Page 5 of Falling for You
“I’m assuming this is a taste test too? They all look stunning.” Natalie snapped a few pictures on her phone before plucking one of each candy. Before she dove in, she sauntered back to the couch. With a manicured hand, she gestured to the whiskey and newspaper on the coffee table. “I’m guessing this is the real reason I’m here. Max told Ginny something was up with you.”
CeCe didn’t begrudge her boss his happiness, but damn, this small town and its lack of privacy. “Yeah.” She sighed into her second glass of whiskey.
Natalie eyed her friend carefully, stealing another candy from the box on CeCe’s lap. “Want to talk about it?” Natalie asked around a melted caramel. Covering her mouth with her hand, she groaned. “Before we dive into girl talk, it’s definitely the caramels for me. I’ll bring a sample for Ginny to try, but she’s going to love these.”
Usually praise over a recipe brought a sense of satisfaction to CeCe, but today it wasn’t cutting it. She rubbed at her chest with her hand and leaned back on the couch. Since this morning, she’d had a case of heartburn she couldn’t shake. She hated how her body still reacted to him, especially since he’d caused enough indigestion over the years.
The whiskey was finally doing its job, numbing the edges of her brain as she closed her eyes. She listened to the smacking sounds of Natalie devouring more sugar. She’d be buzzing off the walls by the time she left. At least she’d have the energy for her two rambunctious kiddos.
Natalie snatched the paper before CeCe could stop her and her eyes grew. “Wait a minute,” she breathed. “Is this Eric?TheEric? As in, horrible, lying, cheating, pseudo-stalker Eric?” Natalie dropped the paper like it was on fire, nudging CeCe from her perch on the couch. “Talk to me. This isn’t like you to pout and hide.”
Her friend was right, but she couldn’t quite articulate the problem. How do you open your heart and share the most painful memories? CeCe was the person you went to with your problems. She didn’t have problems. Her life was simple—cook, eat, sleep, repeat. The only variation being bake, eat, sleep, repeat. Since moving to Buckeye Falls, her life had found a familiar and comfortable routine, and CeCe clung to it for dear life.
“Max said we’re not doing the competition,” CeCe finally said. She plucked a candy from the box and popped it in her mouth. The orange flavor coated her tongue as it slowly melted. “And I think Ginny might prefer the orange cream.”
Natalie moved the box out of reach and poked the paper with her finger. “Don’t change the subject. You’re not doing the competition? That’s insane.”
Raising an eyebrow, CeCe turned to see her friend. “What are you talking about?”
“It’s insane not to show up and show off,” Natalie declared with the certainty of a woman who truly never experienced that kind of heartbreak. “You and Max are going to join the food truck event. Weren’t you already looking at trucks to rent?” Natalie waited for CeCe’s sad shrug before continuing. “Exactly. Don’t let this jackass put you off your game. You two are the best chefs in Central Ohio; no, likely all of Ohio. Once that idiot rolls in, he’s going eat his heart out when he sees how amazing you are.”
CeCe let out a deep breath; Natalie wasn’t making this easy. “I thought of that already,” she said, reaching a hand up to silence her friend. “But here’s the thing, I don’t have to show off for him. I don’t need to prove anything to him. Being around Eric is going to be too—” She hesitated, feeling the lump in her throat grow three sizes. It was like trying to swallow past a grapefruit. “It’s too much. I left Chicago to get away from him. Once I landed in Buckeye Falls, I found my happy place. I don’t want to engage with my ex in my happy place.”
Natalie huffed out a breath. “I love that this is your happy place. I sometimes take for granted how special Buckeye Falls really is.”
CeCe sipped from her whiskey, debating how much of her old wounds to open. There was something to be said for keeping it all bottled up. Judging someone for their actions, or inactions, wasn’t possible if no one knew the truth. But then she watched her friend, sitting there waiting on CeCe to open the Pandora’s box of her dating history. It didn’t seem right not to share a little more of the burden.
“I hated myself after Eric, and I think if I were honest I still hate myselfaboutEric.”
Natalie eased back into her seat, resting her head in her hand. “What does that mean?” The question held no judgment, only concern, and it bolstered CeCe to open up more.
“I’m embarrassed that I fell for Eric’s crap. He was a two-faced liar, and everyone knew it but me. I dated a married man for nearly a year without realizing it. I mean, how stupid could I have been?” CeCe brought her hands to her face, covering her eyes from her own story.
Natalie wrapped her arm around CeCe’s shoulders, drawing her close and mumbling words of encouragement. “You didn’t know, honey. And didn’t you break up as soon as you found out?”
CeCe wiped at her eyes with the sleeve of her shirt, feeling the dam burst as the tears fell. “I did, but that doesn’t change the outcome. I lost my career in Chicago, and I lost a part of myself. I let a man dictate my life, and that’s not who I am.”
“We all have a story or two from our pasts that we’d like to avoid,” Natalie offered, but CeCe wasn’t letting herself off the hook yet.
“Yeah, but mine literally crippled me. Nat, I was a different person. Iama different person now. I know I don’t let people in as much, and Eric’s to blame.”
“You let me in, and Max. I’m pretty sure there’s a cute waiter who isdyingto have you let him in more.” Natalie winked as she playfully nudged CeCe’s side. “You do let people in, but you’re choosey about it. Guarding your heart isn’t a crime.”
“Then why do I still feel like Eric took everything from me?”
Natalie rested her head on CeCe’s shoulder as the tears silently fell. Natalie didn’t offer any more platitudes, just rocked CeCe back and forth as they watched the light outside the window dim with sunset. A quiet hum from Natalie’s purse broke the moment, and she shifted slightly to check her phone. “Ugh, I need to get home. Anthony got called into an emergency meeting with town council.” She took CeCe’s hand and brought it up to her lips, kissing it before cradling it against her chest. “I’m sorry. You’re right; you don’t have to prove anything to anyone. Least of all that asshole.”
Caught off guard by Natalie’s complete 180, CeCe blinked a few times. The tears would continue to fall, but she did feel slightly better after opening up to Natalie. There was a lot to work on, but CeCe didn’t have to do it all tonight. “I’ll remember you said that,” she finally croaked. “You never say that I’m right.”
Natalie released CeCe’s hand and swatted at her with a pillow. “Ha, ha,” she said as she got to her feet. Natalie pulled on her boots and headed toward the door. “I’ll call you tomorrow. In the meantime, do me a favor?”
“Favor?” CeCe braced for impact, unsure where Natalie was going with this.
“Remember, you’re allowed to be happy. Whether it’s with someone or by yourself. Don’t forget that, okay?”
“Happy?”
Natalie soldiered on. “Yes, happy. I know you like to be stoic, but you’re allowed to be happy.”
