It's About Time (Hunt Family #5) (8 page)

Chapter 10

Turns out, Garret was really hoping that we would be together forever. He told me this and many other things when I tried to break up with him later that evening instead of going with him to the movies.

He met me at the salon when I finished up, and instead of getting into his car to go on our date, I told him, "We need to talk," as we walked out to the parking lot. I sat in the front seat of his car since I couldn't think of a better place to do something like that. I was feeling sick to my stomach and shaky when he looked over the console at me with those sweet, expectant eyes.

Breaking up with Garret was incredibly difficult. I told him I didn't think we should see each other anymore, and he proceeded to spend the next half-hour trying to talk me out of it. There were a lot of repetitive questions during that time, but I'll skip most of them and begin near the end of our conversation.

I was just about ready to throw in the towel and say maybe I had been wrong about ending things, but I thought about my reaction to seeing Evan earlier that day, and knew it wasn't fair to Garret to string him along. I told myself time after time in that conversation that it wasn't about Evan, and that I needed to break up with Garret even if nothing developed between Evan and me.

"I don't understand what's wrong," he said for at least the tenth time. "I thought you were okay with my schedule."

"It's not your job," I said.

"Is it someone else?"

It was the second time he had asked that, and at first I had acted like I didn't hear him.

"No," I said. It wasn't a lie. This wasn't all about Evan. I had already convinced myself of that. "I'm sorry," I said reaching for the door handle after we had gone over the same things several times.

"I think it's a mistake, Annabel," he said in a hopeless tone as he watched me reach for the door.

"It might be," I said sadly. "All I have to go on is how I'm feeling right now, and right now, I just don't think that we're right for each other long-term."

"Bye then," he said after a few seconds. He seemed frustrated, and I hated ending things on a bad note.

"I'm sorry," I said, somewhat defensively.

"What do you want me to say, Annabel? It's
okay
? I'm not gonna say that. I don't feel it. I don't think this is right."

I sighed and pulled the handle to pop the door open. We had been going in circles like this for a while now, and I had to put one foot out the door and take a step at some point. "I gotta go, Garret. I'm sorry."

"It's a mistake," he said, as I closed the door tentatively. I almost opened it again since he had been talking when it closed, but it was something he had already said too many times.

I cried the whole way to my mom's house.

I cried for a lot of reasons.

First and foremost, breaking up was hard to do. That's why there was a whole song about it. There were probably millions of songs about it, actually. I cried because I felt bad for Garret. I cried because a chapter of my life was closing. I cried because I was embarrassed for Evan to think I went and broke up with my boyfriend the day he came back just for him.
That was too much pressure for him. I probably wouldn't even tell him we broke up for a while. I probably wouldn't even see him for a while. I basically told him I was dating someone and to leave me alone.

That thought brought on another round of sobs.

I had a good, hard cry as I drove over to my mom's. My feelings were all over the map. I was sad, and angry, and embarrassed, and frustrated, and I was certain that I had made the wrong decision by breaking up with Garret since nothing was going to happen between Evan and me anyway. I let myself wallow in self-pity for twenty minutes while I took the long road to my mom's house.

By the time I got there, I had managed to calm my emotions enough to go inside and act like everything was fine. I was okay with my mom seeing that I had been crying since I had been planning on telling her I broke up with Garret. I didn't want her to ask a thousand questions, however, so I needed to have my wits gathered when I arrived at her house.

"What are you doing here, sweetheart?" she asked when I came in the house. "I thought you and Garret had plans."

I was staring down at Cupcake and patting her neck when I said, "I sort of broke up with Garret tonight, so we didn't end up going to the movies."

I had the best intentions, I really did. I drove around her neighborhood three times getting myself together so that I could walk into my mom's house and say it like it was no big deal. I tried my best to sound casual and deliver the statement like it was some basic, everyday piece of information, but I failed miserably. The
"so we didn't end up going to the movies,"
part of my statement came out in a high-pitched tone that made it totally obvious that I was crying.

My mom stood up from her barstool and took me into her arms. "Sweeeetheaaart," she cooed, rubbing my back.

"I'm fine," I assured her, rubbing my cheek with the back of my hand and giggling a little. "I'm the one who broke up with him. It was just hard, because he was hurt, and he begged me to reconsider."

