Page 85 of No Place Like Home

CHAPTERTWENTY-FIVE

It wasthe last day of school, and I was excited about it this time. I usually hated it because I didn’t have anything else to do when I didn't have classes. This summer was shaping up to be a little different.

“Oh, look, if it isn’t my roommate.”

I turned, holding onto my chest because Blake had scared me.

“What the heck, Blake? Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”

He looked annoyed by my response.

What the hell is his problem?

He stood shirtless and jiggling a protein shake cup.

“I live here,” he bit out. “And so do you…some of the time.”

The last line was mumbled, but I heard it.

And quite frankly, I didn’t know what he was talking about. I always slept in my bed. Sure, I was at Quincy’s a lot, but that was because he had a huge house, a private trail, and a kinda-cute-had-grown-on-me-dog.

“You’re gone all the time,” I said as I glared at him.

He opened his mouth, and his gaze penetrated me in a way that made me uncomfortable. I put my hair behind one ear and made my way out the door.

The weather was really nice today. Not hot, but it was for us Wisconsinites. I had paired my black Doc Martens with a long boho black dress. My hair was starting to get long, but thanks to my genes, it didn’t frizz.

As I drove toward Main Street, I couldn’t remember when my life felt this full. Everything else was perfect aside from whatever was up Blake’s ass.

All my kids were doing great, and I wasn’t dreading saying goodbye to them like I had with my previous classes. This time, I was ready to let them go and not feel a sense of loss for not seeing them anymore.

When I parked my car at Emma’s, I noticed Quincy’s car there too. Something swirled in the pit of my stomach. A sense of excitement.

I liked to think of it as my anxiety acting out.

Shaking that thought out of my head, I made my way inside. The place was buzzing. I guess everyone had the same idea as me. Last day of school. The moms getting some coffee to prepare to have their little monsters back full-time. The other teachers were as excited as I was to be done.

I looked at the wall and read the day’s quote, knowing full well I would regret it.

I’m not used to being loved. I wouldn’t know what to do.- F. Scott Fitzgerald

And if my day wasn’t already great enough, for once, the board didn’t relate to anything in my life. I kept walking, and that’s when I noticed Quincy was at the front of the register helping out.

His head tipped and he smiled when he looked at me, and I couldn’t help but smile back.

“Come on, Jess. Don’t just stand there. Help out.”

He waved a hand at me, and I sighed, but still headed for the back. I put my stuff on a counter, grabbed a yellow apron, and tied it around my waist.

“Ohmigod,” Freya singsonged as she strutted her way from side to side. How she wasn’t scared to fall on those heels with spilled milk and coffee was beyond me. “It’s just like old times.”

And I guessed it was. The morning rush was no joke. My lack of caffeine took a backseat to the people in this town. I needed to get going. If not, I would be late. I tended to come early whenever I went to the diner because Freya and Emma liked to chit-chat.

“Ice my cup,” I told Quincy as I handed him the cup.

“I bet her cup isn’t the only thing he’s icing.”

My head turned so fast to glare at Freya. “What did you say?”

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