Page 39 of The Proposal Pact
Julie giggles, patting Hope’s arm. “Okay, so we know why this one is drinking, why are you in such need? Please don’t tell me my brother broke your door again?”
“Oh, no.” I wave that off. “I haven’t seen him since he helped with those couches the other day. It’s my brother this time.”
“Uh-oh, what did Vassar do?”
“He called me a child!”
“Ah,” Gracie gasps in outrage like the true best friend she is. “No, he did not!”
“He totally did. I broke the news that I’m staying in Loverly permanently and he lost it, going into the whole ‘premature midlife crisis’ speech again.”
“I don’t like your brother,” Joy announces.
“You don’t like anyone, you are not a reliable source,” Grace says, and I catch Hope’s eyes twitch.
“That’s it. One more word between you two and I’m calling in the reinforcements.”
“Luke and Jacob?” Julie asks.
“No, Mom and Fanny!”
“There are my favorites girls,” an older woman with long, graying hair in a braid, a beaming, warm smile and a million bracelets dangling off her arm, comes up to our table. “Oh, one is missing. Where is my Zoe?”
“About to pop,” Joy repeats.
“Ah, I can’t wait to meet our little girl,” she says and turns her welcoming eyes to me. “And you must be Sophie, Gracie’s best friend from New York. Love that dress you’re wearing,” she says, eyeing my white dress with colorful flowers stitched over the fabric.
“Thank you! And yes, I am her,” I smile back.
“I’m Willa Loverson and let me tell you, we are all so happy to have you!”
“You are?” I ask, surprised.
“Why, of course! No one moves to Loverly Cave if they’re not meant to be here. This is your home now, and I hope you find what you came looking for here.”
Instantly, my heart warms at her warm welcome. I also want to ask how she knows I’m looking for something, but I refrain, it must be written all over my lost face. So I settle with, “Thank you, Willa.”
She smiles, giving my arm a squeeze. “What can I get you girls?”
“Something safe for these three.” Hope points to the pregnant women. “As for me and Sophie, we’re planning on having a good time and venting over here so give us your special brew.”
Suddenly, something dangerous sparks in Willa’s eyes and a shiver runs down my spine.
Why do I have a feeling that this night might have an ending I wasn’t prepared for?
“Coming right up!” She claps her hands and heads to the bar.
“Special brew?” I raise an eyebrow at Hope.
“Willa is the owner and head creator of all the drinks here.” She points to the blackboard above the bar.
Taking a better look at it, I see that there are no regular drinks written on it. Instead, there are: Cupid’s Arrow, Fry, Yellow-Mellow, and more along the lines. My eyes shine with excitement.
“Grace! This is the best bar!”
“Right, that’s what I told you.”
“It is pretty amazing, but I’d be careful if I were you,” Julie tells me, biting the corner of her lip.
