“Not to sing, that’s for sure.” I rested my arms on the bar while I signaled to the bartender. “But I figured I’d stop in and watch you and Jake perform.”
Haney’s head hung. “Jake’s not feeling well tonight. Said he was getting a headache.”
A mixture of disappointment and slight relief swirled in my gut. “So he’s not coming?”
“Doesn’t sound like it.” Haney took a swig of his long neck then lifted his head. “What’s going on between the two of you anyway? No offense, but he didn’t seem too thrilled to see you this afternoon.”
I pursed my lips. “Nothing’s going on. Just thought it might be nice to catch up. We have a history, you know.”
Haney sputtered a sip of his beer onto the bar in front of us. “That’s a good one. Now by history, you mean the two of you were joined at the lips, right? Heck, everyone thought you woulda gotten married right out of college and had a brood of babies by now.”
I swallowed the lump rising in my throat. That was exactly what everyone had expected us to do, and exactly why I’d had to get out of Swallow Springs. I’d loved Jake with a wild abandon—with an intensity that scared the living daylights out of me. But I’d never been one to bend to convention or rely on others to figure out my path. That’s why it had seemed so important to strike out, away from Swallow Springs.
“So you and Jake work together now?” May as well pump Haney for info since clearly Jake wasn’t going to show up.
“Yeah. He’s in the city inspector’s office. I work more with parks and rec.”
“Do they keep you busy? I’m surprised Swallow Springs has enough going on to have someone working full-time on parks and recreation.”
“I also help out in the DOT.”
Before I had a chance to ask what that meant, he lifted his beer and tipped it my direction.
“That’s the Department of Transportation.”
“Oh, like road construction?”
“Mmm.” Haney wiped the back of his hand across his mouth. “Nah. I scoop up any roadkill that gets in the way of traffic.”
“Oh.” My stomach flipped around at the thought. “Speaking of killing, who do I have to threaten to get a beer around here?”
Haney put his fingers in his mouth and let out a whistle. The bartender came right over.
“Need another?”
“How about a beer for my friend, here?” Haney asked.
I ordered the same as Haney even though I would have preferred a Manhattan. But I wanted to try to fit in as best I could, especially if I wanted to remind Jake I was the same gal I’d been when I left.
The band continued to play and Haney and I ran out of things to talk about. I’d just about finished my beer when a few guys I recognized entered the bar. They made their way over to where we sat, surrounding Haney on three sides. Jake had played baseball with one of them back in high school—Logan Richards.
Logan put his hand on the back of my stool and spun me around to face him. “Misty Greene. Damn, girl. What are you doing back in town?”
Before I knew it, he’d pulled me into a bear hug. My cheek pressed against his chest, and I inhaled the scent of soap, shaving cream, and an underlying mix of gas and oil.
“Hey, y’all, look who’s here.” Logan signaled to the bartender as he released me. “What brought you back?”
“I’ve got too much vacation accrued. Figured I’d take some time off to visit the folks.” I wasn’t about to tell anyone the real reason I’d returned, especially not some of Jake’s friends.
“Welcome home.”
“Thanks. So are y’all here for karaoke?” I asked.
“Nah. We’ve got business to discuss,” Logan said.
“What kind of business?” These men had grown from the boys I used to know. But the idea of them talking about anything beyond girls, baseball or beer seemed as foreign to me as hearing they’d be doing an operatic karaoke tonight.
“We’re raising money for the baseball team to play a big tournament in Columbia,” Logan said.
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah. We’ve got to get the details ironed out. Bonehead here botched the dates of the car wash we were planning, so we’ve got to come up with a plan B.” Logan flicked Haney on the back of his head.
“Hey, it wasn’t all my fault. Jake was the one who talked to the guy down at the station.”
“So what do you need?” I asked. If they were doing something that involved Jake, maybe I could pitch in and come up with a reason to spend some time with him.
