Page 22 of About Yesterday (Foothills #5)

Take a bull by the horns

I n the waiting area chair, Trace doom-scrolled through her newsfeed.

Anything to get her mind off of what she had agreed to, and what she’d said in the car on the drive to Seattle.

At least Cole didn’t judge when she admitted that she once owned a doily-trimmed muumuu like her grandma used to wear.

Yeah. An ex had bought it for her, thinking it would be pretty and practical.

Not wanting to hurt his feelings and wear something else when he came for sleepovers, she didn’t wear any pajamas, and, well, it sort of stuck.

Cole had teased disappointment that she wasn’t going to be picking up black lace teddies or anything, just the practical variety of sexy undergarments.

Beyond the display of styling products separating the waiting area from the rest of the salon, Trace could only see the hairdresser and a sliver of Cole’s reflection.

Damn. She actually liked his long hair, but he hated it, and she was glad to see him taking the bull by the horns.

He’d even shaved this morning, but had pitifully had her finish when he got a cramp and had nicked himself trying to finish up with the other hand.

They had good hair salons and barber shops in Foothills, certainly closer than Seattle, but shopping and haircuts together in Foothills? The entire gossip mill would churn, wondering if they were an item.

Especially if anyone saw her out of her uniform. Ugh, and thought she was updating her look for his sake. And vice versa, if he was getting his haircut for her. She could credit him with blowing a bit of confidence her way, but she was long overdue to like how she looked again.

Okay, more than a bit of confidence. She’d never been anyone’s obsession.

Chunky knee-high brown boots, long navy skirt with high slits, a simple white tee, and a denim jacket, Trace was decked out in the outfit she had envisioned wearing on a random Saturday, but it felt weird to wear it around the house, as even her mother would comment if she stretched outside of her bubble. And it was a very constricting bubble.

Comments would come. She was done caring. Hopefully.

Or, at least, once everyone got used to her displaying confident-Trace on the outside, the comments would fade. Or she’d get used to them. Hopefully.

While she was trying to sneak a peek… awkwardly sideways to get a better view over the pomade instead of around the mousse, earning some judgy looks from the others in the waiting area, her phone blasted and the waiting area heads all jolted to look at her.

“Sorry,” she whispered, digging in her bag until she found the noisy thing and popped up from her seat, answering as she snuck outside.

“Hi Haley,” she whispered, louder as she hit the street.

Fall was officially here, her hand already cold, rain blustering from all directions. Maybe the skirt was impractical for today, whipping around her legs in a chaotic mess, but dammit, she liked it. She stayed ducked under the awning and ignored the comings and goings of the active city.

“Where are you? I hear… street sounds,” Haley said, her tone amusingly light.

“Seattle,” she said frankly. “Long story.”

“That’s what friends are for. Dish.”

Oh boy. Haley was in a goofy mood. “You first,” she fired back, holding her hand over her other ear to block out other noises.

Haley laughed and crunched into something, snacking while they talked. “Sophie and Asher are quasi-eloping.”

“What does that mean?”

“It’s not easy to elope in Washington. It takes three days to get a marriage certificate.”

“So they’re getting married in three days? In town or are they hiding like they planned?”

“As neither wants any sort of fuss but they agreed to do something special, they have invited us—their closest friends—and Asher’s parents of course.”

“None of his extended family?”

“There are way too many of them, so Asher drew the line before adding any extended family, even favorites. Well, except for Freya, but as they are friends and cousins, she doesn’t count as generic extended family.”

“Makes sense, I guess.” Trace cringed to hear over the wailing siren of an ambulance rushing past. “When and where?”

“At the first mention of anything, Pippa was on the phone making reservations for a getaway wedding, so we will be at Sunset Beach next weekend. We have rooms reserved at Sunset Lodge, and she found this great house on the water where she, Lincoln, and Asher’s parents will stay and will host a little ceremony and reception. ”

“That actually sounds awesome. I can’t remember the last time I got to spend a few days at the beach.”

“The weather is supposed to be awful.”

“I like a good fall downpour at the ocean. It’s pretty,” Trace said, looking out from the awning and admiring how the grays of the streets, the buildings, and the sky all blended together like an antique photo.

Haley munched another bite as she talked. “Sophie should call you soon to ask if you would mind coordinating with your mom regarding a tasty but non-perfumy-white dessert. Asher’s parents will head down Friday morning and can bring it with them, so you can come straight down after work.”