"Why'd you do it, sweetie?" my mom asked pulling back to look at me. "I thought everything was going good with you guys."

"It was fine, but it just sort of hit me that I couldn't see myself with him long-term."

My mom continued rubbing my shoulder even though I was no longer crying, and was now petting Cupcake. "She was gonna watch a Hallmark movie with me," my mom said, assuming I'd take Cupcake and we'd be on our way.

"I'll watch a Hallmark movie with you guys," I said.

My mom was delighted with this, and I was happy for the opportunity to unbutton my pants, take off my bra, and eat almost a whole pint of Haagen Dazs after a Mexican TV dinner. I was tired and stuffed by the time I went home, so I fell asleep with more ease than I anticipated.

The next day was Saturday, and since it was my busiest day at work, it passed quickly.

Sunday was my only day off that week, and I spent most of it sleeping. (The whole afternoon, at least.)

I had to be at my grandma's restaurant Monday morning at 6:30. I hated waking up that early, but I always had fun once I got there, and I missed it on the weeks I didn't go. Friday was Diane Hunt's usual day for a blueberry biscuit, but lately, she'd been stopping by on Monday as well. I was almost sure it had something to do with a certain gentleman, but I would never go so far as to ask her about it unless she offered some information first.

There was an older, artist gentleman by the name of Nathan Voth who wore his white hair pulled back into a ponytail. He was the type of older gentleman who looked good with long hair, and I could totally see how Dee-dee would be attracted to him. (Hey, I was a sucker for ponytails too, obviously.) Anyway, Mrs. Hunt hadn't confirmed it, but I sort of thought she and Mr. Voth managed to arrange chance encounters with each other on Mondays at my family restaurant.

She happened to come in on this particular Monday, and it was on the tip of my tongue to tell her I was single. It had been three days since I broke up with Garret, and it seemed more like an eternity. I felt like I wanted to tell Evan, but I knew I should wait a while so he wouldn't think it was about him.

Mr. Voth was sitting at a table like he always did, and Mrs. Hunt came in and took a seat at one of the barstools near the register. I greeted her like usual, only this time, I was more nervous since I associated her with her grandson
who now lived in my town
.

"How are you Ms. Dee-dee?" I said, smiling as I set a glass of milk in front of her.

"I'm fine and dandy, Annabel. My grandson just moved back to town for the first time in I don't know how long," she said, with a huge smile. "I think he's been gone for ten years by now."

I obviously knew he was back, but I still acted surprised. "Evan?" I asked, trying to sound casual.

"Yes ma'am," she agreed excitedly. "I just knew that boy was gonna come back home. He was just too stubborn to do it."

I laughed nervously. "I'm happy for you that he's back," I said. "I saw him the other day when he first came into town."

"I know," she said. "He told me about that."

I glanced at her to find that she was smiling at me like she knew something I didn't.

"Oh," I said, feeling stunned.

"He's coming to have breakfast with me this morning," she added.

My gut clinched so hard that my shoulders moved forward slightly. It was all I could do not to let my face appear strained with the massive wave of adrenaline that washed over me at the thought of him coming in. I had heard of fight or flight, and I understood the idea of it, but never had I felt it so unmistakably. I would have done just about anything to run out of the restaurant and avoid Evan Hunt. I had to avoid him at all costs. I had to do it because, if he came in there, I honestly didn't know if I could refrain from throwing myself into his arms.

"That's awesome," I said, smiling at her. "I'll wait on your biscuit till he gets here."

"Paige and the babies are coming, too," she said. "We'll grab one of those tables over there when it comes open." She motioned to the area near Mr. Voth's table. Our tables turned over quickly, so I knew one of them would be open soon. That was good for me, actually. At least Evan wouldn't be sitting right in front of me the whole time.

"I think a couple is almost done over there," I said. "I'll grab their table for you when they get up."

She smiled. "Thank you Annabel."

"My pleasure," I said as I walked to the kitchen to package a to-go order.

I was on the cordless phone taking another order when Evan walked in. I glanced at him and barely had the chance to smile before looking down at my notepad. I had finished taking their order, and they had already hung up the phone on their end, but I kept the phone to my ear and pretended to still be taking the order to give myself a few seconds to prepare. By the time I hung up and brought the ticket to the kitchen, Evan was sitting on a barstool next to his grandma.

