Never Let Me Go (5 page)

I gave Nic and Colin a smile the moment I saw them.

“God
damn
Westwick, what is that mattress made of?” I asked, stretching before I sat down. “It’s
heavenly
.”

He chuckled, handing me a banana. “It’s a Sleep Number bed,” he said. “We have one in every bedroom.” He paused for a moment. “Hey, where do you want to go for breakfast?”

Nickayla rolled her eyes as she gestured for me to sit down across from her. I sat down at the bar-style island. She was drumming her fingers impatiently as she groaned.

“We haven’t gone grocery shopping yet, so we’re likely going out to eat,” she told me.

I pondered this for a second. I really didn’t want to waste time going out to eat, and I wanted to get to know the town I would be in for the summer.

“How about I get Rory to take me to the square, and I’ll pick up something to eat while I’m there? I need to see what places are hiring anyway, so I can order our food, go look around, get the food, and then head back here,” I offered. “Then I’ll be killing like three birds with the same stone.”

Nic nodded in agreement, and Colin handed me his debit card. “If you head into the square, there’s this small hole-in-the-wall called Buck and Doe’s. They have an amazing breakfast menu. You can get me French toast with two sausage links, scrambled eggs and hash browns. And get Nickayla a Belgian waffle with fresh strawberries, two slices of bacon, scrambled eggs, and hash browns,” he instructed.

Nickayla beamed at him, reaching over and pulling his face to give him a kiss.

“I love it when you order for me,” she cooed.

I laughed, pushing away from the table. I tucked Colin’s debit card into my back pocket and hopped off of the stool in the kitchen.

“And that’s my cue to leave,” I said.

Walking to the hall closet in the foyer, I kicked off my slippers and stepped into a pair of Nickayla’s flip flops that sat at the door. I went upstairs to my room and rummaged through my bags to find a bra, slipping it on as quickly as possible and then sticking my cell phone in the pocket of my sweats.

I descended the stairs, wrenching the front door open when I got to it. Rory was standing outside in khaki shorts, a white t-shirt, and flip flops, leaning against the car.

I waved to him.

“Morning!” I greeted euphuistically, hugging him.

“Morning,” he replied, hugging me back as he opened the passenger door for me. He released me within seconds, taking my hand and helping me inside.

I buckled my seat belt and pulled out my cell phone, checking for any texts from my sisters or my mom. When I saw that there was nothing, I looked forward.

“Where to, Michele?” Rory asked, getting in the driver’s seat and turning the car on.

I turned on the radio, searching for a station that I could tolerate without having to change the station every other song. “We’re headed to the square. We need something to eat for breakfast, and I need to get a few job applications while we wait,” I said, settling on a station that was similar to Los Angeles’s 104.3 MYFM.

We took off, and I was in the car with Rory alone.

“Hey, I wanted to thank you for listening to me last night,” Rory said, turning down the radio. “I haven’t really had someone to talk to like that since Cal had the boys.”

I smiled.

“No problem,” I replied. “I’m a
superb
listener.” I paused. “And thanks for listening to me, too. Nic and Colin mean well and all, but they’re still honeymooning and shit, so I don’t want to bring them down with my sob story.”

He nodded, continuing to drive.

The scenery as we drove toward the Big Springs Square was incredibly beautiful. We passed by a large community garden, where people were on their knees and planting new things.

“I’m guessing that Mr. Colin wanted you to go to Buck and Doe’s?” Rory asked casually as we passed the garden and pulled into a parking lot.

“Yep,” I said, hopping out of the car before he was able to get out and open the door for me. “Are you coming in?”

Rory shook his head, reclining his seat. He put his hands behind his head, closing his eyes and soaking in the sun.

“No, I’ll wait here while you do whatever you have to do,” he replied.

“Suit yourself,” I said with a grin, flouncing off toward Buck and Doe’s.

The small restaurant was in the middle of the square. It was a typical brick and mortar place, with large glass windows and a raised patio where people sat outside under umbrellas. It was a pretty classy joint as far as I could tell, and the fact that there was a “
Help Wanted
” sign on the window wasn’t lost on me.

I opened the door, satisfied at the
ding
that opening the door ensued. I headed over to the front counter, smiling at the person who was ready to take down my order, whose name tag read “Melanie”.

“Welcome to Buck and Doe’s! How can I serve you today?” Melanie asked, cheerfully.

I looked up at the breakfast menu that was written in multi-colored chalk above her head, noting that what both Colin and Nickayla wanted were already numbered.

“I’ll have the number three, the number five, and the number seven, all to go,” I said. I looked up at Melanie with another smile. “Can I also get a warmed cinnamon roll?”

Melanie nodded, her brown ponytail bouncing as she did so.

“Is that all for today?” she asked.

I paused, looking back at the
Help Wanted
sign.

The place was small, but busy enough that every few seconds someone else was coming in. I could see myself working there, because it wasn’t some huge chain restaurant, and the people seemed helpful and friendly. Melanie herself smiled more than anyone I’d ever met.

“Actually, I was wondering who I’d have to speak to regarding the ‘
Help Wanted
’ sign outside?” I asked.

Melanie ripped my order ticket off of her pad, handing it to someone behind her and punching in numbers on the cash register. I handed her Colin’s debit card, and when she saw his name, she beamed.

“Hey, you know Colin Westwick?!” she exclaimed, I supposed because she’d been too distracted to answer my question.

I nodded, wondering silently how she knew Colin. I knew his family was well-known in Big Springs, but I didn’t think that they were
that
well-known.

“Yeah, I do,” I said, slowly. “I’m staying at his family’s beach house this summer, actually.”

She did a double take, then handed me back the debit card, her mouth settling into a slight frown. “Really? So are you the new girlfriend?” she asked.

