The Wrong Goodbye Read online

  When she’s seen every inch of the house, she decides to go home and call her dad and beg for more money. I stay and lock up the house, then sit on the front porch a minute to check my accounts. I have half a dozen work emails that need to be responded to soon, and exactly zero Facebook notifications from Alexa.

  I sigh and stare out at the sprawling and well-manicured front yard of this estate. This is definitely the kind of gorgeous house I’d love to raise a family in. Feeling weird for still being here, I get in my car and head back to my office. I reply to the emails and drink some coffee and go about my day, trying very hard to avoid the tempting pull of social media.

  I make it all the way until six in the afternoon, and then I can’t help myself anymore. My sneaky Facebook post didn’t garner any replies from her all week, but that won’t stop me from checking out her page again.

  This time is worth it. She’s posted something to her page! It’s an invitation, a glorious olive branch extended to me. I guess it could be an invitation to anyone she met at the convention, but … I’m included in that. Right?

  I take a deep breath and I know I’m grinning like a psycho, but who cares. Alexa posted to her Facebook page right after I posted to mine. It’s a back and forth, although a sneaky one. This couldn’t have been a coincidence. It’s been two weeks and coincidences don’t take that long.

  Alexa is offering me a cupcake and coffee.

  All I have to do is show up.

  ***

  I clear my schedule on Thursday. It was my least busy day of the week and Janie wouldn’t be tasked with too much work in my unexpected day off. I am a bundle of nerves as I make the drive down to Mable Falls. It’s ironic how forty-five minutes in downtown Houston traffic can feel like an eternity, but the same amount of time on these back country roads seems to flit by in the blink of an eye when you’re nervous as hell.

  My grandpa used to have this saying. “Will it matter in five years? Ten? If not, then stop stressing about it.”

  I try to take his advice to heart. Yeah, I’m nervous, and yeah, maybe Alexa didn’t mean for me to show up in response to her post. But what’s the worst that can happen?

  She might be cold and illusive and ask me to leave. Or she could be polite but still not want to date me. It’s really not that bad. I’ll be embarrassed and rejected but I’ll go on with my life.

  If she rejects me today, it won’t matter in five years.

  But what if she doesn’t? If she meant for me to come here and see her again, well then my life five years from now will be a thousand times better than I ever could have imagined. I’d say that’s worth the risk.

  Instead of parking right in front of the bakery, I drive around and park on the other side of the road. That way she can’t see me arrive and watch me looking like a nervous wreck. I park next to a motorcycle shop and then check my reflection in the mirror. My hair looks good, my beard is trimmed. No pit stains, despite how nervous I am. I’m ready.

  I take a deep breath of warm summer air and make my way toward Sweets Bakery.

  Chapter 17

  A fresh batch of mini strawberry shortcakes stare up at me from the glass display counter. I haven’t made them in a while, and they look amazing and I’m dying to eat one. It’s never good business sense to eat your own inventory, especially when then shop is busy like it is now, so I hold back and tell myself that if there’s any left over by five, then I’ll eat one.

  I love busy days at the bakery. We’ve already earned over a thousand dollars and it’s still a few hours until closing. These days are the best, because any extra money I earn after paying the bills goes right into my retirement account. I hope to retire when I’m young enough to enjoy my life and travel and do fun things, and maybe even keep the bakery open but just hire people to run it for me. That would be the life.

  The door opens and I glance over, putting on my friendly customer service smile, only to realize a moment later that the guy who just entered isn’t a customer. Disappointment swallows me up, and I feel bad about it. I wasn’t expecting him, but I guess I should have. I invited him here, after all.

  It’s Thursday. My coffee date.

  Lee walks up to me with his hands in the pockets of his jeans, his face in full on bashful little kid mode. Geez, would it kill him to at least pretend to be confident?

  “Looks like you’re pretty busy,” he says instead of a hello. “Do you want to reschedule?”