I saw movement out of the corner of my eye, and I noticed that the table I had been waiting on was now open. The timing could not have been more perfect, and I said a quick, silent prayer to thank God for looking out for me like that.

"You're table's open," I said, glancing in Evan and Dee-dee's direction. I was so full of nervous energy that I grabbed the rag and dustpan and headed over to the table instantly. Dee-dee followed me over there and sat down once I had finished clearing and wiping it, but to my own dismay, Evan kept his seat at the bar.

"I thought we were sitting over here," he said with an easy smile when I came back to the counter.

"I know," I said. "Dee-dee likes the bar, but I think Paige and the babies are joining you."

"That's what she said," he said, gesturing to his grandma. "That's sort of a bummer for me," he added, leaning back on his barstool like he might crack his back on it. I could clearly see the muscles of his chest straining against the fabric of his shirt when he stretched like that. It was too much. I tied a knot in the top of a to-go bag just to have something to do with my hands. "I guess I should probably warn you that I'm gonna give you a hard time about that boyfriend of yours since I'm secretly hoping you'll leave him."

"Oh, you are?" I asked, in a teasing, challenging way.

"Yep."

"And what makes you think that will work?" I asked.

He smiled at me just before standing up with the intention of walking over to meet his grandmother. "Because secretly you want me to," he said.

The sound of my beating heart made it almost impossible to hear what Evan said, but I was almost certain he said he wanted me to break up with Garret so that he could take his place. Knowing this could not be entirely true (at least not in the long-term, highly-committed way I desired), I laughed like I thought he must be joking. I wanted to say,
"I broke up with Garret three days ago. Where have you been? I've been waiting patiently for you to come get me on your white horse,"
but I didn't. I just giggled.

"You're laughing, but I'm not really trying to be funny," Evan said, smiling and confidently shaking his head at me before taking off to sit with his family.

Chapter 11

We had a rush of to-go orders after Evan went to sit with his grandma. Paige and her two little girls came in while I was on the phone, and I smiled at them and pointed toward the table where Evan and Dee-dee were sitting.

They were situated on the far side of the small dining room, and I could see their table from most of the areas behind the counter. Evan took the seat that was positioned looking toward me, so even though he was far away, I could clearly see him when I glanced over there. Paige sat on the same side of the booth as Dee-dee, and her two little girls, Ryan and Izzy, sat with Evan.

I couldn’t help but glance over there while I was on the phone. The Hunt family knew the routine at Amy's. We never went to the tables to take orders—it was pushing it for me to manage getting the food out to the tables once they were ready. Sometimes, when I was in the weeds, if I knew a customer by name, I'd just yell at them to come get their own order. It was a laidback place that was more about a good breakfast than fancy service.

I brought the to-go tickets to the kitchen before leaving the counter headed into the dining room. My intention was to wipe a table that had just come open, but the restaurant was small, and I had to walk right by the Hunt's table.

"I want a cimmanon bun!" Izzy yelled excitedly when she saw me coming.

I squinted and pointed at her as I approached, and she giggled, knowing I was going to poke her ribs. "I know what
you
want, you little munchkin." I sat on the very edge of the booth seat next to her, and she put her arms around me. I had become good friends with Paige, Cody, and the girls over the years, so their youngest daughter was completely comfortable with me sitting there. Evan was on the same side of the booth, so I couldn't see him without leaning over and looking past his nieces. I opted to look at Paige and Dee-dee instead, since that was most convenient, and they were a lot less intimidating.

"I was coming over to wipe this table, but I think I know what most of you want if you'd like me to put in your order."

"I want a cimmanon bun!" Izzy repeated, in her precious little toddler voice.

"I want a haircut," Evan said as if that was one of the things on the menu.

"When'd you have it cut last?" Paige asked, absentmindedly digging in her purse.

Evan leaned over the table to look at me. "Annabel did it."

"That was your last haircut?" I asked in a shocked tone since that felt like it happened a century ago.

"Yeah, why, do I need to get it cut?" he asked, directing his question to me.

"I can't believe you
haven't
," I said. "Don't they have stylists getting all fussy over you during photo shoots?"