Laughing, I shook my head.

“No,” I said. “That would be my best friend.”

“Well, I’m Melanie Spencer,” Melanie said. “Colin used to date my younger sister, Madilyn.” She paused, pulling out her cell phone. “Give me your cell phone number, and I’ll pass it on to Pat; she’ll give you a call for an interview date before the end of the day. Your food should take no more than twenty minutes.” She grinned at me. “You know, tell your friend congratulations for me. I’ve known Colin a long time, and he’s an amazing guy—when he’s not being a pain in the ass.”

I giggled, knowing exactly what she meant, and I’d known him for even less time than she had. I forced myself to control my laughter, punching my cell phone number into her phone and handing it back to her. I crossed my legs, turning around.

I typed out a quick text to Nic, unsure of how she’d react to me running in to Mads’ sister.

Me: Melanie SPENCER works at Buck and Doe’s. There might be a Mads sighting on our trip sooner than expected.>.<

I set my cell phone down, taking the opportunity to look around the restaurant. The chatter between all the different patrons made me feel like I was at a home away from home. I smiled at an old man who sat in the corner, completing a crossword puzzle.

If I were to get the job, I could definitely see myself working at a place like this every day.

“Excuse me,” someone said from behind me.

When I turned around, the sight before me rendered me speechless.

He was about a whole foot taller than me, standing at likely 6’3”, with dark auburn hair. His amber eyes pierced my blue ones through long, thick lashes, and a wide, intoxicating smile greeted me right before a large, soft, extended hand did.

“Hi,” he said, holding his hand out, his smile widening as I took his hand and shook it. His eyes lit up, and I knew that he felt the same sparks shoot through him as I did. “My name is Hayden Jax.”

I gave him my best smile, temporarily forgetting that I was in sweats and a tank top, and I hadn’t taken even a moment to fix my hair before I left.

“Michele Taggaro.” I returned the handshake. “Nice to meet you.”

“Mind if I sit?” he asked.

I shook my head no, gesturing to an empty seat beside me. He made his way to the stool, and I turned so that we were facing each other.

I took a moment to admire what he was wearing: he wore Chuck Taylors, well-fitting jeans—not Justin-Bieber-tight, but not gangbanger-loose either—and a simple Sons of Anarchy t-shirt that fit him to a T.

“Listen Michele, I’m sorry if this seems forward, but I’ve been watching you since you walked through that door, and I just—I couldn’t let you leave here without talking to you first,” Hayden began.

Wow. That
was
incredibly forward, but I liked it. I flushed deeply, ashamed that this conversation was happening while I looked like absolute shit.

I wasn’t used to things like that happening back in Harlow. Harlow was a
really
small town. Not Forks small but not Los Angeles big either. Everyone knew everyone back home, and that meant that no matter where I went, people knew that I belonged to Brody Durham.

I had to admit that it was a pleasant surprise to be stopped and hit on while out in public.

“Okay,” was all that I could muster.

His lip twitched slightly in a crookedly perfect grin. He took my hand, running his thumb over my knuckles lightly. His touch alone set off a string of fireworks coursing through my body.

“This is probably going to sound so stupid, Michele, but just bear with me, because I need to get this out before I let you leave,” he continued on, closing his eyes and inhaling deeply. He opened them quickly, staring at me and waiting for a response. I nodded, still slightly unnerved. “You know those moments that you see in movies?”

I cocked my head to the side, wondering what he meant.

“Two people see each other from across a crowded room—or a hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Big Springs—or maybe, one of them is oblivious, and the other person is drawn to them by the sight of them, by the gleam in their smile, by the vibrant sound of their laugh,” he explained, and I blushed again. “Neither of them know what the feeling is, but there’s an exchange, a surge of energy, a karmic pull, if you will, that forces their eyes to meet, and when they do, it’s like all the stars have aligned, and these two strangers have waited a whole lifetime to find each other, to share that look, and feel that thing they’ve been yearning to feel?”

I nodded, taken aback by his wonderful way with words.

“Yeah,” I agreed, because I did know that feeling, and I did know that moment. It was amazing to know that he’d felt it, too. “I know exactly what you mean.”

He exhaled deeply, as though he had been holding his breath that entire time.

“Well, I think I’ve just had one of those moments,” Hayden said, his honesty unnerving. “And I think I’ve just had one of those moments with you. If you’re honest with yourself, Michele, I think you felt it, too.” He looked up at me, smiling as he took in my disheveled hair. “Also—and I’ll forewarn you that this is
definitely
going to sound forward—I heard what you ordered back there. I
really
hope none of that food is for your boyfriend.”

I blushed, a small laugh escaping my lips before I even knew what was happening.

“No,” I said, quickly, even though the words still pained me. “It’s for my best friend and
her
boyfriend.” I sighed. “I don’t have a boyfriend.”

He breathed a sigh of relief at the same time that Melanie waved me over to get my order.

I leapt off the stool, and Hayden followed suit.

“That’s great,” he said. “I’m so sorry, I’m sure you have to go, but I had to talk to you. Michele, I’d really love to see you again and spend some time with you.”

I shook my head slowly in disbelief, unsure of what to say in response to that.

I had been in Big Springs an entire twenty-four hours and I already had someone wanting to spend time with me. Hayden was gorgeous, with the cutest boyish grin I’d ever seen, and honestly, he was incredibly sweet. When I talked to him, I completely forgot about Brody and my broken heart.

“Okay,” I conceded, realizing quickly that it wouldn’t
hurt
to test the waters and taking the cell phone that he extended to me. I snapped a quick picture of myself and added it to my contact, punching in my cell phone number. I handed it back to him with a shy smile. “Text me sometime, and we’ll work something out.”