Page 54 of A Love Like Pumpkin Spice
“Morning, Lauren,” I greet her, not quite as enthusiastically, and lift my hand for a quick wave to Caleb. He’s never been a man of many words and is even less so in the morning.
“You don’t seem as happy as you should be.” She narrows her eyes at me, trying to read me like a goddamn book. “What’s going on?” she asks carefully, absentmindedly petting Jensen when he puts his paws on the edge of her chair, subtly keeping him away from her coffee on the counter.
“I don’t know,” I admit with a deep sigh, leaning against the counter next to her with both my elbows. “I wish I knew. Nic seemed so at peace after you guys began helping out in the antique store, but now she’s drawing back, and I’m not sure what to do. She’s like … water, slipping through my fingers. Do you have any ideas?”
She tilts her head and studies the array of mugs on the other side of the bar while she thinks. “Did she tell you why?”
“No.” I shake my head and take a deep breath. “I thought everything was going great.” I clear my throat. “I first noticed it right after Jay appeared, but it has gotten worse over the past few days.”
“I can think of a reason, but a word of caution, I can’t read her mind,” Lauren says and gives me a hard stare. “Which I think is for the better, but … please keep that in mind?”
“Okay,” I say, climbing into one of the bar stools beside her. “Tell me.”
Her fingers tap the wooden countertop nervously, causing small waves in her coffee as she tries to think of the right words.
“You know, after Nic broke up with Jay, she stormed forward right away. I mean, after a few days of crying and getting out preliminary sadness and anger. From the beginning, she was determined to bury the whole thing, pretend her family didn’t exist anymore and that the whole debacle didn’t happen. Now, for the record, there is no way she wouldeverreturn to Jay.” She quickly points out and I nod.
“That’s the one thing I have zero doubts about,” I assure her and she nods.
“I think what’s currently catching up to her is the rest of it.” She makes a vague gesture with her hand. “Her sister’s backstabbing. Her parents’ betrayal. That whole black-sheep versus golden-child dynamic.” She takes a sip of her coffee, just as Caleb places my to-go cup in front of me.
“Nic has always yearned for a warm family. She wouldn’t admit it—hell, I’m not sure if she evenknowsit—but the more you watch her, the more obvious it becomes. Instead, she has a bunch of ice blocks with spikes who she shares her genes with. Yet ever since I’ve known her, she’s held onto those spikes as hard as she could. Even if that meant getting frostbite on her fingertips and only receiving pain in return. Now she finally,finallylet go and she never got the chance to properly grieve what could have been.” Lauren shoots me a knowing look. “She might have all of us, but it’s not the same. She’s scared.”
“Right.” I gulp, many of my jumbled thoughts and worries falling into place.
“There’s no security net,” Lauren continues, and I subtly nod along. “She even told me she thinks friendships can fall apart quickly. The only person she dares to count on is herself.”
“I don’t know what to say,” I whisper, my heart aching for Nic. Lauren shakes her head as she continues.
“You should have seen them.” Her voice is barely above a whisper. “I’ve never seen that much venom in someone’s expression. So much hate in their words, and they directed them at theirchild. They scolded her for causing drama—can you imagine?”
“Better if I never meet them, then.” I take a sip of my coffee, sliding Caleb’s money over the counter as he walks by. He grabs it without even glancing at me, rounding the counter. Jensen immediately runs over to him, playing his part in their everyday ritual, and almost makes Lauren lose her balance on the thin bar stool.
“Trust me. It is.” Her eyes follow Caleb on the ground as he plays with Jensen. Their daily morning ritual that always, without a fail, ends with a treat for my dog.
“Nic likes you.Reallylikes you,” Lauren points out softly. “Give her some time to open up. There’s a lot she needs to figure out by herself first.”
“Do you think it would help if I introduced her to my parents?”
“Wow, aren’t you moving fast?” Lauren chuckles and slowly shakes her head. “I don’t think it would help. I imagine it’s still too raw. But then again, I’m not her. The only one who will know when she’s ready for that is Nic. Maybe let her find her balance on her own two feet before throwing your parents at her, though.”
“Okay.” I take a deep breath and straighten my back. “God, I’m a fish out of water here.” I rub my chest right over my hurting heart. It’s been years since I last went on a date. My last relationship broke apart when I decided to move back to Wayward Hollow and had to spend all of my time building up my clinic. But this is where I always saw myself living and growing old.
“Let me tell you a secret, lover boy. We all are.” Lauren looks at me amusedly. “Being here is new to Nic, and being with her is new to you. It will take some time for you two to find your balance. Take it slow or you’ll be two people trying to sprint across a slackline and will drop and fall faster than stones. Nic is honest—if she needs space, she’ll tell you. If she’s quiet, that’s usually a good sign. She’s like a cat that way.” Lauren chuckles, and I can’t help but join her.
“There are certain parallels.”
“Right? And I mean, you’re a vet. You know how to handle cats. It was meant to be.” She shoots me a wink and jumps up from her seat. “Now, if you’ll excuse me. I have some bookshelves to build.” She makes a funny handyman pose before walking off, leaving me alone in the café with Caleb and my dog.
“Got your daily serotonin in?” I ask Caleb jokingly and he nods. I swear I even see the ghost of a smile on his lips.
“Thanks,” he grumbles and throws Jensen his treat.
“Don’t stop on my account.” I grimace and take a deep breath. “I’ll have to examine some horses today, I’m taking all the procrastination and delays I can get.” I shudder. Cows are fine, but for some reason, horses give me the heebie-jeebies. They’re big. And fast. And really fucking strong.
“No can do.” Caleb shakes his head. But right as I’m about to leave, he stops me with a hand on my upper arm.
“Don’t mess it up,” he says softly, and my eyes widen in surprise.