“We need a space to host the event, access to a couple of hoses, and plenty of parking.”
“Have you thought about using the church lot?” The suggestion flew out of my mouth before I’d had a chance to think it through.
“No,” Logan said. “But they’d definitely have enough space. You think your dad would be up for having a bunch of shirtless baseball players soaping up cars in front of his church?”
I swallowed, hard. “Um, sure. I can’t see any reason why not.”
“That would be great. We were hoping to set it up this weekend. Start around ten on Saturday morning and wrap up by three or four. You sure you don’t mind asking him for us?”
“Of course. Should I just coordinate with Jake then if he’s the one who’d been setting up the site?” If I had a reason to interact with him, he wouldn’t be able to brush me off so easily.
“Or you can call me.” Logan held out his hand. “Why don’t you give me your phone, and I’ll put my number in for you?”
I hesitated. The whole draw of trying to wiggle my way into their plans was to have a reason to chat with Jake. “Um, sure.” I didn’t want to make a scene or give him any reason to think my intentions were anything but honorable, so I dug my phone out of my bag and handed it over.
Logan tapped on the screen then passed it back. “Glad we go that settled. Now, anyone other than Haney got the balls to get on stage and sing tonight?”
His gaze landed on me. Prickles of heat marched across my cheeks. “Don’t look at me. My singing days ended with that choir concert senior year.”
“Wait, wasn’t that the one where—”
“No need to talk about that.” I slid off the stool. If Jake wasn’t coming, there wasn’t a reason for me to hang around. I’d done what I came to do—find a way to get him to talk to me.
“Heading out, Misty?” Logan asked.
“Yeah. I’ll talk to my dad tomorrow about the car wash.” Who knew how my dad would react to that request. He’d always been a bit of a prude when it came to things like people running around his church parking lot without all of their clothes on. But I’d find a way to make it seem appealing. I had to.
“Great.” Logan’s gaze swept over me, eyeing the darn dress I’d put on to impress Jake. “Sure is good to see you again.”
“Bye, y’all.” I lifted my hand in a wave before moving toward the door. Jake might not be eager to talk, but he couldn’t avoid me forever. And now that I’d be involved in the baseball fundraiser, he’d at least have to spend some time in the same room with me. Phase one of my master plan had begun.
4
Jake
“Then what happened?” I leaned forward, resting my forearms on my thighs while Haney moved papers from one side of his desk to the other.
“Then she said goodnight and left.” He shrugged. “What’s the big deal? I thought you and Misty were done for good?”
“We were. I mean, we are,” I corrected myself.
“Then why so curious about what went down at the Dive Inn last night?”
“I’m just trying to figure out what she wants. Last time we talked she couldn’t wait to get out of here. Seems odd that she’s back.” Odd didn’t begin to describe it. Misty’s reappearance had rattled me to the point that I couldn’t sleep last night. I’d been on edge since I saw her at the front desk yesterday and no closer to figuring out what she wanted or why she’d found it necessary to return.
“She said she had to use up some vacation time. Do you think she’d ever be up for moving back for good?”
“Hell no, that would be ridiculous.”
Haney nodded in agreement then took off to deal with an aggressive goose situation.
On the way back to my office those two words reverberated through my brain. For good. Just thinking about Misty moving back for good made me feel like I’d just been whacked upside the head—a throwback to those old cartoons I’d watched as a kid.
There was no way Misty would be interested in moving back to Swallow Springs for good. Not when she couldn’t wait to get out of town. She’d had her reasons. Being the only child of Pastor Greene meant she was always under the spotlight. And she’d been a hellion in high school. Always pushing the limits, testing the boundaries with her parents, and blowing through any rules or restrictions they tried to lay on her. She’d secured her freedom the day she blew out of here. I couldn’t imagine her giving that up.
I entered my office to find Misty herself sitting in the one chair I had for guests.