He shrugged. "They mess with my hair, but they don't cut it. Nobody's touched it since you cut it."

"You need to trim those ends, at least," Paige said, glancing at her brother-in-law like he was a hippie and a half for not having it trimmed. "I have to go by the salon when we leave here, anyway," she said. "You can come with us, and I'll trim you up if you want to."

"Aw," Dee-dee said. "That is so sweet." She looked at Evan. "Paige is gonna do that on her day off," she said, expecting him to say 'thank you' to Paige for the kind offer.

"And I appreciate that, but I think I'm gonna let my regular girl do it."

"Who's your regular girl?" Paige asked with a genuinely confused look on her face.

I knew before he said my name that he was going to say it. My chest started buzzing before it even came out of his mouth.

"Annabel," he said.

Paige smiled at me when she realized what he was saying. "Oh,
Annabel,
of course." She paused and sighed dramatically. "She's pretty booked, but she can probably work you in before Myrtle Beach."

"I forgot about that," I said, glad for the change of subject since I felt breathless. "Two weeks, huh?"

"Why don't you come?" Evan said. He leaned over to look directly at me, so it was obvious who he was talking to.

The girls both cheered at the idea.

"He's kidding," I said to them as I stood up to go wipe the table, "but even if he wasn't, I can't. I have to be there to work at your mama's salon so she can go on vacation with you." I tickled Izzy, who was closest to the edge. "Let me get back to work," I said as someone came through the door with perfect timing.

"Do what you need to do, sweetheart," Dee-dee said. "I'll send Evan up there to order when we're ready."

***

"So you think you'll be able to fit me in for a haircut?" Evan asked when he came up to the bar a few minutes later. He stood near the register with the intention of placing their order, but instead, he asked about a haircut.

"I think I can make something happen before you guys go out of town," I said with a smile, feeling giddy at the thought of cutting his hair again. I held up the notepad and pen, poised for Evan to tell me his order. "I know what everybody else wants, so you just need to tell me yours," I said.

He grinned at me, and to my own shock and horror, he reached out and pinched at my cheek. "You're blushing, and it's the prettiest thing I've ever seen," he said sweetly. I gasped and stared at him with wide eyes. "Evan Hunt, didn't anyone ever teach you that you shouldn't point out when a lady's blushing," I said, turning redder than ever. "It only makes matters worse." I was so embarrassed, I felt like my face could go up in flames. I picked up a nearby laminated menu and began fanning myself with it.

"I have seriously never seen a blush look this cute before," he said.

I glanced at him to see that he was still smiling at me, and I scrunched up my face at him before turning my attention to the notepad. I used restaurant shorthand to write down everyone else's order before looking at Evan to get his. "Same as last time?" I asked with a sigh.

"Sounds good," he said.

I added his order to the others before looking up to let my eyes meet his again. "I don't mind going up to the salon when I'm done here. I can leave at eleven."

"Today?" he asked, seeming surprised.

I nodded and shrugged. "If you want. It'll probably be easier than trying to work you into my schedule when I'm at the salon."

"That busy, huh?" he asked.

I smiled shyly. "Busy time of year, too."

"I'm up for a haircut today if you're sure you don't mind."

"I don't," I said.

"You think your boyfriend would mind?"

I came really close to saying I didn't have a boyfriend, but instead, I just shook my head.

His smile broadened. It was breathtaking. It literally took my breath away. I stood there, not breathing. "Even if he knew your customer had other intentions?"

"He wouldn't care," I said, giggling nervously and unable to think straight. I could not bear to tell him that I no longer had a boyfriend. I knew Evan would know he was the reason I broke up with Garret, and I was just too embarrassed to let the words come out of my mouth.

Evan's hands were clasped in front of him as he smiled and shook his head at me. "I would never let you meet me somewhere after hours if I was your boyfriend."

"I'm not entirely sure that made sense," I said, smiling.

"Sure it did," he said. "I said, if you were my girl, I'd never let you meet someone like
me
in an empty salon on your day off."

"Are you trying to tell me you're dangerous?"

"I'm extremely dangerous," he said, acting completely serious. "That pilot should be really concerned right now."

"Oh really?"

He nodded. "For sure."

