Page 79 of Baby, It's You
His enthusiasm is refreshing and I’m happy to have him at the bar with us.
I hear the bar door jingle and turn around to see Sonjia walking in. Her long, green, floral skirt swishes as she saunters towards me. She has a large pair of chunky earrings on today that I realize are Jane’s. I feel a pang of sadness, missing her.
“Hey, sweetie, ready to go grab some lunch?” Sonjia asks.
“Yup! Let me just get my purse. I’ll meet you outside,” I tell her and quickly head to the office so I can grab my bag. I pick it up off the chair and then glance at the picture of Jane that Hunter’s mom painted. I hung it up on the wall the day I was handed the keys to the bar. “Thank you,” I whisper to it, like I do many times a week. I can’t believe this place is mine; I’m living my dream.
The only thing missing now is Hunter. I'm sure he has moved on by now, though. I can’t expect him to wait on me forever, especially when I told him not to.
I head outside and get in the passenger seat of Sonjia's Oldsmobile, which used to be Jane’s.
“Looking good, Sonjia,” I tell her and wiggle my eyebrows. “Very extravagant.”
“Oh, this old thing?” She laughs and pretends to smooth her skirt in an uppity motion.
“Where do you want to go for lunch?” I ask her, feeling my stomach grumble with hunger.
“Let’s go to this pizza place, Bricks. Mr. Ray took me there last week and you would love it. Everything is cool and hip, like you young people.”
“Okay, sounds good to me. I could totally go for some pizza right now.”
We pull up to the restaurant shortly after and Sonjia is right, the place looks super unique. It's huge and looks like a converted airplane hangar.
We walk inside and order some slices of pizza from a man at the front counter. He tells us to take a seat anywhere, and that he will bring us the food when it’s ready. I ask Sonjia what she wants to drink and go fill up our fountain cups while she chooses a table.
I take a seat across from her and notice a couple sitting a few tables behind us. The guy has his back to me, but he has curly dark hair that instantly makes me think of Hunter for a moment. But this guy’s hair is longer. There’s a woman with long blonde hair facing my direction, and she’s so beautiful, I can’t help but stare at her as she reaches over and pushes some hair back from his face.
I miss that intimacy. I miss Hunter. I feel an ache for him deep inside suddenly and decide that I am going to try to call him tonight. I think I’m ready now to be the best possible woman for him and for myself.
Seconds after my moment of realization, though, the guy stands up to excuse himself to the bathroom and I think I might be sick. ItisHunter. He’s here with this beautiful woman. I’m too late.
I quickly turn to Sonjia. “I’m so sorry, but I’m actually feeling really sick suddenly. Is there any way we could get our pizza to go?”
She looks at me with concern and reaches a hand over to lay it against my forehead. “You poor thing. Of course, hun. You go wait in my car; I will get it.”
She hands me the keys and I rush out the front door before Hunter can notice me.
I get outside and now know it isdefinitelyhim inside; his truck is right in front of me. How did I not notice it when I walked in?
I’m too late, he moved on.Hunter doesn’t love me anymore.
I can’t help it as my stomach betrays me, and I bend over and throw up in the street. I guess I don’t even have to fake being sick.
Chapter 57
Olive
Four months later
It’s now July and I can’t believe the differences in my life over the past year. One year ago, I thought I was going to lose Whiskey’s and that there was no hope; now, I’m the owner.
I’m busier than ever at work, I’m still attending therapy weekly, and I even joined a book club that Missy runs at the library once a month. I’ve made some new friends there, too. I’ve also hung out with Eddie’s sister, Leena, a few times and she’s a breath of fresh air. She has never mentioned Hunter around me and I’m grateful for how insightful she is.
It’s nice to have more friends now, but I can’t lie and say I don’t miss Ivy desperately. She’s living her best life in Atlanta, though, so I’m happy for her. I plan to visit her around Christmas time, so we can spend the holiday together. We FaceTime at least three times a week so we don’t miss anything that each other is experiencing. She is kicking butt at the bridal salon and seems like she is in line to get a promotion soon. I couldn’t be prouder of her.
I’m also proud of the fact she has put herself first and hasn’t dated anyone. For the first time in our friendship, she has been single for longer than a month and she said she’s learned to love herself again. Last night we stayed up till 3 A.M on FaceTime, watchingThe Vampire Diariestogether. Our tradition that used to be centered around heartbreak is now just for fun. We can feel close to each other from thousands of miles away, without it being about a man.
That said…she has told me that she sees a tremendous change in me numerous times, and that I should just try to reach out to Hunter, to see if he responds. I picture him in that pizza place with the hot blonde girl every single time she encourages me to talk to him, and I just can’t do it. I want him to be happy, and he looked happy with whoever that woman was.
