Page 40 of A Place Like You

Sutton fills her glass with margarita, an intrigued smile playing on her lips. “Do tell. I bet they’re doing it on top of the bar.”

“Ugh, I’ll never look at that counter the same way again,” Regina complains dramatically.

Jez’s scowl deepens, a faint flush on her cheeks. “He’s no one,” she insists coolly.

I roll my eyes in exaggerated disbelief. “Oh please, it’s obvious you have a thing for him.”

“Oh sure,” Jez says, her voice dripping sarcasm. “I’m just head over heels for the overbearing control freak. That must be why I’ve fired his infuriating ass three times, yet he still keeps showing up.”

“Why would he do that?” I ask almost innocently and add, “Maybe he likes you so much, he doesn’t care how much you push him away.”

Jez’s eyes narrow. “Actually, it’s because apparently, ‘I don’t know how to cook for shit’. His words. So he’ll just keep showing up, despite the fact I can’t afford him. He’s doing it for the good of the town, not me or my shitty business.”

“His food is good,” I admit.

Jez shoots me an irritated glare, clearly not appreciating me taking his side.

“She’s right,” Regina chimes in with a shrug, her expression showing amusement. “Sorry, Jez, but I’m just pointing out the obvious. You’re good at prepping meals, but that man knows how to cook.”

Jez leans back in her chair, a challenging smile curving her lips. “You know what? You’re fired too.” She points at Regina before turning her gaze to me. “And so are you.”

I gasp dramatically, pressing a hand to my chest. “I hope you realize neither of us actually works for you. You can’t just pink-slip us.”

She waves a hand casually. “Don’t care. You’re no longer my best friends. We’re through.”

Regina and I burst into laughter at her over-the-top response. “So dramatic,” Regina admonishes through her grin.

“So, the doctor brought you food?” Sutton redirects the conversation back to me. “I’m gone for a few days, and everyone is hooking up with the new guys.”

“Not me,” Regina defends herself.

“There’s no hooking up going on. Drake Kershaw is my new employee and nothing else,” I clarify, and I take a long sip of my drink, hoping to change the subject.

“But he brought you lunch,” Sutton persists, her eyes lighting up with keen interest as she circles back yet again.

I let out an exasperated sigh, trying to divert her attention. “Sutton, can we please talk about something else? How was your parents’ anniversary party?”

She grabs the margarita pitcher, topping up her glass. “I haven’t had nearly enough alcohol for that conversation.”

“I bet it’s like every family reunion,” Gina mumbles, giving us a rueful half-smile. “Everyone in the family is pushing Dad to retire, nagging me to get married . . . It’s just the usual crap for everyone.”

“The usual,” Sutton echoes mockingly, taking a generous sip of her drink.

“Families can be infuriating at times,” Gina concludes.

Sutton nods vehemently. “At least your family doesn’t compare you with your perfect sister who now has a picture-perfect boyfriend, career, life . . .” She trails off, frown lines forming between her brows.

Jez leans forward, eyeing the nearly empty pitcher meaningfully. “You might want to eat something if you’re going to keep pounding those margaritas.”

Sutton grabs a cracker, chewing it aggressively. “I’m single, stuck in this crappy small town, working for nothing,” she rants dramatically. She pretends to dab at tears, blinking her long lashes. “When will they understand I love my imperfect little life?”

“Never,” Gina states matter-of-factly. “What makes them happy isn’t the same as what makes you happy. So they just can’t see it.”

I nod along, even as an old sadness wells up in me. At least they have loving families who care. I can’t even remember the last time my father invited me to visit or when we spoke at all. Probably when he declared I was ruining my life over nothing.

He lectured me relentlessly about my life choices—how children are just financial burdens that destroy your career and freedom. I’ll never forget his words when I had to decide about keeping Milo: “You don’t need that child. Get rid of him.”

I wish I could blame his cruelty on grief, but deep down, I fear that’s how he truly felt about us kids after my mother left him.

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