by Melody Grace
Alice hugged her. “You were brave. You are. You got away from him, you started a whole new life. An amazing shop,” she added. “Plus, kickass friends.”
Natalie managed a weak smile, but didn’t feel particularly brave right then, hiding out from all the world, waiting for Oliver’s axe to fall. “I just don’t know what he wants from me now,” she said, aching. “He can’t possibly expect me to come back to him. So, is this a game to him? Tormenting me for the fun of it?”
“You can’t let him win,” Alice said fiercely. “I know this must be hard for you, but this is your town. We have your back. You’ve worked too hard to let him just blow it all to pieces again.”
Natalie nodded slowly, tired out. She didn’t want to have to fight or prove herself. She just wanted things to go back to the way they’d been last week: curled up in bed with Luke, feeling nothing but happiness and new possibilities.
But that was ancient history now.
“I guess I can’t hide in here forever,” she said, looking around. “I’m running pretty low on groceries, for a start.”
“And, uh, I mean this in the nicest possible way,” Alice added. “But you could probably use a shower. A nice long shower.”
Natalie smiled. “That bad, huh?”
“No comment.” Alice grinned back. “Why don’t you go start scrubbing? I’ll give the place a tidy, and then we can go for lunch at the bakery.”
Natalie’s face must have shown her hesitation, because Alice gave her a sympathetic look. “Luke’s off hiking with Jackson for the day. Some guys’ bonding trip.”
Natalie exhaled. She didn’t know if she felt relieved or disappointed. “Good,” she lied. “I’m glad he’s bouncing back OK.”
“That’s one way of putting it,” Alice said, but true friend that she was, she didn’t labor the point. “I’ll give Summer a call right now and have her reserve a couple of those chicken pot pies for us,” she said, fixing a bright smile on her face. “Some hot water and creamy carbs, and you’ll be feeling like yourself in no time!”
“Thank you,” Natalie said, struck with a sudden wave of gratitude. “For everything.”
“Of course.” Alice beamed. “What else are friends for?”
* * *
It was her friends who got Natalie through the rest of the holidays—her friends and the chocolate shop, too. Because despite Christmas having come and gone, the Starbright festival was still going strong, people bustling in the square from morning until night, and Sweetbriar Cove was still under a siege of holiday-crazed shoppers.
“Oh yeah, they stick around until New Year’s,” Mackenzie commented as Natalie whipped up a fresh batch of dark-chocolate-cherry brittle after hours. Mac snuck a handful of almonds and munched happily as Natalie mixed, stirred, and spread. “The festival used to end on Christmas Eve, until the mayor realized we could squeeze at least another week of festive spirit out of the occasion. Now we have events lasting through to the big New Year’s Hootenanny party.”
“There’s barely enough time to clear the glitter away before Valentine’s,” Eliza agreed, sitting at the counter.
“Did it ever occur to you that you live in a Hallmark movie?” Natalie asked, only half-kidding.
“We live in one,” Eliza corrected her, grinning. “You’re one of the gang, now. Just wait, you’ll be pinning up ticker tape and running for a seat on the town council in no time.”
“Ooh, that reminds me.” Mac looked up. “Franny asked me to design some campaign flyers for Alice. But . . . does she know she’s running for office yet?”
Eliza paused. “Better check,” she said with a laugh. “Franny has a habit of getting carried away with these things.”
“And carrying some unsuspecting person with her,” Mac agreed. “But you should write her speeches if she does.”
“And Natalie can make campaign candies!” Eliza suggested as Alice walked in.
“Campaigning for what?” she asked.
They laughed.
“Just your plan for world domination,” Eliza told her.
“Well, OK. Keep me up to date,” Alice grinned. “Oooh, fresh chocolate,” she said, leaning closer.
Natalie shook her head, smiling. “There’s always fresh chocolate here,” she pointed out. “It’s kind of my job.”
