at the grocery store? Has he always had feelins’ for ya?”

I grasp her hand. “Jess, who he was talking about when you heard him, is something you’ll have to ask him yourself. I won’t lie to you . . . mine and Dean’s relationship has been complicated from the start, but if there’s one thing I can reassure you of, it’s that he never cheated on you. He cared about you deeply, and I believe he always will.”

She seems somewhat satisfied by my answer, processing it for a moment. “And now you’re together? As in . . . you’re seein’ him?”

I nod. “Yes.”

She swallows. “Well, I appreciate you bein’ honest. I suppose I shouldn’t be that surprised. Though I am surprised it didn’t happen sooner.”

I huff out a laugh because . . . well, that’s literally the story of mine and Dean’s life. “I guess we just took the long scenic route to get to each other.”

“Well, I’m happy for you, hon, but here’s a little cautionary advice from someone who was on the Dean Meyer roller coaster for longer than I shoulda been. The man is plagued by his own demons, and you might could think all your love will save him from ‘em, but they won’t. Not until he decides that there is somethin’ bigger living for than his fears. Will that be you?” She shrugs. “Maybe, maybe not.”

I lift my head, feigning confidence I don’t quite feel all of a sudden. “Thank you for the warning, Jessie.”

She pulls me in for another hug. “I know things didn’t end well for me and Dean, but tell him I said hi, will ya? It took a while, but I did move forward and I’m . . .” She takes a breath as if overwhelmed with emotion again. “I’m really happy now. And I’m happy Dean is, too.”

“I promise I’ll tell him you said hello.”

“I’ll talk to you later then, Mala. It was good seeing you.”

She heads to the door and for reasons I can’t quite pinpoint, I stare after her well past when she’s gone.

Chapter Thirty-One

DEAN

Life feels like a dream.

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