Page 107 of Always Be an Us

"Hey." He relaxes and sits up when he sees it's me. "I didn't think you would be in today. Rick told me what happened to your grandpa’s place. You're having a tough week kiddo."

"Yeah, you don't know the half of it." I sigh. "Sorry, I've been slacking off so much though."

Yule shrugs. "Hey, it's not like we’ve had all that many people coming in. It's mostly just been Poppy and her crew wanting us to cook whatever creature they caught that day. And no one has ordered a cocktail since you've been gone, so no harm done."

That's bad news for the business, but at least, I don't have to feel as guilty about my absence.

"What about Carly?" I ask. "Has she been here?"

"Carly has been going through her own stuff with her family." At my curious look, he shakes his head. "It's a long story and not my story to tell. I’ll let her tell you herself.

"Oh ok. Um… In that case, can I get four cheeseburgers and a seafood salad for table ten? Did Rick go fishing yesterday?"

"Yup. He caught a bass."

"Perfect. Oh, and can we get it made with extra special love and attention?"

"Always," he says. "Is that for the group of people you just walked in with?

"Yeah." I note his curious eyes and shake my head. "That’s an even longer story."

"But you’ll tell me, eventually?"

"Yeah. Eventually."

After putting in the order, and telling Monty and Cross I got them burgers, I return to the table, noting Amelia's absence.

"She went to the bathroom," Rachel volunteers as I sit.

"Oh."

She has a subtle frown on her face as she taps the table for a few seconds, the rapid sound echoing. Some tension returns to my spine, coiling in my stomach.

I wonder what she’s thinking about, and then she leans forward and folds her hands on the table. "So, you and Declan, is it serious?"

The question is so startling that I immediately gape at her. I wasn't expecting that, or the sober look in her eyes when she said it.

"Um...not really," I answer. "We're just casual for now."

Rachel watches me closely for a few seconds and then grins. "Liar."

"Excuse me?"

"It’s okay." She chuckles. "You probably don't know you're lying to yourself yet. That’s how Declan and I started too. I convinced myself that we were casual and there were no feelings between us. I thought that made things easier. And I actually bought my own bullshit until it was too late and I was fully in love with him." She looks away, and the air between us suddenly feels taut. "Biggest mistake I ever made."

"I’m sorry," I say because I don’t know what else to say. I don't want to reveal that Declan already told me about their relationship and the loss in her eyes makes me sad.

Rachel recovers quickly with a shrug. "It’s okay. I’m over it now. But take this as a warning, because I can tell you’re a very sweet girl and my daughter loves you very much. The last thing you want to do is to fall for Declan. He will never be able to love you back. Not because he doesn’t want to, but because he’s not capable of it. So enjoy him for what he is but never expect him to be something he’s not."

I swallow as an ominous feeling drifts over me. But before I can respond, I spot Amelia on her way back. Rachel instantly leans back in the chair and smiles at her daughter who reaches us and says, "The bathroom was backed up when I got there."

I nod distractedly, but I'm too in my own thoughts to hear the rest of the conversation.

Rachel and Amelia talk while we wait for the food, but Rachel's words keep ringing in my head, drowning out whatever else they’re saying.

The last thing you want to do is to fall for Declan. He will never be able to love you back.

It's not like I didn't already know it, but hearing it from someone else is another thing entirely.

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