Page 9 of The Harborer
A hiccup that was part giggle escaped Amy’s chest. “Kind of?”
The grin faded from Hailey’s face. “What else did you like about him?”
“He was attracted to me?” Good grief, that sounded lame, even to Amy’s ears.You like a man simply because he’sattracted to you? You fall for him because he smiles at you? Talk about easy! Where’s the pride?
“I also remember you telling me you weren’t too fussy about men because you weren’t pretty enough to catch their eyes—which Istillcall bullshit on, by the way.”
“He was charming,” she protested. “He went out of his way to make me feel special.”
“I’m sure hewascharming. Nonetheless, you were vulnerable when you first started out here. People were looking at you sideways and asking why you were opening a shop that served ‘frou frou’ coffee. They thought you were snobby and that you were trying to cater to other snobs, like Keating or his Aspenite friends with their fancy designer boots stuck up their butts. When Micky approached you, maybe you agreed to go out with him because you thought no one else would ask, and you were desperate to fit in. I know what being a transplant feels like, wearing the bigOon your forehead. I’m an outsider too, though I don’t feel like it anymore.”
“Because youdofit in, with your pretty blond hair and your blue eyes.”
“And so doyou, with your beautiful black hair and your big brown eyes. But looks have nothing to do with who does or doesn’t belong. I belong because the people I really care about have made me part of their circle, and guess what? That started with you, Aims. ’Nuff said.” Hailey bobbed her head, signaling she was done with this part of the conversation. “Maybe now that you’re more comfortable in your adopted hometown and your relationship with Micky has … evolved, you’re looking for something more than great sex.”
“Not so great,” Amy muttered.
“Okay, so plain sex then.”
“Not plain either.” And withoutthat, what did she and Micky have?Zip. Zero. Nada.
Amy liked sex. Micky did too—once upon a time—and they’d had that in common. She missed it, but even if they were still sleeping together, it wouldn’t have been enough. And while she hated to admit it, she wasn’t even attracted to him anymore. Whatever veneer had covered up his rough surfaces had been scrubbed away, and now that she saw the man underneath, her desire for him had gone cold. Could she feel that spark again?Truthfully, it had been more of an ember, but there was always a chance it could flare. Right?
“If we have some time apart, maybe we’ll find our way back to each other again.” Even as Amy uttered the words, they rang hollow. She could hear her own resignation in them. In that moment, she knew deep in her gut there weren’t enough threads holding the two of them together. They had frayed. There were big gaps in the fabric of their relationship.
Hailey raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Is that what you truly want?”
No.“I …” Amy was at a loss.
“Sonotsomething you want, then. Are you maybe clinging to the notion of getting back together because you truly love him? Or are you worried about hurting him? Or is it because you don’t want to step into the unknown? That’s scary stuff, especially when you’ve been together as long as you and Micky have.”
“I don’t know.” Amy twirled her cup. “How do you think the locals will react when they know I broke up with one of their own?”
“Does it really matter?”
“It could affect my business.” Crap! Shewasa mercenary if her profits were her biggest priority when it came to breaking off a yearslong love affair.
“Well, if there is any fallout, I bet it’ll be short-lived. And staying with him because you’re concerned about your bottom line is the wrong reason. On so many levels.” Amy didn’t disagree, though she didn’t say so before Hailey ran on. “You’re part of this community. People have acceptedyou, Amy Caufield, as you are. What you do or don’t with Micky is irrelevant.”
“Yeah, well, acceptance only goes so far before the judginess comes out. You married a Hunnicutt, so of course you’re in. At most, the locals tolerate me.” Amy palmed her face. “Gawd, that came out all wrong. I’m not whining, honestly, even though I totally sound like I am. I don’t have Hunnicutt envy.”
“Good to know you’re not setting your sights on my husband or my brothers-in-law,” Hailey laughed. She patted Amy’s hand. “But seriously, you need to change your mindset. You have a town full of people who are behind you, who support your business. The locals do way more than tolerate you.”
Amy snorted. “Because I serve good coffee.”
Hailey shook her head. “You do, but also because it’syou.They flock to your store because you fill a need in this town and because they like having you here. I guarantee that if anybody messed with you, they’d be all over them like cockroaches on a bag of sugar.”
“Ew! Don’t you dare use that word in my establishment!” Amy shuddered.
“Sorry. Throwback to my past life as a food inspector. What I’m trying to say is the people who care about you are the ones who truly matter in this town. That’s a long list that includes theentireHunnicutt family. And they carry a lot of clout, unlike the Bruno Keatings of the world.”
Hailey’s husband Noah was one ofthoseHunnicutts—a founding family that dated back to the town’s origins in the late nineteenth century onbothsides. There were three brothers in all—Reece, the oldest, Noah the middle, and Charlie, the youngest—and their parents had left a huge stamp on the town, including jumping through hoop after hoop to win its designation as a historic district.
Hailey polished off her coffee, leaned forward on her elbows, and narrowed her eyes. “Now, are you ready to get your head out of your ass and look at the situation objectively? Or do I need to keep blithering about how much everyone loves you? Sheesh. Who knew you were such a glutton for praise?”
“Oh, please don’t hold back, sister!” Amy burst into a fit of laughter, and Hailey joined in. When they were finally done, Amy’s cheeks were wet with tears, and her sides ached. “Moving right along. I am now ready to pull my head out of my ass and see things through your rose-colored glasses.”
Hailey bubbled with a few more giggles. “You do that. Seriously, though, you are a truly amazing human being. You’re one of the sweetest, smartest people I know, and whether you believe it or not, you aregorgeous. Like in an alluring I-hate-you sort of way.” Amy gave Hailey a playful eye-roll, though her friend seemed to ignore it. “You deserve someone who sees and appreciates everything about you and worships the ground you walk on. Unless he changes his spots, Micky is not that man.”