"Maybe we should reconsider," I said.

He shrugged. "I think you should go ahead and give me a haircut." He paused. "But it's not gonna end well for the pilot."

"Oh, you think so?" I said, laughing a little as I put styrofoam boxes into a to-go bag.

Someone was walking toward the register, so Evan walked off, letting me get back to work. It was several minutes later when the Hunt's order was ready and I brought it out to them. I was only there long enough to drop it off before I had to get back to the counter to help Mr. Voth who had finished his meal and was waiting at the register.

"All done?" I asked.

"I am," he said. He had already paid for his and his sister's meals when he ordered them, so I was uncertain as to why he was waiting for me. "I'd like to pay for another table's breakfast if they haven't already settled up with you," he said.

I knew he was going to say "Diane Hunt's table," and that's exactly what came out of his mouth. Paige usually ordered a fruit cup or two for the road, so technically, they hadn't finished ordering, but the gesture was so sweet and romantic, that I didn't bother spoiling it with details like that. I added up their total so far, and planned on giving them the fruit cup if they asked. Nathan Voth paid their tab and even added a generous tip to the check, and I couldn’t wait to tell Dee-dee he did—I couldn't wait to see the look on her face.

"Don't tell Diane I paid for it, if you don't mind," he said, just as I was thinking about the look on her face. "Just tell her it's on the house."

My shoulders slumped like I was a little girl and he was my grandpa, and he was taking away my favorite toy. "You're seriously not gonna let me tell her?" I asked.

Mr. Voth smiled at me with a toothpick in his mouth. "No."

"That's no fair," I said.

"Maybe some other time," he said, still smiling.

"All right," I said, smiling as I ran my closed hand across my lips, indicating they were zipped. I even did the little motion at the end like I was tossing away the key.

He smiled and winked at me. "Thanks Annabel."

"You're welcome."

I watched as he walked out the door with his sister. I glanced into the dining room, and within seconds made eye contact with Evan. He smiled and looked straight at me. I blinked hard two times in a row since I was just delirious enough to do something stupid and make pretty eyes at him. He smiled and made a silly face at me. I could see his family talking to him, but he kept glancing at me. He appealed to me in a way no man ever had. I felt like I was being physically drawn to him—like there was a rope tied to my waist and I was being tugged by it.

Things were slowing down a little at the register, so I decided to give into the urge to walk over to the Hunt's table. I grabbed a rag and some cleaner so I could look like I had other intentions.

"Breakfast is on the house today," I said once I was close enough to their table that I didn't have to announce it in front of our other customers.

"Is
that
that man's name?" Paige asked, looking at Dee-dee with a perplexed expression. "House?"

Dee-dee took the napkin from her lap and used it to cover her face when she laughed.

"Oh, you thought Mr. Voth paid for it?" I asked Paige in a sorrowful way that said she was way off base.

"He
didn't
?" Dee-dee asked, losing her smile as she waited for my answer. I could tell she wanted it to be him who paid for it, but I had already promised him I wouldn't tell her.

"All I know is it's been taken care of," I said, with my hands raised in surrender, trying to look as straight-faced as possible. "Are y'all doing all right over here?" I asked as I got up with the intention of wiping off the table next to theirs. "Can I get you anything else?"

"We'll take some fruit for the road, if you don't mind," Paige said. I smiled and nodded at her, letting her know I'd take care of it.

The next fifteen minutes passed quickly, and before I knew it, the Hunts were on their way out the door.

"I guess I'll be back at eleven, unless you have a better plan," Evan said, right in front of everyone when they came to the front when they were finished eating.

"That's fine," I said. "Or I could just meet you at the salon."

"I'll come here," he said. "You probably want to ride in my truck, anyway."

"Yeahhhh! Let's ride in Uncle Evan's truck!" Ryan said.

He rubbed her hair. "I'll take you on a ride right now, if you wanna go," he said.

She cheered and Paige shrugged, saying she was okay with whatever they decided.

"I'll meet you here at eleven so you can ride, too," Evan said, looking at me with an easy smile. I was helpless to do anything but smile back and nod as the whole family looked at me. I would ride in a straight piece of junk and enjoy it with Evan driving. I could only imagine how I'd feel riding in something nice.