Page 45 of Buttercup and the Beard

Ally shuts the door and locks it before flipping the closed—be back in ten minutes sign.

“Come on. Come sit with us.”

Last week I told them all about getting trapped in the snowstorm, and running into Boone, about our hot nights in his cabin and the trip home. They know that while it’s really new, that I truly care for him. When they found out that he was moving back home, they asked me if I thought that I’d be okay.

The only answer that I could give them was a yes.

I’ve worked for Ally going on eight years now, and she saw through the anxiety and worry but didn’t push me on it. That’s probably what this is. Them checking on me to make sure that I’m okay.

I skirt around the counter, snagging my own coffee on the way. Even though I was barely awake when I got off the phone with Boone, I didn’t sleep well last night, tossing and turning. So I’ve been hitting the caffeine a little hard today, which is leaving me more jittery than usual.

Pulling a chair out, it scratches across the floor before I plop down in it. “What’s this all about?” I ask when the three of them just stare at me.

“Emotional support time with the besties. I brought my famous heartbreak brownies for us to eat,” Ally says.

She pops off the top of the tinfoil, and the scent of rich decadent chocolate rises. The brownies give off a little bit of steam, telling me that they’re still warm.

Confused, I say, “But I’m not heartbroken.”

Kate shoots me a look. “You and Boone might not have broken up, but you’re still hurting.” She hands me a fork that she pulled from God knows where. “Here. Dig in.”

I take it from her and scoop out a bite. The warm chocolate treat melts on my tongue.

“These are really good,” I say through a mouthful of comfort.

“They really are.” Liv and Ally both scoop their own bite out.

I take another bite and then a sip of coffee to swallow it down. “You’re right. I’m hurting. I didn’t think that it would be this hard,” I say, my lip trembling.

“You guys are still new, and him leaving was about as abrupt as you two starting to see each other. It’s okay to be hurting right now. You guys will find your rhythm. You’re heading to Everette tomorrow for the night, right?” Liv asks.

I nod. “Yeah. Have you guys been there before?”

Ally and Kate both shake their heads, but Liv nods. “I’ve been twice when Jackson went to help Hal at the station. It’s a really cute town.”

“It is. And the gazebo in the town square is adorable.”

“Wait. They have a gazebo? I want a gazebo.” Kate pouts.

I smile. “Yeah, it’s right in the middle of town, very Gilmore Girls, but better,” I say.

Liv and I tell them about the rest of town, the quaint charm to the older buildings, and how pretty it is with the backdrop of the mountains.

“Sounds like you’re falling for the town and the guy,” Kate says with a keen stare.

I nod. “Yeah. It’s really beautiful. Can’t get a decent cup of coffee, unless it’s in your own kitchen or at the diner, but the cuteness makes up for that.”

Ally’s head swivels toward me. “There’s not a coffee place there?”

I shake my head. “No, or at least I didn’t see one. I didn’t have a chance to try the diner coffee because we just had water.

“Jem.” Ally’s deadpan of my name has me looking at her.

“What?” I ask, oblivious.

Ally looks at Liv and Kate and asks, “You guys thinking what I’m thinking?”

Liv nods, but Kate says, “Yeah, but it could be tricky. Is there a market for it?”

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