“And it never stops being amazing,” Alice argued. “I mean, you take humble milk and cocoa and turn it into pure gold.”
“Well, alchemy is still beyond my skills,” Natalie joked. “But if you want some caramel truffles, you came to the right place.”
Her friends kept up the conversation, keeping Natalie company until she’d prepared tomorrow’s chocolates and locked up the shop. The warm spirits wrapped around her, and Natalie tried to convince herself that Oliver was wrong.
She wasn’t a failure. She had people who cared about her now.
But still, it all felt so precarious, a line of dominos ready to fall.
“How about a drink at the pub?” Mackenzie suggested, steering Natalie down the street before she could object.
“I know what you’re doing,” she told them, feeling a pang.
“What’s that?” Mac looked innocent.
“Distracting me,” Natalie replied. “But it’s late, I should just head home.”
“One drink,” Eliza insisted, linking her arm through Natalie’s. “You’ve been working all week, we’ve hardly seen you.”
She was right. Even though Natalie didn’t want to hide away, she found herself skulking around town, on alert for another sign of Oliver. She hadn’t seen him since that awful scene on Christmas Eve, but she knew that didn’t mean anything. He could be biding his time for maximum chaos and disruption. He could be somewhere in Sweetbriar right now, waiting to strike . . .
“Fine, one drink,” Natalie said, trying to ignore her fears.
They headed to the pub, which was packed full of people and in high spirits. Riley vowed that the holidays were over, so he’d already stripped every hint of mistletoe and decoration from the place, making it the only spot in town where Natalie didn’t have to navigate a holly gauntlet just to get served.
“What do you mean, you’re out of hot cider?” Mackenzie protested when they went to place their order.
“No cider, no cocoa, no eggnog,” Riley said firmly, crossing his arms. “This is a holiday-free zone.”
“You’re a regular Scrooge,” Mackenzie pouted.
Riley laughed. “Bah, humbug!”
“Fine, I’ll take a beer,” Mac said with a sigh. “A forlorn, miserable, un-merry beer. Natalie?”
“Just a glass of white wine, thanks.”
“Coming right up.” Riley went to fetch their drinks and Natalie turned, scanning the crowd for any sign of Oliver . . . Or Luke.
She sighed. She’d gone from avoiding one ex to two, although for very different reasons. The thought of seeing Oliver again made her want to run and hide. But Luke? She was afraid that if she laid eyes on him again, she’d throw herself into his arms and never come up for air.
“Luke’s not here,” Mac leaned in to tell her.
Natalie gave a wry look. “Am I really so obvious?”
Mac grinned. “No, I’ve just been there, that’s all. Breakups in a small town are the worst. It’s hard to get some space when you could walk around the corner and bump into them at any moment. And then the awkward small talk . . . pretending you’re fine being just friends . . .” Mac stopped herself. “Sorry, I’m not helping, am I?”
Natalie smiled. “What did you do?” she asked. “With your breakup, I mean?”
“Got back together and lived happily ever after,” Mac said, waving at her boyfriend, Jake, across the room. “Which doesn’t really help you, I know.”
“No, not really.”
Riley returned with their drinks, and Natalie took a long sip of wine, trying to ignore that ache in her chest that haunted her around the clock now.
Where was Luke right now? Did he hate her no
w, or, even worse, was he with another woman, already getting over her?
“. . . Natalie?”
She blinked. “Sorry, what was that?”
“I was just saying, we’re getting together for a movie night at Cal and Eliza’s place tomorrow. You in?” Mackenzie asked. “Riley’s threatening to make us sit through Die Hard again, so we need more people to outvote him.”
“It’s an underrated holiday classic!” Riley protested.
Natalie smiled. “I agree. Count me in.”
“Ha!” He gave Mac a smug grin. “Your evil plan backfired. Vengeance will be mine.”
