God. It was weird. It wasn’t that nothing had changed. Some of the stores were different. In fact, she noticed a new one that had some beautiful artisan items in the window—pieces of pottery, a painting, and even some glasswork.
She glanced at the sign above the door, which said, “Everthing Ella.”
Huh. She’d had a friend named Ella in high school. Could there be a connection?
She pushed through the door, setting off a delicate chime. The minute she saw the adorable woman with the bouncy blonde curls, a smile lit her face. “Ella! Is this your place?”
Ella’s face split into a matching wide grin as she wrapped Luna up in a hug. “Oh my gosh, hon! I hoped we might see you, although I’m so sorry about the circumstances.”
Luna squeezed back. “It’s so good to see you, Ella. This place is gorgeous, by the way.”
Ella pulled back and gestured wide, encompassing the space. “Yep. This is my kingdom.”
Luna turned in a slow circle, taking in all of the varied and beautiful objects lining the shelves. “Oh, my word, El! Is this, like, an artists’ cooperative? Like, selling things on consignment?”
Ella flushed with pride as she replied, “Nope. It’s all me. That’s why it’s called, ‘Everything Ella.’ It’s my artistic outlet. And I’m lucky enough to have been able to make it my livelihood.”
“Whoa, Ella. You are crazy talented. I’m so proud of you!”
The flush on Ella’s face turned into a full-blown blush. “Thanks, girl. That means a lot coming from you. So, tell me, what’s going on with your grandfather? We’re all praying for him.”
Tears sprang to Luna’s eyes but she pushed them down. She’d spent too much time crying since she’d gotten that terrifying phone call from her grandmother. She took a deep breath to steady herself before speaking. “He’s going to be fine. That’s what everyone says. It was just so strange, seeing him hooked up to all of those machines.”
Ella’s hand pressed to her chest. “Oh, honey. I can’t even imagine! You have to let me know if there’s anything I can do. And if you have time while you’re in town, I’d love to catch up.”
Luna’s heart warmed. Just something about the idea of catching up with an old friend, someone who’d known her and loved her forever and who she’d known and loved just as long, was so comforting. It felt like sinking into a warm bath. She reached out and grasped Ella’s hand. “Oh, yes. Definitely. That sounds so good to me right now.”
Ella’s eyebrows shot up and she tilted her head to the side. “Oh. Yeah…I know that’s not what you meant, but what are you doing right now? Because Genevieve and Abby are going to be here in about five minutes. We’re going to lunch. Care to join?”
“Oh, that’s a great idea!” Gen’s voice sounded as the bell chimed again, and Luna turned to the front door to see her walking in, with their other high school friend Abby right behind her.”
“Yes! Please come!” Abby said, and Luna’s heart warmed yet again. Being around friends—not just acquaintances, but real friends—was a feeling that was so far removed from her that it actually struck her as nostalgic, like a blast from the past.
It was what she needed right now. It was a support for her to lean on. “Yeah, that sounds awesome,” she agreed, and the three girls gave little cheers.
“Here, let me just lock up and we can go.”
As the group stepped out on the sidewalk, the freaking tears that kept coming back and torturing Luna again and again popped back into her eyes, and she sighed. “Oh, man. It feels wrong to be going out to lunch here on Main Street and not be going to my grandparents’ place.”
Abby frowned sympathetically. “Oh, God, it really does.”
Luna wiped the moisture that had collected at the corners of her eyes and looked left and right, letting her eyes roam the length of the quaint downtown street. “Guys, I’ve been gone for so long that I don’t even know where else there is to eat. Where should we go?”
Gen shrugged. “Only one choice in the downtown area. Hope you like Thai food.”
Luna’s eyes widened. “Love it! But I can’t believe there’s actually a Thai restaurant in Valentine Bay! Things have changed.”
“Oh, yeah,” Abby confirmed. It’s two blocks down, and it’s called Valen-Thai.”
“Clever,” Luna chuckled, and it felt good to laugh, even if it was at nothing but a pun-based restaurant name.