  Yes, let’s reschedule for never, I think. But I shake my head. I’d promised Livi and myself that I’d give this guy a chance. So when I told him we should have coffee at my bakery, I can’t just back out or get upset when he actually shows up. I planned this little date, after all. I need to see it through.

  “Livi and Keesha can take care of the place,” I say with a smile so fake it’s making my cheeks hurt. “What kind of coffee do you like?” I ask, gesturing toward the menu with all of our options.

  “Just regular drip coffee is fine,” Lee says. He rubs his neck and then touches his hair and it’s like the picture perfect example of how people act when they’re nervous. It’s kind of cute, I guess, if I’m the reason he’s nervous. Maybe he likes me more than he’s letting on.

  Today he’s wearing a black button up shirt with jeans, only his long sleeves aren’t rolled up, which is a shame, because manly forearms are one of the sexiest parts on a guy.

  “Want anything to eat?” I ask as I grab a cup and fill it with coffee for him.

  “What do you recommend?” He glances over the array of baked goods under the glass display counter.

  “The strawberry shortcake,” I say, seizing my opportunity to eat one even though I shouldn’t.

  “Sounds great,” he says, and pigs must be flying outside because Lee actually smiles at me. It’s a good smile, too. Glad to see the guy has some personality.

  I take two of the shortcakes and make myself a coffee and then we settle into a table at the back corner of my bakery.

  “Thanks for inviting me,” Lee says as soon as we sit down.

  “Thank you for meeting with me at work,” I say, feeling a little bad about the whole thing. “I’m just so busy and it’s hard to find time to do anything.”

  That’s my excuse, and my brilliant plan. I figured if I asked him to have coffee with me while I’m at work then I’m not really losing any valuable time. If we click and I end up liking him the way Livi thinks I will, then great. We can date like normal. But if it’s not a romantic love connection then I’ve already built myself an easy out. I’ll just say I’m so busy with my business that I can’t date right now. It’s the perfect plan.

  Livi had winked at me as we walked by her to our table, and now, I see her watching me from behind the cash register. She sees me looking at her and gives me another wink and a thumbs up. The girl is so excited that I feel obligated to like Lee. But I know she’ll respect whatever happens between us. I think she just still feels indebted to me for introducing her to Mason and she’s trying to repay the favor. That’s another reason I feel really bad about all of this. I wouldn’t be giving Lee a chance if not for Livi. Now I’m just bundled up in obligation and sipping coffee with a guy who barely talks.

  I take a bite of my strawberry shortcake that I can totally eat now that I have a good excuse. At least something good has come from this awkwardness. “So, are you from around here?”

  Lee shakes his head. “I’m from New Orleans. My whole family moved here after Katrina.”

  “Oh, wow,” I say. I remember that hurricane and how devastating it was. Even parts of Texas flooded and were destroyed, although New Orleans got the worst of it. “Is your family okay?”

  He nods. “We lost our house, but the insurance paid out and we relocated to Texas. I thought about going back, but I really like it here. Texans are nicer people.”

  I chuckle. “We do have that whole southern hospitality thing going for us.”

  “Are you from here?” he asks.

  “Born and r
aised,” I say. “That explains why I’m so boring as to grow up and build a business in my hometown.”

  “That’s not boring,” he says, and he’s just trying to be nice, because it is boring. But as far as I’m concerned, my hometown is the best.

  I shrug. “It’s okay. I like my little town. We’re close enough to the big city but far enough away to avoid all of the traffic and pollution.”

  “That’s for sure. Houston traffic is the worst.”

  Oh God. Now we’re talking about traffic? This is so not a good first date. Our conversation is dryer than Arizona, and even though my strawberry shortcake is delicious, I’m just ready for this whole thing to be over.

  Lee is a nice guy, and I know he means well, but there’s no spark. Maybe I wouldn’t have noticed the lack of fireworks between us if I hadn’t met Gabe. But I did meet Gabe, and now I know what it’s like to instantly connect with someone on every level: physically, mentally, and intimately.