Her back was to me so I paused in the doorway to take a long look. Her hair was longer than it used to be. She had it arranged in waves that fell over her shoulders. I used to love it when she’d straddle me and let her hair hang down like a curtain, shielding us from the outside world while we made out at the park or on the beach of Stockton Lake.
She must have felt my gaze on her because she turned. The briefest hint of surprise shone in her eyes.
“Jake.” My name left her lips on an exhale, making me all too aware of how long it had been since I’d had the pleasure of hearing her say my name so soft and sweet.
“Misty.” I cleared my throat, shoving away any emotion. “Two days in a row. Wow.”
She reached for me as I rounded the desk and took a seat in the chair. I pretended not to notice her outstretched hand. She let it linger before pulling back and dropping it into her lap.
“What brings you in today?” Drawing myself up to my full seated height, I summoned a look of indifference. She didn’t need to know I’d been up all night reliving our past.
“I wanted to talk to you about the baseball fundraiser.” Her hands twisted together in her lap. She might be just as nervous as me.
“What about it?”
“Some of the guys were talking last night and it sounds like you need to find a new location for your car wash.”
“Yeah. But I’ve got an in with someone at the Piggly Wiggly. We’ll probably end up using part of their parking lot. Thanks for checking though.” I leaned against the back of the chair.
“Oh. Because Logan said—”
“Look, Logan doesn’t know what’s going on. I don’t know what he told you, but I’ve got everything well under control.”
“Haney mentioned you might need some help with marketing. I’ve been working at an agency up in Omaha, and would be happy to pitch in while I’m here.”
“And how long do you think that will be exactly?” Crossing my arms over my chest, I evaluated her with what I hoped was a frosty stare. Seemed only fair to know how many sleepless nights I had in my near future.
Misty looked down at her hands. “That kind of depends on you.”
My heart skipped a beat, ricocheting off the sides of my rib cage. “What do you mean by that?”
Misty stood. She had on a polka dot navy blue dress that nipped in at the waist, drawing my attention to her midsection. My hands itched to wrap around her middle, pull her up against me, and feel her body aligned with mine.
She moved closer, stopping in front of where I sat behind the desk. “I mean, I didn’t come back because I needed to take some vacation. I came back for you.”
“I don’t understand.” I shook my head back and forth. All the time I’d wished and hoped for her to come back to me—it had always ended in some iteration of this exact scenario.
She moved closer still, turning my chair so she could stop right in front of me. My gaze lined up with her chest. I could see the outline of her breasts under the snug bodice of her dress. Blood rushed south, stimulating a certain part of my anatomy that didn’t need any extra attention. Not now. Not with Misty stepping between my knees, sliding her fingers into my hair, pulling my head to rest against her chest.
Her scent drew me in. The mixture of flowers, earth and musk that I’d never found anywhere else. My arms ached to wrap around her back, yank her into me, and lose myself in her embrace.
But the hollow heartache I’d felt when she walked out on me sideswiped me. I jerked back so fast I sent my chair rolling into the table behind me. “No. We can’t.”
Her eyes, usually bright and sparkly, dimmed. “Can’t we just talk?”
“I’m not sure what you’re trying to do, but whatever it is, I don’t want any part. You ended things when you walked away. As far as I’m concerned, we’re done.” I stood then moved past her to the doorway, assuming she’d follow.
She slumped, leaning a hip against the edge of my desk, her shoulders curved forward. Her hair hung down the sides of her face, obscuring my view.
“Misty? I think it would be best if you left now.” There, I’d done it. I’d held my ground, hadn’t succumbed to the temptation of having her back in my arms. Whatever happiness I found with her today would be gone when she left again. She’d probably just felt a little nostalgic and came looking for an emotional pick me up. There was no way she was back for good. No freaking way.
Finally, her spine straightened. As she stood, she ran her fingertip under her eyes. Dammit, she’d been crying. I didn’t mean to make her cry. For a moment, my heart softened. I wanted to go to her, pull her against me and run my hands up and down her back, wiping away all of her sadness.