“Oh, wait until you see the menu,” Genevieve interjected. “If you think the most popular item isn’t Cu-Pad Thai, then you’re insane.”
This pulled a full-fledged laugh from Luna, and it felt so good for that moment, just to be walking and laughing with friends, not worried about the future and what it might hold.
When they sat down at the table, Luna said, “So, what’s been up with you guys? Tell me everything. I could use the distraction.”
“Forget that!” Genevieve cried. “I want to know what’s been happening with you. Specifically with Connor, and specifically since I sent you out to my backyard shed to talk to him while he worked on the car.”
“Wait, what now?!” Abby slapped her palms down on the table, leaning forward eagerly. “You’ve seen Connor? I want every detail.”
“Yes, yes, yes,” Ella agreed. “Nothing less than every dirty detail will do.”
Luna leaned back in her chair, laughing and shaking her head. “Oh my gosh, you guys. We just regressed to a cafeteria table at Val High. What is it about being back here and being around you guys that makes me feel like a teenager again?”
“Wait,” Gen piped up, “in the ‘I’m invincible and the world is my oyster’ kind of way, or the ‘I can’t get rid of this pimple, my homeroom teacher hates me and I forgot my locker combination’ kind of way?”
Luna considered. “Can I go with—some from column A and some from column B?”
“Yeah, it must be really confusing, being back here after all this time, seeing us, seeing Connor, your grandfather being sick…it’s a lot,” Ella said, patting her hand sympathetically.
“Thanks, El. It is a lot. But by all accounts, my grandfather is going to be okay. And I’m doing everything I can to hold onto that. I know that my main priority needs to be taking care of him, and supporting Grandma Grace.”
Genevieve gave her a sly half smile. “Buuuuut….”
Luna’s eyebrows shot up. “But what?”
Gen’s short bark of a laugh came at her in response. “Oh, look at you, the picture of innocence! You said you know that’s what your main priority needs to be. Not that it’s what your main priority is. So, tell me, Luna of the Valley. What is your actual main priority?”
The other two girls leaned forward eagerly and Luna couldn’t help but laugh. “Okay, you guys. Now you’re even using my high school nickname? Come on. You’re making it too easy to slip into gossip mode.”
“Exactly, because that’s what we’re trying to do!” Abby exclaimed, and they all laughed.
The waitress came over and took their orders, and as soon as she left, Ella said, “You might as well wipe that ‘Oh, thank goodness—saved by the bell!’ look off of your face because we can’t be side-tracked by a little thing like an interruption. Now, come on. Spill.”
Luna leaned back in her chair and sighed. It really did feel good, ironically, to be grilled by her old friends like this. It meant not only that they knew her well, but that they cared.
Her group of friends in San Francisco were really more like acquaintances. People to have a coffee with sometimes, or invite to a dinner party.
She thought, now, that maybe she’d kept them at a distance on purpose. That maybe the unresolved situation with Connor had always weighed on her mind. Because looking back at it now, she could see that she’d caused her own pain by never taking control of the situation. She’d let it happen to her, rather than making what she wanted happen.
She surrendered to a resigned smile and gave in. “Fine,” she said. “Thai food and gossiping about guys. What b
etter welcome back to the group could there possibly be?”
Chapter 10
Connor
Connor walked down the hospital corridor, trying to be as stealth as he possibly could. He wasn’t sure he was allowed to visit on the holiday in the first place—but he had a pretty good idea that bringing in the turkey he had wrapped in foil and hidden in the duffel bag slung over his arm would be against the rules.
As weird as he felt about trying to stealthily sneak a full-size bird into a hospital room, though, it didn’t even come close to comparing to how bad he felt at the idea of Luna, Grace, and Serge having a solitary Thanksgiving in the hospital…not to mention their Thanksgiving dinner consisting of nothing but hospital food.
He reached the door to Serge’s room and knocked lightly as he stepped inside. He didn’t know exactly what he expected to see, but it was something along the lines of Luna and Grace huddled tearfully over a pale and weak Serge in the hospital bed, everyone barely hanging on and at the end of their rope.
