Page 35 of Missing Pieces
“That bad huh,” Charlotte answers.
I shrug. I am about to speak when Ivy answers for me.
“Well, our lovely, beautiful Harper here is an East coaster transported to Chicago via her ex-college football superstar husband who turned out to be a douche who couldn’t keep his dick in his pants, cheated on her twice—”
“Three times,” I interrupt.
Ivy looks at me and I nod for her to continue. It’s easier to listen to when she says it. “Three times! Then decided to divorce her and take all her money so she was moving to Florida and then her car broke down in White Creek and now she’s my new best friend and interior designer.”
Everyone just stares at Ivy like she just told them the world was gonna end. Tacoma gets up and grabs a bottle of whiskey. “Wine ain’t strong enough for that shitstorm.”
She pours shots for us and pats me on the shoulder. “That really sucks Harper. I woulda ripped his balls off.”
“That’s what I said!” Ivy shouts and the ladies all laugh.
“So, you do interior design?” Summer asks me.
I give a death glare to Ivy for bringing up her interior design plans. “It’s what I went to college for. I haven’t done much outside of college, but it is something I like to do.”
“Oh my god! You should help with my house!” Summer squeals. “Brett, my fiancé, bought some new farmland and we moved into the old farmhouse on the property. It’s in great shape but it’s in desperate need of a design update. It looks like it’s straight outta the seventies.”
Ivy nudges me with her shoulder. “See I told you people would need you.”
Grace chimes in, “Are you gonna update the diner?”
I nod. “We talked about it the other day. We haven’t decided on what to do yet, but yes.”
“Thank god,” Casey says. “That place needed an update years ago.”
Everyone agrees and Ivy’s face scrunches in frustration. “Geez y’all. I am sittin’ right here. You don’t need to tell me it looks that bad.”
I laugh and grab her shoulders. “Hey, it’s not terrible but a few changes will give it a whole new look.”
“So, does that mean you’re gonna stay in White Creek permanently?” Taylor asks.
“Well, I actually really like it in White Creek. It’s peaceful. So who knows what will happen but I am thinking of staying for now. Not permanently but for awhile.”
Ivy looks over at me slack-jawed. “When did you decide this?”
“Just now I guess.” I wasn’t going to tell her it had anything to do with Easton because I didn’t even know if it did but the fact I now had money to fix my car and was still thinking of staying was something I did not want to bring up. There was a small little flutter in my stomach that told me it did have to do with him but that was a secret I was gonna keep sealed behind my pink pout. I stretch my arms above my head and get up to grab more wine.
Laney breaks the silence. “We should get ready since our dinner reservation is in an hour.”
A few of the girls get up and grab curling irons and makeup out of their bags.
Ivy jumps off the couch and screams, “Not so fast, sweet cheeks.” I wince because I can tell by her sarcastic tone she called me Easton’s nickname for me on purpose.
“You just decided that it would be a good idea to stay in White Creek. No reason in particular?”
I know she’s going to call my bluff but I try to feed her a lie anyway. “I like you. A lot. I haven’t really ever had a friend like you since probably middle school. And just the last hour or so with these ladies has really made me think.” Okay, so that wasn’t a lie. That was really how I felt.
“Aww sugar. That’s so sweet of ya. I like you a lot too.” She pauses, clasping her hands together in front of her. “But that’s the biggest load of horseshit I think ever came out of your mouth. Ya sure that maybe a small teensy little part of why you wanna stay has got nothing to do with a certain mechanic with dreamy green eyes?”
Tacoma’s eyes shoot over to mine and I turn away thankful there is a bottle of wine in front of me. I grab the corkscrew and try to get the cork out, but it’s one of those server ones that require strength and I break the cork off as I try to open it.
“What about my brother?” Tacoma stalks over to me in a fashion that looks very similar to someone else I know.
I struggle with words as I try to get the cork unstuck. “You know...I…he’s uh.”