Page 38 of Devoted Enough

“Last night…something–”

“Something what, Nate?” I whispered into the pillow right before finally succumbing to sleep.

Chapter Seven

HAVEN

“I’m so glad you decided to come out tonight, Haven.”

Rosie walked arm in arm with me as we headed toward the entrance of The Blue Moose bar. After a long week of meetings with lawyers, architects, and a few people who were making donations, I was ready to let loose and not think about anything. Or anyone. Everything was secure with the loan, but there was something off about the contractor, and I had informed the bank I was going to find someone else. The longer I delayed, the longer the project would be pushed out since winter was right around the corner.

“Lizzy!” Rosie called out as we walked through the entrance.

I grimaced when I caught sight of Rosie’s older sister Lizzy. I hadn’t seen her in years, and the first thing I thought of was the countless ways she flirted with Nate. Nearly half the school flirted with Nate and Josh. Lizzy was a year older than us and forever talked about how she would win Nate one day. I tolerated her then, and not much had changed since.

Lizzy looked stunning in a black silk jumpsuit and high-heeled shoes, which I was pretty sure were designer. Her blond hair was pulled up and swept back in a French twist. Her makeup was on the heavy side, but I remembered Lizzy was never caught without makeup on.

Watching the two sisters hug, I waited slightly behind them and glanced around the bar. It was a Saturday night, and since it was near Thanksgiving, there were hardly any tourists and mostly locals.

“Haven? Haven?”

My head jerked back to look at the two sisters. They were both looking at me with smiles.

“I’m sorry about that,” I said as I took a few steps closer. “Lizzy, it’s great seeing you.”

She flashed me a wide grin. “I’m here to spread the news!”

Looking at Rosie in confusion, she shrugged. “I didn’t even know she was back in town until this very minute. Mom is going to be pissed you didn’t come to the house yet.”

Lizzy laughed. “I was already home and shared my good news with them. Mom told me it was girls’ night out tonight. That’s why I’m here!”

Rosie watched her sister as she bounced on her toes. “Well, tell us!”

Holding out her hand, Lizzy showed off a massive diamond engagement ring. “I’m getting married!”

Rosie screamed, Lizzy screamed, and I jumped in shock.

“I had the same reaction,” Josephine Carter said in my ear. Turning to see another one of my best friends from high school, I pulled her into a hug. She was also dressed to the nines in a beautiful dress that almost looked out of place in our local bar. She was rocking the look, though. Her dirty blonde hair was cut in a short bob, and her hazel eyes sparkled with pure happiness.

“Josephine! I had no idea you were in town.”

She laughed. “I came to visit my parents for Thanksgiving and decided to stay the whole week! I ran into Lizzy at the airport in Missoula and caught a ride with her. We exchanged numbers, and she said everyone was coming out tonight, so Ithought I would join. I’m exhausted from the flight in from New York City, though.”

“I bet that’s a long flight,” I stated as Josephine and I followed Rosie and Lizzy to a large table toward the back. “Do you live in New York City now?”

Wrapping her arm in mine, she laughed. “Yes, and I love it! I can’t believe we lost touch after high school. So much has happened in my life! I finished college in Boston and moved to New York after getting a job with a law firm.”

“Wow, what are you doing there?”

“I’m a paralegal, and I love my job. Oh, Haven, living in a big city like New York has been so fun. My apartment is so tiny and costs a small fourtune, but it’s worth it. One day I’ll go back to school and become a lawyer; right now, I’m just enjoying life in the big city.”

Smiling, I sat down in the chair next to the one Josephine had sat in, instantly realizing that I didn’t have much in common with these people from high school, not that I ever did, though.

“What about you? Did you ever go to college? Are you still living here in Hamilton?”

“No,” I said with a shake of my head. “Never could afford college. I grew my dog walking business and now take dogs out for hikes in a bus I bought. We go out twice daily with different groups of dogs, and I take them on different trails.”

She smiled. “You always did love your dogs. I think that’s amazing you’ve grown your little dog-walking business into something like that.”

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