Natalie laughed, finally relaxing. But maybe she’d tempted fate, letting down her guard even for a moment, because just then the crowd parted, and she saw Luke step through the door. He was with Jackson and another friend, and he unwound his scarf, smiling over something, his cheeks flushed from the cold.
Natalie missed him so much it hurt.
She gulped, wondering what she was supposed to do now. Say hi to him, or pretend like he didn’t exist? She wished she’d asked Mackenzie for some kind of etiquette guide when they were talking before, but it was too late now.
Luke glanced up and saw her. He froze, and the look on his face told Natalie everything she needed to know.
She had to get out of there.
She scrambled down from her stool and grabbed her coat. “I have to go. I forgot, I, um, need to do something at the store.”
Mac wasn’t buying her weak excuse for a minute. She looked past Natalie and winced. “Are you sure? Stay, have another drink, lose a game of darts with me.”
Natalie shook her head. “Maybe another time,” she said hurriedly. “But, I can’t, not yet.”
Her heartbreak was still too fresh, raw and aching in her chest.
She quickly ducked through the crowd, circling around to the side to keep her distance. Still, she felt Luke’s eyes on her, burning all the way to the door.
“Natalie!” Suddenly, Aunt June planted herself in front of her, blocking her path. “Now, I’ve heard a pesky rumor that you’re a single gal again, but that can’t be right!”
Natalie cringed. “Umm, yes,” she admitted. “But I really need to go—”
“What a shame!” June interrupted, clutching Natalie’s arm. “And there you were, looking so happy with the Kinsella boy. Still, there are plenty more fish in the sea,” she added. “And you won’t have any trouble finding someone new—especially once they taste your candies,” she added with a wink.
Natalie wanted the ground to open and swallow her up. “I’m not looking to start dating just yet—” she began to say, in case Aunt June was about to foist a parade of bachelors on her.
“But it’s the best remedy for heartbreak,” June insisted. “Why, when my second husband left me, I got straight back out there. I was engaged within a month. Not that things worked out there, either. But it sure was fun for a while. The Riviera in spring,” she added with a nostalgic smile. “That sexy French accent gets me every time. Although don’t let Stanley hear me say it.”
She fluttered a wave at her current paramour, and Natalie took the chance to disentangle herself. “It was great to see you, June,” she said quickly, backing away. “Thanks for, um, the thought.”
She left June exclaiming over some hot town-council gossip and continued fighting her way to the exit. She was almost at the door, when she made the mistake of glancing up and found that Luke was still watching her, his expression unreadable.
She faltered. Did he realize that she was doing this for his sake? Already, she’d blown into his life like a hurricane, bringing chaos and drama in her wake.
He deserved so much more than this. More than her legacy of bad choices, and the heartbreak she seemed doomed to repeat.
He deserved everything.
Luke started towards her, and Natalie panicked. She couldn’t talk to him, not like this.
She dashed for the door, and this time, she forced herself not to look back.
20
Luke was in hell.
At least, that’s what it felt like. One long, bleak, winter hellscape. Had he ever hurt so badly over a breakup before? Not even close.
Because he didn’t understand it. How Natalie could have gone from laughing over morning coffee and happily wrapping herself around him at night to being done with them.
Over. Just like that.
Luke felt a hollow ache. His head told him she’d made her choice, but his heart was insisting that it wasn’t over, not yet. He’d thought she was the One. His forever.
But maybe he’d been wrong about everything.
Clearly, karma was having a field day, paying him back in spades for all the cavalier times he’d strolled away from relationships with barely a backwards glance. Now he couldn’t escape Natalie even if he tried. It wasn’t just the anvil buried in his chest; memories of moments they’d shared were all over this town. The gazebo, where they’d sat together, watching passers-by. Walking hand in hand through the square. Even the pub was off limits now, thanks to that uncomfortable run-in the other night. Luke still winced thinking about it. Natalie had bolted so fast, it was clear she wasn’t regretting her decision for a moment.