  Anything less than that raw attraction just feels like a waste of time. I’m trying with Lee, I really am, but if I don’t feel anything between us, how can it ever work?

  Lee is very complimentary about the food and coffee. He tells me like ten times how good it is, but I think it’s because he’s so painfully awkward that he doesn’t know what else to say. I ask him a few more questions just to keep the conversation going, but I don’t care about any of his answers. When I spent hours talking to Gabe, I had been fascinated by everything he said. Even the boring stuff like where he went to college and how many years his parents have been married- all of that was interesting to me. I also just liked hearing him talk. He has a gravelly voice that could lull me to sleep every night and wake me up every morning.

  “Alexa?”

  I jump, realizing Lee is watching me with a confused expression. “Sorry,” I say quickly. “What’d you say?”

  “I asked if you’ve seen the new Marvel movie.”

  Now we’re talking about movies? I guess I really zoned out for a while. I think about his question, and no, I haven’t seen the movie, but if I tell him that then he will most definitely ask me to go see it with him. It’s already been thirty minutes of coffee and dessert and I just don’t think I can stand any more time alone with this boring guy.

  “Oh, um,” I say, trying to buy time but it’s pointless. There’s really only one way to answer a question like that. Maybe I should tell him that I have seen the movie, and hope he doesn’t have any questions about it. Livi appears in front of us, an awkward smile on her face. A million problems flash through my mind, things that could go wrong with my bakery that would make her come get me from my date. Did the computer crash again? Is there a fire in the kitchen? Did a customer complain about something?

  “What’s wrong?” I say. There’s this evil part of me that kind of hopes there’s a fire in the kitchen because that would be the perfect excuse to end this date immediately.

  “Nothing,” she says brightly. “Could I borrow you for a quick minute? I have, a um, person here to talk to you.”

  There’s something in the way she says it that’s totally weird, but I can’t pinpoint why. Livi isn’t known for being deceiving, but it sure seems like she’s hiding something.

  “Sure,” I say, slowly. I glance behind her, and toward the front counter. She’s probably lying, and trying to get me out of my bad date. Maybe that’s why she’s acting weird and making up something about a person being here to see me. It’s just a diversion to rescue me. Oh, bless her. She’s the best friend ever.

  Then my eyes land on someone who is standing at the front of the bakery. He’s tall and drop-dead gorgeous, wearing dark jeans and a maroon shirt that does have the sleeves rolled up to reveal his sexy forearms.

  And he’s looking right at me.

  Chapter 18

  There is no mistaking it. Alexa is on a date. She’s sitting with a guy, having cupcakes and coffee and smiling. It’s the exact scenario I had pictured just moments ago, only in my mind, she was sitting with me and not some other guy. A lump rises in my throat and the weight of disappointment crushes into me. What’s worse is that I am now realizing that her cryptic Facebook message wasn’t meant for me at all.

  It was for this guy.

  Good thing he showed up first and claimed her heart before I did. She would have been forced to admit that her message wasn’t for me and that would have just been embarrassing for everyone involved. I turn to leave, grateful that the place is busy and no one will notice me. Grateful that she didn’t notice me.

  Someone touches my arm. “Gabe?”

  I turn around and study the face of the woman standing in front of me. She’s petite, with shoulder length blonde hair and bright pink lips and a Sweets Bakery apron tied around her neck. I recognize her from the pictures online. This is Alexa’s best friend and coworker, Livi.

  “How do you know my name?”

  Her eyes widen. “No shit. It is you? Wow.”

  She gives me a look over and then nods, as if impressed with what she sees. “I can’t believe you’re here.”

  She didn’t answer my question. “Who are you?” I ask, even though I know the answer from my internet stalking. “I mean, why do you know who I am?”

  She grins. “That’s privileged information. So, you’re here for Alexa, right?”

  I inhale and stop myself from looking across the room to where Alexa is on her date. “Not really,” I say, and it sounds like a question.

  She folds her arms across her chest. “You’re not a good liar. But before I go get her, I need you to tell me something.”

