Page 15 of A Love Like Pumpkin Spice (Wayward Hollow #1)

Nic

“And then? Did you kiss?”

“What?” I stop in my tracks and stare at Lauren in disbelief. “Obviously, we didn’t.”

“What do you mean, ‘obviously?’” she scolds me playfully and rolls her eyes.

We’re strolling through the streets of Wayward Hollow, exploring our new hometown.

And visiting the antique store, since Lauren needs a mirror for her hallway.

Pumpkin is at home, sleeping her day away and exploring the little play pen I set up for her.

She’s taking well to her new food, and I sent a thank you to the heavens when she began using the litter box without any drama.

Then I sent another one for being able to leave her alone without worrying she’d stage a tiny kitten uprising the moment I stepped out of the door.

She’s still a vocal little menace, but what can I say? I’ve gotten used to her sometimes more, sometimes less aggressive meows.

“That man took you home when you were in an exhaustion-induced delirium, made sure your cat was okay and fed, and”—she leans closer, lowering her voice to a whisper—“let me point out he never once laughed at you for the ghost cat thing. That man is boyfriend material, Nic. By the way, we’re getting a coffee first, right?

We can still make it before the lunch rush.

” She gl ances at me with wide, pleading eyes, and when I nod, her lips pull into the tiniest smile.

“And I recently got out of a relationship that shattered my trust in humanity into a million little pieces,” I point out and blow a strand of hair out of my face. “What makes you think I’m ready for a new boyfriend?”

“So what? Because Jay fucked up, you’re punishing Henry?” She shakes her head at me, eyebrows scrunched together in disapproval.

“I’m not punishing anyone,” I object and resume walking, taking a deep breath.

“I just don’t think jumping into dating the next guy would be good for me.

” Even with my family out of the picture, I can’t help but jump to the worst-case scenarios.

What if he’s another guy who’s after my money?

Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice …

“Oh, you absolutely are. Mostly yourself, though,” Lauren interrupts my thoughts and falls into step with me again. “Be honest. Do you truly think Henry is the kind of man who breaks hearts?”

I bury my hands in my coat, lowering my eyes to the ground. To be fair, I never thought Jay would break my heart either, but here I am.

“How would I know?” We turn the corner and Caleb’s café comes into sight. “I’ve known him for, like, two minutes. I don’t know anything about him.”

“Yet I bet you know more about his character than Jay’s,” she points out, nudging me with her elbow. “Would Jay have brought you home from Caleb’s?”

I take a moment to think, then let my shoulders sag and softly shake my head.

“Probably not on his own and not without bitching,” I finally admit with a grimace. I can almost hear his voice in my head .

“Why can’t you take care of yourself? Now I have to go out of my way to get you. Do you ever think about how much trouble you cause?”

It’s one of the many glimpses into my past that makes me question a lot about myself. How could I ever tolerate someone speaking to me that way?

And the only explanation I can find is that I was scared. Scared of more disapproval, scared of more rejection.

Scared of being alone.

“See?” Lauren says smugly, oblivious to the storm inside me. “Not every guy is like Jay. In fact, I think Henry’s the exact opposite.” She links her arm with mine and pulls me to a stop, pointing at the town square on the other side of the road. Speak of the devil.

“I mean, look at him. Everyone loves him, which really couldn’t be said about Jay.

His dog adores him, which also speaks for his character.

” She turns to me, while I can’t stop watching Henry as he throws a stick for his dog, praising him when he brings it back.

“You might think you’re traumatized, but I know you, Nic.

You’re angry. You’re scared. But please tell me with 100 percent certainty.

Would you have been happy with Jay? Like, profoundly, truly happy? ”

I gulp. Maybe Lauren saw more than I give her credit for.

When we first started dating, I would have said yes without hesitation. Jay made me feel so seen, so loved. He’d say all the right things, get me flowers, boast about me to his friends, and keep me firmly on cloud nine.

The changes came slowly. It was a fight here and there. His doubts increased. Which led to me letting him control more and more in an attempt to prove myself to him until I didn’t have more to give.

It must have been calculated. Maybe Marissa wasn’t part of the plan initially, but the rest?

Unt il now, I haven't allowed myself to analyze our relationship. To see how blind I was to his manipulation. But now? The realization of its extent hits me colder than bucket of ice water.

“You’re seeing it?” Lauren asks cautiously, and I nod, swallowing down the emotions forming a knot in my throat. I see it clearer than ever.

“He manipulated me from the beginning?”

“That's what I suspected,” she admits with a sad smile. “You sounded sadder every time we talked about him.”

“Did I?” I try to think back on my conversations with Lauren, as she slowly walks to Caleb’s, gently pulling me along.

She nods slowly. “Girl, your little rants when he was out of earshot were 100 percent you trying to convince yourself that’s he’s a good guy, trying to reason with yourself that he still loved you.

” She takes a deep breath. “Obviously, I can only go off what you told me, and since we barely managed to see each other in person, I never knew when to bring it up. I had an intervention planned for two days after your engagement party, though.”

“You didn’t!” I stare at her in disbelief and slow down.

“Yes, I did. Why did you think I had my freezer stocked with ice cream?”

We’re across the street from Caleb’s now, and she pulls me to a stop, taking both of my hands in hers.

“Not even I saw it coming, Nic.” I try to avoid her eyes and the pity shining in them, but she won’t let me.

“You might be embarrassed or feel like a failure for not seeing it, but you’re the one who got manipulated.

You were never supposed to realize what was going on.

He made sure of that. Cut yourself some slack and don’t let another great opportunity at happiness slip through your fingers because of Jay.

He stole enough of your years and you . Don’t let him steal more. Don’t let him win.”

For a moment, we stay like this, gazing at each other in the middle of the sidewalk, until she squeezes my hands one more time.

Then the emotionally charged moment ends as she drags me with her to the entrance of Caleb’s.

A smile washes over her face as soon as she opens the door while I’m still trying to make sense of her words.

She’s not wrong. In fact, she apparently knows me better than I do.

But worry still gnaws at me, more persistent than a tick clinging to my skin.

“What if you’re wrong?” I ask her in a whisper once we find a spot to sit down.

“The world will still turn, the sun will still shine, and the seasons will continue to change.” She reaches over the table and squeezes my hand.

“It would suck, but it wouldn’t be the end of the world.

” Then her expression turns softer. “We can always give up and become cat ladies. And while that wouldn’t be such a bad thing”—she takes a deep breath—“don’t you want to try one more time?

What if this is something great that will slip right through your fingers because you’re too scared to hold on? ”

“Maybe you’re right.” I nod. I hate how much sense she’s making, but this whole conversation is like an emotional bomb going boom right inside my head. I have a lot to think about. For now, I change topics. “Do you think the cat distribution system will pick you soon?”

“I’m counting on your ghost cat, to be honest.”

“Still going on about the ghost cat?” We glance up at Caleb, who appears next to our table, with his notepad in hand and his signature backward cap.

Lauren’s lips instantly curl into a sweet smile, and I bite my lip to keep from grinning.

She might be extremely invested in me and my potential love story here in Wayward Hollow, but maybe it’s time I nudge her toward her own.

“ Get that amusement out of your voice,” I scold him playfully. “Her name is Chaos, and she’s part of the family now.”

He shakes his head, but I can see his cheek dip where he bites the inside of it to keep from smiling. “What can I get you two?”