Page 31 of My Scorned Best Friend

She chuckles. “Not in this section. We don’t need you reading any more excerpts.”

So I’m not the only one who remembers that night.

We walk out of the library, and I squint at the bright sun. We walk over to Truth or Dare, chatting about nothing of importance.

I’m about to open the door to the brewery when a voice calls, “Clara!”

I know that voice, so it’s no surprise to me that when I turn, I find Ben jogging down the cobblestone path with his suitcase bouncing along behind him.

I’ve never been more disappointed to see one of my friends in my life.

10

“AM I MISSING SOMETHING?”

Clara

“Ben?” I have to be seeing things. Why on earth is Ben in Sunrise Bay?

“X? What’s up?” He stops short and does a whole handshake thing with Xavier before we do the do we or don’t we hug awkward dance. Finally, he does the pat on my back semihug thing.

I wish my feelings for Ben were stronger. And I really wish I was excited to see him, rather than the disappointment I feel because of what him being here means for my lunch with Xavier.

“What are you doing here?” I ask.

Ben smiles that boy-next-door smile that could win the heart of any girl. Any girl except me, because there’s another boy next door I gave my heart to a long time ago. “We have a bye week, and I was sitting alone in my condo, and I just thought… why not surprise Clara?” His smile falters. “It’s okay, right?”

“Of course. We were just about to have lunch, come on.” I open the door of the brewery and walk in.

“Maybe I should let the two of you catch up?” Xavier says when we walk in.

“Nah, come on.” Ben clasps him on the shoulder and we head to an available table.

Molly walks over. Her belly isn’t really showing yet, but then again, she’s wearing a sweatshirt. She places the menus on the table. “Look who’s back in town.”

“What are you doing here?” I ask.

She sighs. “We’ve been short staffed and I’ve had to come in to cover shifts here and there.”

“How are you feeling?” It’s hard not to notice how tired she looks.

Her head sways left then right. “The nausea is getting better thank God, but now we have a jealous little girl at home.”

“Emelia is jealous?” Xavier asks, concern in his tone.

“Afraid so. She doesn’t like Jed giving my stomach any attention. Every time he uses the phrase ‘when the baby comes,’ she changes the subject. I have to find a way for her to bond before the baby is born.”

“Mind if I stop by later?” Xavier asks.

“You’re always welcome. Why?”

Xavier shrugs. “Something I need to talk to my niece about.”

Molly shoots him an expression of appreciation, then moves her gaze around the table. “Okay, what can I get you all?”

I order an iced tea, Xavier orders a water, and Ben orders Lucy’s Flight.

After Molly’s gone, the table is quiet, and I search my mind for something to talk about and settle on the weather. How lame.

---