  I shake my head. “Don’t get her. She’s busy, and I’m stupid for coming here, so just don’t even tell her I was here, okay?” I try to leave and Livi grabs my arm and holds me still, even though she’s no where near being stronger than I am. I guess I don’t really want to leave, even though it would be the smart thing to do.

  “Do you like her?” Livi asks. Her grip on my arm tightens. “Do you like her in a real and true way and not in some asshole way that will break her heart?”

  It’s clear that this woman knows at least something about me, if not everything. I take a deep breath. “Yes, I like her. Yes, it’s in a good way.”

  Livi grins. “Perfect. Just wait here, okay?”

  And then she’s gone, darting past other customers until she’s across the room and talking to Livi. I’m so fucking nervous about what she’ll do. Alexa is clearly on a date right now. This is so stupid. I shouldn’t be here.

  My throat goes dry when Alexa looks up. She glances around for a second, and then she sees me. I can tell the moment our eyes lock because she flinches. That’s not good.

  The look in her eyes is something like fear, or shock, or I don’t know – maybe even repulsion. This was a bad idea. This was so stupid.

  I turn and walk right out of there, taking my keys from my pocket so I can make a quick escape. I want to go home and drown my embarrassment with whiskey and then never think of Mable Falls again.

  “Wait!” a voice calls out as I’m halfway across the street. “Gabe, wait!”

  I know it isn’t Alexa’s voice, because I remember the soft sweetness of her voice like it was yesterday instead of weeks ago. It’s Livi, running after me, her apron dropping dusts of flour in her wake.

  “Gabe, stop!” She sprints across the street and holds up her hand as if she’s compelling me to stay put.

  I stand here next to my car, too much of a gentleman to just leave her without saying anything. “It’s fine. I shouldn’t have come.”

  “No, you definitely should have,” she says, panting a little. “You should have come here weeks ago, dude. But now you’re here and this will be great, but you have to wait a little bit.”

  “I’m not going to crash her date,” I say, reaching for my car’s door handle.

  “It’s not a date,” she says quickly. “Well, it’s not what it looks like. Trust me, Alexa wants to see you. You’ll be happy you st
ayed. I swear.”

  I let out a breath. “What do you want me to do?”

  She bites her bottom lip. “Well, we close in fifteen minutes, so can you just wait?”

  “Sure,” I say as a flurry of emotions swirl around in my chest. She wants me to stay. Maybe this won’t be a disaster. “I’ll be in my car.”

  “It’s too hot for that,” Livi says dismissively. “Go in the motorcycle shop and wait for her there.”

  I lift an eyebrow. “It’s cool,” she says, motioning for me to follow her. “I know the owner.”

  We walk into the shop which smells like motor oil and plastic, but not in a bad way. Rock music plays overhead and a dorky looking guy stands behind the register.

  “Hey, Liv,” he says with a casual nod.

  “Hi Travis,” Livi says as we walk past him. She leads me through a plastic swinging door and into the mechanic shop part of the store that says Employees Only. The music is louder back here and a few guys work on motorcycles, not caring that we just walked in.

  One of the guys looks up and smiles when he sees Livi. We walk over to him. “This is Gabe,” Livi tells him. She wiggles her eyebrows when she says my name. “You know … Phoenix, Arizona Gabe?”

  “Damn,” the guy says. Okay, does everyone in this town know who I am? He stands and wipes his hands on his jeans and then extends one to me. “Nice to meet you, Gabe. I’m Mason. Alexa’s cousin.”

  Now I recognize him as the guy from Alexa’s Instagram account. He’s the Clint Eastwood lookalike, the cousin she attributed her success to. I smile and shake his hand. “So what exactly is going on here?” I ask Livi.

  She grins. “Just wait here until Alexa gets off work. She’ll come see you and you can live happily ever after.”

  “I like your confidence,” I say with a smirk.

  “It’s not confidence. It’s fact.” She grins. “I’m glad you’re here.”

  “So what all do you know about me?” I ask.