That wasn’t what it was like at all.
Even before he was completely in the room, the sound of laughter hit him, which was a shock. It just didn’t seem to fit with the surroundings. Connor had been prepared for tears, but laughter threw him for a loop.
As he stepped through the door, all three of them turned to look at him. Luna’s face lit up when she laid eyes on him, which made his heart jump. He pushed his elation down as fast as he could manage.
Don’t get ahead of yourself, dude. You don’t know what she’s thinking. You don’t know what the future holds.
There was only so much he could control, though. His reaction to her was visceral, and always had been.
He lifted a hand in greeting. “Hey, there. How’s the patient?”
Grace rose up out of her seat and crossed the room to him in a few long strides, then wrapped him up in a warm and maternal hug.
Connor would’ve much rather it had been Luna who’d run over and thrown her arms around him, but a sweet hug from the lady that had been a second mom to him during his teenage years was a nice consolation prize.
“Aw, Connor, honey, aren’t you sweet, coming down to the hospital like this,” she said, drawing back and patting his cheek.
“Yeah, Connor. Thanks. It was sweet,” Luna agreed, and he noticed that a deep blush colored her cheeks. He felt a little hint of satisfaction at the sight. He liked knowing that he affected her, and every small reminder of that gave him a small thrill.
“Of course. And I didn’t come empty handed, either.”
He unzipped the duffel bag he carried and lifted the heavy, foil-wrapped turkey out by the disposable tray it sat in. The strong aroma filled the air and Connor’s stomach growled.
“Well, I guess you know it’s good. Or at least it smells good,” he laughed.
“Honey, did you cook that bird? What time did you get up this morning?” Grace exclaimed.
He shrugged, nonchalant. “About five.”
“That’s earlier than me, and I’m in the hospital,” Serge interjected as Connor set the tray containing the turkey on the table.
Grace patted him on the shoulder. “Go ahead over and visit, why don’t you? I’ll get this all ready to serve.”
“Thanks, Grace. There are paper plates and utensils and things in the bag.”
As Connor moved to sit in the vacated chair next to Luna, she gave him a shy but sardonic smile. “What, no side dishes?”
He chuckled. “Time got away from me.”
She put a hand on his arm, and her voice lowered to a sincere pitch. “Seriously, though, Connor. This was so nice of you, thinking of us on Thanksgiving.”
You’re all I think about all the time!
He stopped himself before blurting the sentence out. He was glad. That probably would’ve made the meal slightly awkward. But as for the sentiment, it was true.
“Did I hear someone say something about side dishes?”
Connor glanced toward the door of the room, which was where Genevieve’s voice had come from. She was there, along with Gavin. In fact, the other Valentine brothers were there, too, standing behind Gen and Gavin, along with their significant others.
Damn! It was quite a crowd: Gavin and Gen, Donovan and Ella, Jet and Abby, and Troy with Allison. And all of them were carrying fragrant dishes.
Connor shook his head ruefully. He shouldn’t have been surprised, he knew. In fact, when he’d mentioned his plan to Gavin this morning, he probably should’ve predicted that the community would turn out to come wish Grace and Serge (not to mention Luna) a happy Thanksgiving. But he still couldn’t help but feel disappointed. He’d been hoping for a smaller-scale, quieter gathering.
Hell, who was he kidding? What he’d hoped to get out of the visit was more conversation time with Luna.
As the group filed in and set their covered dishes down on the counter next to Connor’s turkey, they each greeted Grace, Serge, and Luna by turn.
As Ella, the last in line, finished giving Grace a hug, she said, “Don’t worry, we know we’re an overwhelmingly big crowd. We just came to drop off the food and we’re headed home.”
Donovan slid an arm around her shoulders and nodded in agreement. “Right. And mostly, we just wanted to check on you all and wish you a happy Thanksgiving.”