“Got it. Not a problem. My mom will love the challenge. Wedding dessert that would never be mistaken for wedding cake. She thinks wedding cakes are boring anyway.”

“Perfect. Halseth’s is on food. Zoe’s working on a simple menu so all they have to do is heat and serve, minimal cleanup. Tonight, we’re doing a little spontaneous bachelorette party for Sophie. You in?”

“Absolutely. Is she letting Freya or Pippa be involved in planning this bachelorette party? Penis crown?” Traced laughed, remembering the stories about the chaos surrounding Pippa’s wedding, right before she had moved back to town.

Despite Pippa’s bridezillaness—or perhaps in light of it—Asher and Sophie had fallen for each other in the middle of the chaos of it.

However, as a result, neither was keen on having hubbub around their own wedding.

“I believe Sophie’s words were ‘hell fucking no.’ Instead, we’re all going to get together at Ahab’s and be silly. There was a solid line drawn through any hint of a bridal shower.”

“Alright. Sounds like a plan. Are we allowed to bring presents tonight? I’m already planning on hitting the lingerie shop as soon as they open.”

Haley paused, and Trace immediately regretted blurting out her unusual plans.

Explaining going to the big city to shop—underwear top of the list—with Cole—was not a conversation she wanted to have over the phone.

“The lingerie shop? As soon as they open? What’s the occasion?” Haley laughed sprightly, and this is exactly why Trace stayed in her comfort zone.

“Don’t laugh,” she said weakly defensively. “I’m breaking free from my rut, and that includes updating my entire wardrobe, from the underwear out.”

“Hey, I revamped my lingerie collection a few weeks ago. You will receive no negative judgment from me. But seriously, what’s going on that you’re in Seattle and hitting a lingerie shop? Alone? You know I would love to have come.”

“I’m not alone,” she said, glancing back into the salon. “I’m here with Cole.”

And… silence.

“Haley?” she squeaked, plugging her ear against the rev of a motorcycle zipping around the corner.

“Trace. I… are you hooking up with your… I guess I don’t know what he’s called. Foster brother? Does that still count when he’s over eighteen?”

“Cole is just Cole. Anyway, I’ll explain later. He’s almost done with his hair appointment.”

“I liked his long hair. But the beard was a bit scraggly…”

“Beardy’s gone. He grew the hair out for work and he wants to start fresh. He’s even been cracking jokes over the symbolism of it all in a very Cole way.” He’d certainly done enough therapy as a kid, and could probably write a book on coping with trauma.

“How’s he doing, really?”

Trace looked back in the window again, reassuring herself that he wouldn’t overhear.

“Honestly? Not great. Physically, it’s going to take time, but he’s been released to doing physical therapy exercises at home now, and we’ve started working out together in the mornings.

He’s come a long way in a short amount of time.

Emotionally, it’s going to take longer. My dad finally convinced him to see a therapist, but he’s on a waiting list.”

“Maybe he should come out tonight. Asher and Zane would be so good for him.”

“I don’t think he’s met Zane yet, but Asher’s come to see him a bunch, and I don’t know what they talk about, but Cole’s usually in a better mood after. I’m pretty sure they stole the mayor’s car together on a whim back in high school, but they returned it.”

“Oh. Wow. Didn’t know… anyway. I know they want to keep the guest list to the minimum, but I bet they wouldn’t mind if you brought a date.”

Ugh. Trace was sick of being a third wheel. Fifth. Eleventh. Depending on how many of the gang showed, but they were all so ridiculously happy and in love…

And this was why she was so sick of her rut.

The single one. Sweet. Perhaps frumpy, or at least lacks daring in her style.

Not that any of them ever accused her of being “sweet” or “frumpy” or any of that shit.

They knew she had a wicked sense of humor and had seen and heard her devious laugh, but like Cole had said, it wasn’t nearly as often as it used to be.

But still, if even her best friend was shocked that she was hitting a fancy lingerie store?

Trace puffed out her cheeks and felt her gaze wandering back inside, hoping to catch a glimpse of Cole. “It would be nice to not be a lonely wheel.”

“I’ll talk to Sophie.”

Ugh, worse. Convincing the bride that their awkward single friend needed to bring a date to the world’s most casual not-wedding wedding. “Thanks,” she admitted with a pout. Things were shuffling inside, and she quickly said, “Oh, I think he’s done, I should…”