Page 57 of Baby, It’s You (Clairesville #1)

Olive

I stand in the bright sun, shielding my eyes from the light as I look up at the bar sign that’s being lifted by a crane. Once it’s in the right spot by the main road, I smile as I read the words.

Whiskey Jane’s

Seymour he just turned eighteen and this is his first job.

His lack of work experience almost made me write him off, but then I decided to take a chance on him, just like Jane did for me. He’s been a hard worker so far.

“Hey, Tate.” I smile back. “How’s it going?”

“Great! Rob let me drop a few racks of fries in the fryer earlier!”

Rob peers at me from the side of the kitchen window and shrugs. “The kid’s a natural.”

“He told me I might be able to prep salads next shift if I have time!” Tate continues.

I laugh. “Awesome. Maybe we need to start letting you take a few kitchen shifts.”

Tate’s face lights up. “That would be great, boss! Thanks!”

His enthusiasm is refreshing and I’m happy to have him at the bar with us.

I hear the bar door jingle and turn around to see Sonjia walking in. Her long, green, floral skirt swishes as she saunters towards me. She has a large pair of chunky earrings on today that I realize are Jane’s. I feel a pang of sadness, missing her.

“Hey, sweetie, ready to go grab some lunch?” Sonjia asks.

“Yup! Let me just get my purse. I’ll meet you outside,” I tell her and quickly head to the office so I can grab my bag.

I pick it up off the chair and then glance at the picture of Jane that Hunter’s mom painted.

I hung it up on the wall the day I was handed the keys to the bar.

“Thank you,” I whisper to it, like I do many times a week.

I can’t believe this place is mine; I’m living my dream.

The only thing missing now is Hunter. I'm sure he has moved on by now, though. I can’t expect him to wait on me forever, especially when I told him not to.

I head outside and get in the passenger seat of Sonjia's Oldsmobile, which used to be Jane’s.

“Looking good, Sonjia,” I tell her and wiggle my eyebrows. “Very extravagant.”

“Oh, this old thing?” She laughs and pretends to smooth her skirt in an uppity motion.

“Where do you want to go for lunch?” I ask her, feeling my stomach grumble with hunger.

“Let’s go to this pizza place, Bricks. Mr. Ray took me there last week and you would love it. Everything is cool and hip, like you young people.”

“Okay, sounds good to me. I could totally go for some pizza right now.”

We pull up to the restaurant shortly after and Sonjia is right, the place looks super unique. It's huge and looks like a converted airplane hangar.

We walk inside and order some slices of pizza from a man at the front counter. He tells us to take a seat anywhere, and that he will bring us the food when it’s ready. I ask Sonjia what she wants to drink and go fill up our fountain cups while she chooses a table.

I take a seat across from her and notice a couple sitting a few tables behind us.

The guy has his back to me, but he has curly dark hair that instantly makes me think of Hunter for a moment.

But this guy’s hair is longer. There’s a woman with long blonde hair facing my direction, and she’s so beautiful, I can’t help but stare at her as she reaches over and pushes some hair back from his face.

I miss that intimacy. I miss Hunter. I feel an ache for him deep inside suddenly and decide that I am going to try to call him tonight. I think I’m ready now to be the best possible woman for him and for myself.

Seconds after my moment of realization, though, the guy stands up to excuse himself to the bathroom and I think I might be sick. It is Hunter. He’s here with this beautiful woman. I’m too late.

I quickly turn to Sonjia. “I’m so sorry, but I’m actually feeling really sick suddenly. Is there any way we could get our pizza to go?”

She looks at me with concern and reaches a hand over to lay it against my forehead. “You poor thing. Of course, hun. You go wait in my car; I will get it.”

She hands me the keys and I rush out the front door before Hunter can notice me.

I get outside and now know it is definitely him inside; his truck is right in front of me. How did I not notice it when I walked in?

I’m too late, he moved on. Hunter doesn’t love me anymore.

I can’t help it as my stomach betrays me, and I bend over and throw up in the street. I guess I don’t even have to fake being sick.