Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 77857 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77857 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“Maybe.”
But I already know this isn’t mere infatuation.
This is something more. Something so much more.
What if he’s not feeling anything, though? What if Donny’s wrong, and I’m not Brock’s soft spot? Even if I am, what does that even mean? A soft spot doesn’t mean love.
“You want to get some lunch?” Callie asks.
“Is it still your lunch hour?”
“I’ve got a few more minutes. I can just check with Donny.”
“He’s not going to mind.”
“I know.” Callie smiles dreamily as she sends a quick text. “Normally I don’t use my relationship with Donny to get extra time for my lunch hour, but today, I think you need me.”
I smile. “Thanks, Cal.”
Her phone rings with the text.
“He’s good with it. Where would you like to eat?”
“Wherever.”
“Come on, Ror. We’re going to get through this. I promise.”
Callie is certainly upbeat today. As I look at her, I wonder why she ever thought of herself as an ugly duckling. Does it truly go back to Pat Lamone’s words all those years ago? Just another reason to hate the bastard. My sister is beautiful. Not just beautiful but radiant. Her hair is a shade lighter than mine, and her eyes a golden amber compared to my brown. She has a lovely figure, and she can wear button-down blouses.
She’s gorgeous, and I’m so glad she found a man who sees that and appreciates it.
“Since you don’t care,” she says. “Let’s go over to Lorenzo’s. I feel like a meatball sub.”
I nod and walk with my sister the few blocks to the Italian place. Once there, we get a table, and our server approaches us.
“Well, hi there,” she says, sounding bubbly.
Oh, God. It’s Sadie… Sadie… I can’t remember her last name. Sadie who was all over Brock with her black hair, blue eyes, and flat chest the other night at Murphy’s. She’s still flat-chested, but I’d be lying if I said she didn’t look pretty in her checkered waitress dress. Damn her, anyway.
“Hi,” Callie says.
“Remember me? We met at Murphy’s. Sadie McCall?”
McCall. That’s it. Sadie McCall.
“Of course,” Callie says in that dry way of hers. “How are you?”
“I’m just dandy,” Sadie says. “Could you refresh me with your names again?”
“Sure.” This time I speak. “I’m Rory Pike, and this is my sister, Callie.”
“Of course. Pardon me for not remembering. I’ve met so many people in such a short time since I’ve been here.”
Right. I’d be willing to bet she remembers Brock’s name. This is a small town. Really, how many people could she have met in such a short time?
Plus, in small towns, people usually remember each other’s names. But she’s new. I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt. Okay, I won’t give her the benefit of the doubt, but I’ll pretend like I am.
“Not a problem, Susie,” I can’t help saying.
“It’s Sadie.” She shows her dimples as she points to the name tag on her lapel.
Callie gives me the stink eye.
Yeah, I deserve it. Mean girl isn’t my style.
“I’m so sorry, Sadie.” This time I smile and do my best to make it look real. “Could we get some water please?”
“Of course. The bus person should’ve brought it by now. I’ll get that right away. Do you know what you’d like to order?”
“Meatball sub for me,” Callie says.
“One meatball sub. Check. And you?”
“I don’t know.” I sigh. “I think I’ll just have a salad. And a side of garlic bread.”
“Perfect.” She pencils some notes on her pad. “I’m about to take a break. Do you mind if I join you?”
I’m having déjà vu.
Didn’t a waitress take a break with us just a few weeks ago? Yes. Her name was Nora.
“Uh…sure,” Callie says.
Damn it, Callie…
“Wonderful. Let me just put your order in and make sure you get those waters.”
I’m shooting darts at Callie with my eyes.
“What did you want me to say?” Callie asks.
“I don’t know. Maybe…no?”
“She’s new in town. We can’t be rude.”
“Didn’t we just go through this a couple of weeks ago with that other new waitress? Nora?”
“Right. I forgot about that.”
“Of course you forgot about that.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You’re head over heels. Everything is falling into place for you, Cal. But if you recall that day with Nora, she was after Donny.”
“Oh…”
“Callie, you’re usually quicker than this.”
“You’re right. Sorry, Ror. I totally wasn’t thinking.”
“Right. You weren’t thinking that lovely Susie there was all over Brock the other night.”
Callie opens her mouth to respond, but before she does, Susie—er…Sadie—returns with our waters and sits down with us.
“Thanks for letting me join you. It’s so difficult meeting new people.”
Okay, that’s a lie. Meeting new people in a small town is strikingly easy, and didn’t she just say she’s met so many new people?
“Not a problem,” Callie says. “We met another waitress this way just a few weeks ago. Her name is Nora.”
“Not Nora Bates? She’s my roommate.”