Page 17 of With This Ring
Hudson couldn’t imagine what that felt like. The few relationships he’d had over the past several years hadn’t lasted more than a few months. To him, the idea of a soul mate was a foreign concept. “How’s your little one doing?” he asked, referring to Gavin’s daughter.
“Great.” Gavin touched the screen of his phone and held it up, revealing a photo of a little blond. “I can’t believe Anissa is five already.”
“She’s adorable.”
“Thanks.” He set his phone down. “Are you seeing anyone?”
“Nope. No time for a relationship.” He pushed away thoughts of his failed attempts at dating and instead considered the good times he’d had with Gavin in high school. Then he grinned and lifted his cup. “I miss the old days when we worked together at Smith’s Construction.”
Gavin laughed. “We did have fun building that new neighborhood over in Wadesboro. I think of it every time I drive by it.”
“It was hard work. But it was rewarding to see the finished product.” He could still recall his aching muscles, as well as how proud he’d felt when a house he’d helped build was sold.
“Yeah, but I’m sure software is much more rewarding. After all, you and Darren designed something that was ahead of its time.”
“Maybe so, but you know I only studied computers to support my family. I still miss working construction.”
Gavin rubbed his chin. “Sometimes I wonder what it would feel like to sit in an office all day long.”
Hudson nodded toward him. “How’s business for you?”
“I finally opened my own company a little over a year ago.”
“That’s great, man. What are you working on?”
“You know that old music store building across the street?”
“The one that’s been empty since we graduated?”
“Yeah. My company was hired to remodel it for a new restaurant. We start work in a couple of weeks.”
“Congratulations. How do you like running your own company?”
Gavin settled back in his seat. “It’s... a lot.”
“But it’s gratifying.”
“Sometimes.” Gavin took a drink of his coffee.
Hudson’s eye once again landed on the pink flyer hanging in the coffee shop window. “By the way, is the rink still the place to be on weekends?”
“Believe it or not, yes! My daughter loves to take lessonsthere.” Gavin looked like he was going to say something, but then he stopped. “Anyway, Friday nights are family nights. We go there every weekend. Kayleigh and Brice Hayes bought the place a while back, and they’ve been breathing new life into it.”
“Kayleigh and Brice, huh?” Hudson moved his fingers over his cup. Kayleigh had been Dakota’s best friend since they were kids, and she’d married Brice not long before Hudson left for New York.
“You should see it during the holidays. They even have roller-skating Santas. Brice likes to plan theme nights. They had a Valentine’s Day skate a couple weeks ago, and the entire place was decked out with heart balloons and cupids on the walls. Anissa loved every minute of it.” Gavin glanced down at his watch. “Oh, wow. I’d better get going, man. I have a meeting in twenty minutes with the architect.”
They both stood to leave. “You should come to the rink,” Gavin said. “It’s a lot of fun.”
“Maybe I will,” Hudson said, not meaning it. If Kayleigh owned the place, then most likely Dakota would be there too.
They walked to the exit together, and when Hudson stepped out onto the street, he cut his gaze to the Fairytale Bridal Shop. He’d do his best to avoid Dakota for the remainder of his time in Flowering Grove, but in such a small town, that just might be impossible.
Chapter 5
“Hello, this is Dakota Jamison at Fairytale Bridal on Main Street in Flowering Grove,” Dakota said into the phone later that afternoon. “I’d like to arrange for the fans and dehumidifier to be picked up.”
“How about tomorrow afternoon?” the woman on the other end of the line said.