“Let me know if something happens and the Piggly Wiggly can’t host your event.” She thrust her hand out at me like she wanted to shake on it.
“Yeah, okay, I will.” I took her hand, wrapping it in mine. Skin so soft—it brought memories of times better left forgotten to the surface.
“This conversation isn’t over, Jake.” The tears were gone, replaced by a resolve I’d seen in her eyes before. Misty wasn’t some soft-hearted gal who didn’t put up a fight for what she wanted. I’d seen her go after things that should have been well out of her reach. She was scrappy, tough, sexy as hell, and never backed down from a fight.
She gave my hand a final squeeze as she rose onto her tiptoes and pressed a kiss against my cheek. My fingertips brushed the area where her lips seared my skin.
Then she whirled toward the door, grabbed her purse from the back of the chair, and disappeared.
5
Misty
“So you’ll make sure to have everything ready for Saturday’s event?” I’d double checked the details of my plan yesterday too. It was too important to leave things to chance. “Thanks, Mrs. Cahill.”
I hung up the phone, pretty pleased with myself. Mrs. Cahill confirmed that the garden club could set up their annual plant sale in the Piggly Wiggly parking lot. That meant Jake wouldn’t have a spot for his car wash and would end up crawling back, begging me to use the church parking lot.
Good news traveled fast in a town the size of Swallow Springs. It wasn’t even an hour later when my screen lit up with Jake’s number.
“Hello?” I layered so my voice with so much sticky sugariness, it practically dripped with honey.
“Who did you sweet talk into booking the Piggly Wiggly parking lot for Saturday?” he asked.
A smile spread across my lips. “I’m sorry, who’s this?”
“You know perfectly well who this is and what you’ve done. The kids were counting on the fundraiser to make up a bunch of the funds we need to finance that tournament this summer. Why did you do it?”
“Do what? I figured it made more sense for the garden club to take the space at the supermarket. They don’t even have an outside water spigot. To hold the car wash there you’d have to run a hose clear around from the
storeroom at the back of the store.”
“Doesn’t matter. The point is, you messed with my plans.”
“This way’s better, don’t you think? You’ll have the whole church parking lot at your disposal. We’ve got two outdoor spigots and plenty of room to set up your car wash as a drive-thru.” I knew what I was talking about. I’d been researching car wash fundraisers online for the better part of two days. If the way to Jake’s heart meant going through a bucket of sudsy water, I’d do it. There wasn’t anything or anyone who could stop me from winning back the man of my dreams. Not even the man of my dreams himself.
“Misty, go on home. I don’t know why you’ve decided to come back and jack around with my life, but I don’t need your help.”
“Your team seems to think it’s a good idea to switch the location.” Of course they did. I’d been working on Logan via text ever since I found out about it. If push came to shove, I had no doubt Jake’s buddies would take my side. At least on this particular issue. No doubt they’d have his back when it came to me suggesting we get back together, but one step at a time.
“I just wish you’d stay out of things.”
“I can’t, Jake. We need to talk. I don’t want to say I made a mistake when I left town, but I’ve had a lot of time to think about things.”
He didn’t respond so I continued.
“When I left, I felt like I didn’t have a choice.”
“You always had a choice. You just didn’t choose me.”
I sighed. A weight thunked from my chest into my stomach. He was right. How could I explain what I’d been thinking at the time? That I’d been suffocating. Before we’d even graduated from college, everyone had been looking at me and Jake like they knew exactly how we’d spend the rest of our lives. My mom had started looking at dates on the calendar for a wedding. Daddy mentioned how he had a parcel of land he’d bought just outside of town that he’d been holding onto for a wedding gift. If I didn’t break free, I’d have been married and bouncing a baby on my hip before the ink dried on my college diploma.
Sweetest Obsessions - Anthology Page 307