Page 47 of The Promise Of You

Clover blinks several times, like she needs to adjust back and forth to what just happened in the car, between us, and what’s going on outside, in the real world.

Music and voices and laughter seep from the open door while Shane stands there, waiting for us. “I’m going home,” she says. Her hand closes on the gear while the passenger window starts rolling up. The hurt in her eyes nearly kills me. I did this to her. I excluded her from this community dinner. This is not who I am. Whatever happened between us shouldn’t affect her experience here in Emerald Creek. This is the most inclusive, wholesome event, one I’m proud to have created.

She belongs here.

“Clov—Chloe. Come in.”

Shane strides to us. She kills the engine as he opens her door and extends his hand. “Chloe, pleased to meet you. I’m Shane.” The smile in his voice drips to his whole body.

His eyes trail down her while she gets out of the car, and I can’t fucking believe it, but for a second there he sets his hand on the small of her back as he nudges her inside my pub.

The rest of the evening, I get to watch Clover fit into my universe perfectly.

All while avoiding me entirely.

sixteen

Chloe

It’s impossible to resist Shane’s easy charm, so moments after saying I was going home, I step through the pub’s backdoor and into its kitchen. The space is calm and orderly, all gleaming surfaces and neatly stacked plates and clean pots hanging by size. Nothing like the madhouse that the restaurant kitchen always seems to be, even when it’s empty.

A heavenly aroma envelops me, and my mouth waters. The one slice of quiche I had on my porch was delicious, but it’s clear it wasn’t enough. At least not compared to what’s cooking here.

The swing door to the dining room bounces open, the low hum of conversations suddenly spilling into the quietness. “Ohmygod, you’re here!” Haley shrieks. “It’s Chloe!” she tells Shane as if I’d just materialized in here on my own.

He smiles at her. “I know.” He grabs a bowl, then dips a ladle in the simmering pot. “How are we doing over there?” he asks Haley as he hands me a steaming bowl of chili. I wrap my hands around it, its warmth giving me inner comfort.

“We’ll need a refill soon, but we’re still good. I was just wondering where you’d disappeared to.” Then turning to me, she adds, “Follow me, m’kay?”

We enter by the side of the bar, which is laden with food in an assortment of dishes. “It’s a potluck, but Justin always provides a main dish,” Haley explains. “He can’t help himself. Soft drinks are also free during Community dinners.”

As we make our way through the crowded dining room, Haley stops in front of a middle-aged couple carrying their empty plates toward the bar. “Mom, Dad, this is Chloe,” she says with a smile my way. “Restaurant Chloe,” she adds, wiggling her eyebrows.

I dart my eyes around, ready for anything. They’re Justin’s parents too. Maybe they know about the persona non grata order. Maybe they’ll tell Haley she has no business—

“Darling, we’ve heard so much about you already but not enough. I’m Lynn,” Haley’s mom says. She’s tall, thin, and fit, just like her husband, and unsurprisingly, considering the looks of their children, they’re both blond. “And this is my husband, Craig, and we’d love to catch up with you, but we hold farmers’ hours, and it’s well past our bedtime,” she explains with an apologetic smile. “But you must come to Sunday dinner next week.” Turning to Haley, Lynn strokes her daughter’s cheek with her free hand. “Princess, you’ll make sure she comes, right?” She smiles at her daughter like she’s the most precious thing on Earth—to her, she clearly is.

“I will,” Haley answers, giving each of her parents a soft peck on the cheek. Craig has stayed silent, I notice, with a dreamy smile on his face as he watches the interaction between his wife and daughter.

My heart warms at their easy happiness.

Haley guides me to a table where Grace and Autumn are seated with another woman I don’t know.

Grace smiles at me. “You came!”

“Hey again!” Autumn says.

“I’m Kiara,” the third woman says with a wink. She has delicate features and a pixie cut that makes her look harsher than she needs to, and makeup that’s a little too heavy for my taste. But her gaze is full of good-natured mischief. “I heard you had quite the welcome committee here the other day. Glad we’re past that now.”

Just then, appearing out of nowhere, Shane reaches over to set cutlery and a glass of wine in front of me. He gives my shoulder a friendly squeeze and leaves before I have a chance to thank him.

“Uh, yeah,” I answer Kiara, glancing toward the bar against my better judgement. Justin’s unhappy glare is on me. Seriously! What’s up with him?

Haley slides her own glass of wine my way. “Try this first, and tell me what you think.” I take a sip from her glass. “So?” she asks expectantly.

“It’s good!” I’m not a big wine connoisseur, but I know what I like and don’t like. And I like this wine.

“It’s blueberry wine!” Haley exclaims.

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