As they turned to go, Connor saw Ella give him a surreptitious wink. Normally, he wouldn’t have cared for the teasing. He wasn’t the kind of person who liked being at the center of attention. But at the moment, he couldn’t have cared less. All he cared about was more time with Luna.
“I guess it was nice of everyone to bring food, but it’s a special kind of torture to only be able to smell the stuff and not eat it,” grumbled Serge.
“Well, you’re going to have to be tortured, then. Meals like these are what put you in this situation, love,” Grace shot back. “But, I get it. I tell you what I’m going to do. I’ll get the nurses to come take all of this to the staff lounge. They deserve a special treat for working on the holiday, too. Then the kids and I can take turns going and eating our plates out in the waiting room.”
“Oh, Grandma, what a sweet idea!” Luna said.
God, Connor had forgotten about how she used to call him and Luna “the kids” or “you kids.” It had always made him feel so included in their little loving family, and it felt so damn good to hear those words again.
After Grace had bustled out, Serge said, “Luna-bell, you’re looking a little tired, my dear. Why don’t you go home and get some rest?”
Luna’s eyes widened. “I’m fine, I swear! And of course I want to be here with you!”
Serge gave a small smile. “Don’t be silly. Your grandma is taking good care of me.” His voice slowed and became more significant. “Now, come on, my girl. What say you let this nice young man walk you home?”
Luna blushed and Connor could see that she recognized Serge’s blatant attempt at matchmaking just as clearly as he did. Not that the old guy was being subtle about it. His intentions were as clear as a sunny summer day. But, still.
Luna looked up at him and was silent for a moment, then turned back to her grandfather with a small, indulgent smile. “Fine. Okay. As soon as Grandma Grace gets back, I’ll let Connor walk me home.”
“Make up a couple of plates for yourself,” Serge advised. “I don’t want you going hungry on Thanksgiving. Not on my account.”
Chapter 11
Luna
The air was cold and damp as Luna walked down Main Street with Connor. It was a little over a mile and a half from the hospital to her grandparents’ house, and she hadn’t dressed for a long walk in the cold when she’d left the house to drive to the hospital this morning.
Of course, she could’ve told Connor that she had her car and didn’t need him to follow her grandfather’s suggestion of walking her home. Hell, she was sure that he also had his car in the hospital parking lot and could’ve driven her home.
They may have been in a small
town, but they weren’t in a small town in the 1800s, for God’s sake.
She didn’t know why, though, but when they’d stepped out of the hospital through the automatic double doors in the lobby, they’d just started off toward her house on foot, like a couple of suggestible zombies.
She glanced surreptitiously up at his face. Gah! His handsome freaking face. That jawline. That stubble. Those eyes. Good lord, who could be expected to think straight when accompanied by a guy with that face?
She snapped her eyes front, feeling her cheeks burn. She knew they must be tomato red. Her blush was the bane of her existence. It telegraphed her feelings out to the world at large—even those feelings she’d prefer to keep to herself.
Hell, she figured, maybe a little conversation would help keep her mind from wandering to sexy places they shouldn’t go right now.
“Thanks for walking me home,” she ventured.
“So, you really think you’ll be here through Christmas, huh?” he replied.
Wow. He really did like to dive in and get straight to the point. She had to grin a little at that. He never had been one for small talk.
“That’s the plan,” she said.
He nodded, and they walked a few more steps in silence. Finally, he said, “If a plan’s the best I can hope for, I guess I’ll take it.”
Luna’s eyes shot to his face and she was relieved to see that he didn’t look angry, or sad. Instead, there was a playful grin playing on his lips.
God, she’d missed that grin so much. It had never failed to send a flutter through her belly, and this moment was no exception.
In fact, she felt more than just the fluttery belly—there was also heat spreading all over her skin, and dizziness invading her brain.
This was a familiar and specific group of symptoms that she’d always referred to as The Connor Trifecta.
So, yeah. She was clearly still every bit as susceptible to them as she’d ever been.
Good to know. Yep. Good. To. Freaking. Know.
Unbreak My Heart (Valentine Bay Book 5) Page 5