Page 16 of Meant to Be

Harley hasn’t moved and doesn’t until I look back. He slowly goes about obtaining the drinks, having grown paler in the last few moments. He slides the drinks across the counter, and I wave my card at him.

“So, no sex on the beach?” I ask when he stares at the machine, as if willing it to say approved faster than it wants to. It finally clears, the machine buzzing so loud, it sounds like it might take off. “Shame,” I say. “That’s my favourite.”

He breathes hard for a moment, appearing speechless.

Good.You bastard.

When I’m back at the table, Nick is in deep discussion with the couple behind us, not having noticed the commotion at the bar, thankfully. It’s a serious sore spot between us. I’d rather not rehash that piece of history, considering it’s the first time I’ve seen Nick in four years. Sinceithappened.

“Eleanor, Charlie—you remember Josephine Mayor? My…”

“Heartbreaker, childhood sweetheart, girl of his dreams,” I casually fill in as I slide back into my seat.

Both of their faces change when they see me. Most definitely because of my outfit and new appearance, but mostly shock over my return. I’m guessing, anyway.

“Sure, of course.” It’s Eleanor who speaks first. “Hi, Josephine. It’s been a long time. How are you?”

“It’s Josie now, and never been better.” I smile sweetly. “And you?”

“Good,” she chirps, glancing at Charlie.

Eleanor and Charlie were two years above us at school, and good family friends of Nick’s, so I did a lot with them when I was here.

The small talk between us is strained and awkward, and they soon make an excuse to leave. We order our food, and I try to keep the distaste off my face when I see the limited options on the menu.

“There’ll just be a twenty-five-minute wait tonight,” the girl twangs, chewing her gum obnoxiously. “Possibly thirty.”

“Why?” I deadpan, lazily looking towards the tables. “There is hardly anyone here.”

“That’s fine,” Nick says at the same time. Always the polite, nice guy. “Thanks, Ainsley.”

I glance to the bar, sinking a little lower in my seat, and notice Harley has disappeared. Good. I hope my arrival back in town has shaken him.

Mentally disregarding those haunting blue eyes of his, I shift in my seat, hating how my thighs sweat against the hardwood instantly.

“This heat is unbearable,” I whine in exasperation. “Has no one ever heard of air-conditioning around here?”

“Air-cons exhaust the generators,” he points out. “Remember?”

Oh, I remember. Continuous blackouts. Unable to move from the sticky, humid heat. Why anyonechoosesto live here is beyond me.

“How’s co-running the farm going? Is your dad driving you insane?”

“He’s been good,” he answers. “The drought was stressful on everyone, but we’ve bounced back. We always do.”

Nick’s thumb caresses the side of his beer glass. Condensation drips in a ring around the glass, warming the liquid inside to the point our beers are almost undrinkable. He takes another long sip regardless, obviously used to the taste by now.

“What’s your deal, Nicholas?” I tease. “No fiancée, no wife? A catch like you?”

He cracks a smile—a forced, strained smile. “In case you forgot, my heart was splintered into a million pieces by a certain someone.”

His words cut into me.Verydeep, but we both force casual smiles on our faces, trying not to think too hard about the past.

“Little old me? Surely not.” I wave off breezily. “I was a nobody.”

“You were never a nobody. Not to me.”

I drain the rest of my glass and clink it down a little too aggressively.