Page 41 of Falling for You
Natalie ignored her friend’s protests. “I only have two minutes before I take the kids to Anthony’s parents and pre-K.” Gesturing toward the doorway, CeCe looked out to see Madeline and Otis in the van. Their little mouths were open in dreamless sleep, their tiny heads lulled to each side. “And before you ask, they’re fine for a moment while I give you the third-degree.”
“What did I do this time?” CeCe sighed. She loved Natalie, but there was always something.
“Aren’t we friends? I’ve been telling myself that we’re friends,” Natalie deadpanned.
CeCe sipped from her coffee and let Natalie have her moment of drama. “Yes. We’re friends. Why? What did you hear? Did someone pass you a note in homeroom that said I have a new BFF? Is this because I didn’t wait for you at my locker after chemistry class?”
Natalie pointed an accusing finger, but her tone was light. “I had to learn from Ginny that you went to Evan’s family dinner last night. I also heard you got a food truck. How am I supposed to be the First Lady of Buckeye Falls if I’m not up to speed on all the hot gossip?”
CeCe pinched the bridge of her nose. She felt a tension headache growing, and it only had a little to do with Buckeye Falls’ gossip mill. Her unanswered text from Eric weighed heavily on her mind, and she didn’t think she could handle much else at the moment. “I can assure you, I was planning on telling you today. But I got home late, then I got a text from Eric, and I just—"
Her explanation died on her tongue as Natalie spluttered in front of her. Her eyes grew wide and her mouth opened and closed several times while she struggled to find words. “Eric texted you?” Natalie looked around the house as if he was hiding in plain sight. “What did you do?”
Unsure how to react, CeCe merely shrugged. “Nothing yet. I wasn’t sure if I should engage or let him stew.”
Natalie stepped closer, reaching out and resting her hands on CeCe’s shoulders. “Tell me exactly what the text said.” Her serious tone made the hairs on CeCe’s neck stand up. This was a big deal, but she didn’t realize how big until Natalie’s face reflected CeCe’s own fears.
“Uh, well. It’s going to sound bad.”
“How bad?”
CeCe took a steadying breath. “It said,I knew you couldn’t stay away.” She bit her lip as a slew of expressions crossed over Natalie’s pretty face. She was glad she omitted the part about her nickname, as it would have caused her friend to implode like a poorly made soufflé.
“I’m sorry, what? Is this a Lifetime movie or something? This guy sounds like a total creep. Are you sure you want to go through with all this? Should you call the police or something?”
“And say what? ‘Hello, I’m reporting a random creepy text from my ex. But I can’t prove it was him, so it could be a wrong number or a run-of-the-mill stalker’?”
“And that’s a better option?” Natalie was incredulous.
These were all reasonable questions. CeCe nodded, certain she was on the right track. “Look. I appreciate you’re worried about me, but it’s going to be fine. I like doing food competitions, and this is a great way to get back in the game. Plus, Eric is harmless. He’s not going to do anything. He’s trying to get a rise out of me. I’m sure of it.”
Natalie glanced over CeCe’s shoulder to make sure her kids were still sleeping, then she turned back with a look of pure determination. “I think you need to be honest with Max and Evan about this. They need to know what they’re up against. Whatyou’reup against. Promise me you’ll take this seriously?”
“Nothing is going to happen. I’ll ignore the text and move on. Seriously, I’ve got this.” CeCe sipped from her coffee, hoping the caffeine would wake her from this complicated conundrum.
Natalie didn’t look convinced, but she acquiesced. “Fine. I’ll drop it. For now. But you should still fill Evan in on your history with Eric. All of it, even the parts that make you uncomfortable. If you’re serious about him, you need to.”
It’s the same sentiment CeCe had been berating herself over, but it didn’t make it easier to hear from her friend. Evan deserved to know the truth, but CeCe didn’t want to pile on the drama. He had enough with work, the competition, and his new design contract. She would tell him if it came to it, but she didn’t see the point in revisiting her past. Not right now anyway. She wanted to be the easy, carefree part of his life.
“I have to get to work. And shouldn’t these kids be at school?”
Natalie took her cell phone from her purse and sighed when she saw the time. “Damn, you’re right. Madeline is the hall monitor today at pre-K. Have you ever heard of such a thing? A four-year-old telling other four-year-olds to line up? It’s ridiculous.”
“Good thing she inherited her mother’s bossiness.” CeCe winked, the jab barely making Natalie wince.
“Poor girl doesn’t stand a chance, not with her parents.” Natalie breezed past CeCe and stopped at her van. “Back to reality. Call me later, okay? We need to get a proper girls’ night on the schedule.” Hesitating before stepping into the van, Natalie offered, “Or we could do a double date. Wouldn’t that be fun?”
As Natalie drove away, CeCe registered what her friend said. A double date? Sharing a meal with Natalie, Evan, and Anthony seemed outlandish. They’d scar poor Evan for life. CeCe shook her head and got back to the matter at hand; she was late for work.
She drove in a haze, her head racing with conflicting thoughts on what to do about Eric’s text. When she arrived at the diner and stepped out of the car, she saw Helen pacing around the back of the lot, a cigarette clenched between her fingers.
“I thought you gave those up,” CeCe accused as she sipped from her coffee.
Helen rolled her eyes and took a puff. “I cut back. I didn’t quit. Plus, it’s an excuse to get away from all the excitement in there.” Flicking the cigarette onto the ground, she stomped it out and held the door open for CeCe. “Welcome to food truck central, where nothing exists outside the world of competition. If I hear the phrase ‘optimal temperature’ again, I’ll murder someone or retire early.”
CeCe chuckled. “I take it you won’t be joining us for competition day?”
Helen shook her head, her jowls following the movement. “Not a chance. I’ll be rooting for you all to win, but let’s be real ... I’m old, and I don’t move fast enough. Competing is a young person’s game.”