He was the one left wallowing in despair, replaying everything in his mind and wondering what he could have done differently. If he’d given her more space . . . If he hadn’t told her how he felt . . .
It didn’t make any sense. She cared about him. He knew she did.
So, what had changed?
“What did that plank ever do to you?”
Luke looked up and found Jackson in the doorway of his new workshop. He’d found the perfect space a few days ago, a converted barn space on the outskirts of town, and had been working away, trying to get out his frustrations. But by the looks of the table he’d been making, he might have gone a little too far.
Luke sighed and put the hammer down. “It’s . . . rustic.”
“It’s a mess, like you,” Jackson said cheerfully.
Luke glared. “Did you come by for a reason, or just to make a nuisance of yourself?”
“We have lunch plans, remember?”
“Nope.” Luke dusted off his jeans.
“That’s right. We would have plans, if you picked up the damn phone instead of sulking in here 24/7,” Jackson continued. “Come on, there’s a roast beef sandwich waiting at the bakery with your name on it.”
Luke shook his head. “I can’t.”
“Because you’re scared of running into Natalie again?” Jackson smirked. “I never thought love would make a coward of you.”
“I’m not a coward,” Luke replied through gritted teeth. “I’m just trying to give her space, that’s all. It’s what she wanted.”
“Keep telling yourself that,” Jackson said. “Coward.”
Luke glared. “I’m not falling for it.”
“For what?”
“This whole reverse psychology thing.” Luke gave his brother a stern look. “You’re forgetting I pulled it on you not so long ago.”
“And didn’t it work out great?” Jackson countered, grinning. “I figure, why mess with a classic?”
“This is different,” Luke insisted. “It’s not like you getting cold feet with Alice. Natalie made it clear it’s over between us. She regrets even getting involved in the first place,” he added sadly. ‘I’m just trying to respect her wishes now, that’s all.”
Jackson’s smile slipped. “So it’s really over?” he asked, as if realizing for the first time. “No hope of a last-minute, grand-gesture, happily-ever-after reconciliation? I would have figured you’d be plotting some big way to win her back right now, not sitting around, just accepting defeat.”
Luke shook his head. “No hope. No plotting. She’s told me how she feels, and I need to respect that.”
He didn’t want to be like that ex of hers, refusing to take no for an answer. Natalie had fled across the country to get away from him; Luke refused to be an
other guy who didn’t listen to what she wanted.
Even if it hurt like hell.
“Well, there’s no reason not to come have lunch, then,” Jackson said. “I mean, you’re going to run into her sooner or later. Might as well get it over with and get back to normal again, no matter how awkward and painful it is.”
“Is this supposed to be a pep talk?” Luke asked ruefully. “Because your motivational speaking could use some work.”
“If you want pep, call Cassie,” Jackson said, shrugging. “If you want roast beef with mustard and extra pickles . . .”
“OK, OK,” Luke relented, sighing. “But only because I’m hungry. And we’re getting them to go.”
“Whatever you say,” Jackson agreed with a smirk. “Then maybe we can deliver your holiday gift.”
Luke stopped. It was still there in the corner of his workshop, a looming reminder of everything he’d thought he shared with Natalie. With a big bow on top. “I don’t know . . .” he said, uncertain. “What about that says ‘respectful distance and space’?”
“It’s just a gift,” Jackson argued. “Besides, what else are you going to do with it? Stare at it, sullen, for the rest of the year?”
“Well, yes.” Luke sighed. “That was the plan.”
Jackson chuckled. “Come on, it won’t be so bad. Once it’s out of here, you’ll feel better. Fresh start. Blank slate.”
Luke gave him a look. “You haven’t tried lifting the thing.”
* * *
They headed to the bakery for lunch, but despite Jackson trying to distract him with town gossip and news from home, Luke’s heartache wasn’t lifting anytime soon. And clearly, it was written all over his face, because when they met Alice in line, she gave Luke a sympathetic look.
“How are you holding up?” she asked.