Blondie (Midland Springs Book 2)

by Joanne Ganci

  “You do know it’s weird that you still spend every Friday at the library, right?” I ask Rachael when she gets in after work.

  “How is it weird? I still need books to read. Plus, now it gives me alone time with Zack on a weekly basis.”

  “You have a point there, but I’m pretty sure someone gave you a Kindle. You know, that thing you use as a paperweight on your desk at home.”

  “That’s not true! It’s in my bag, right now!” She sticks her tongue out at me.

  “But have you used it?”

  “I have, in fact. I ran out of library books and read a couple on my kindle the last few days.”

  I laugh at her. I guess that’s an improvement from her previous library or bust standpoint. “Speaking of Zack, the best of your boyfriends is already waiting on you.”

  “Lyd, how many times have I told you that you can’t rate them?”

  “You can’t stop me! Obviously, Julian is last because he’s the worst. James and Zack keep flip-flopping in their standings, though. James sent that jump scare video to the group chat the other day, so he’s pushing on taking Julian’s role in permanent last place.” She shakes her head at me, and bursts out laughing, earning us some glares from the other patrons. “Shhhh. You’re making me look like a terrible librarian!”

  “You’re a wonderful librarian, but we should probably wait to talk until after hours. I just came by to see if you had anything waiting for me.”

  “I do. And I’m definitely refusing to talk to you until after hours from now on.” I duck down to grab the stack I have set aside for her beneath the counter. “You’re set for a good week here, girl. Now get out of here before someone reports me to Shirley.”

  She rolls her eyes, picking up the stack of books. “You know Shirley loves you. Mayor or not, she’s still your mom’s best friend. She wouldn’t fire you for talking to me at work.”

  “No, but as my mother’s best friend she will freely lecture me. That is not something I want to deal with. And I’m sure you could do without a Mayor Kelly lecture, you know as soon as she finished with me it would be your turn.”

  “You’re right. Even though I’m a grown woman, I’m always checking to make sure I’m on my best behavior around her. I won’t mention that it was always your fault, every time I ended up getting a lecture…”

  “You were just as excited to sneak into the library after hours as I was. Don’t you dare deny it!” Rachael was always the quiet one, but that was the one time she didn’t put up a fight when I tried to drag her along on one of my crazy plans. She winks at me, and heads over to her favorite spot, that I’ve dubbed Rachael’s Corner, where Zack waits for her. When he hears her approaching, he looks up from his book, a bright smile lighting up his face as soon as he lays eyes on her. He gets up, grabs the stack of books, and gives her a quick kiss. Even after being with them for as long as she has, I know that she’s blushing. I’m so happy for her, for all of them really. They’re family, and I’ve always wanted the best for my family. Love and happiness. I know Parker will find his. He’ll open up to the right woman. I’m not sure if Max is it for me, but the thought of him wakes up the swarm of butterflies in my stomach.

  “What put that goofy grin on your face, girl?” Tasha asks. Tasha is basically my right-hand woman. She's my best librarian, head of the children’s department and event coordinator extraordinaire—minus that one double booking incident.

  “Hm, what? Nothing.”

  She snickers, “Okay, nice try. Now you really have to tell me.”

  “Tasha, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t even think my face is capable of a goofy grin. Did you forget to put your contacts in again?” I move into the back room, to continue checking in the books that were transferred from the Treharris branch.

  “You’re funny. I know your default is RBF but you are more than capable of a goofy grin.”

  “What in the hell is RBF?”

  “Resting Bitch Face,” she tells me, with a serious expression.

  “Ohhhhh. I knew that. All the freakin’ acronyms always trip me up.” I chuckle, picking up another book. “Shouldn’t you be doing something? Don’t we have something on the calendar tonight that you should be preparing for?”

  “You wound me. Everything has been ready for ages. Now stop avoiding it, you’re going to tell me what’s up.” She plops down in the chair next to the table I’m working on and starts messing with her bouncy curls. “I’ve got nothing but time, Lydia darling.”

  An aggravated sigh passes over my lips, and I roll my eyes. There is no getting out of this conversation, plus everyone will be talking about it by Sunday, what’s the point in delaying the gossip.

  “Max.”

  “Like ‘He who shall not be named’ Max?”

  “He’s not fucking Voldemort. Why is everyone so overdramatic?”

  “Oh, excuse me! You would clam up every time someone mentioned him. Either that, or grumble something and leave the room.”

  “Yeah, well...whatever,” I mutter.

  “How is Max the reason for your goofy grin? I heard he was back in town with his dad passing. I always liked Mr. Weston. I was sad to hear he passed.”

  “Yeah...it’s been rough.”

  “Were you guys close? I’m so sorry, Lydia.” She reaches over and squeezes my shoulder, giving me a look of sympathy.

  “We were. Thank you.”

  “Are you and Max back together or something?” she asks hesitantly.

  “Uh...or something. We’re going on a date tomorrow.”

  Her eyes go wide, and her mouth drops open. After a minute of shocked silence, she blinks and shakes her head. “I’m sorry. I know I asked, but I really wasn’t expecting that answer. I know I’m a few years younger than y’all, but everyone knew about you two. You guys were #RelationshipGoals when I was a freshman. Then he was gone.” I wince at her interpretation of my relationship with Max. “Sorry. Small-town problems.”

  “It’s fine.”

  “So, you’re going on a date with him? Judging by the goofy grin, you’re pretty excited about it.”

  “I think I am. I don’t know that I should be. We...let’s just say it’s been a long time.”

  “Girl, if he can turn that frown upside down, I say go for it!” She gets up, squeezes my shoulder one last time and smiles at me before heading back into the main library. Just before she leaves the room, she looks back at me over her shoulder. “Plus, you need to get laid, girl.” The bitch winks and sashays away, leaving me laughing and shaking my head.

  Lydia

  22

  “Mom, what did you have to bribe Parker with to get him to actually show up for Friday night dinner?” Julian asks through a mouth full of food.

  “Shut up, asshole,” Parker retorts.

  “I swear, I taught them manners,” Mom mutters to herself, looking skyward. “Parker, watch your mouth. And Julian, I promised him cheesecake.”

  “Mom! Way to sell me out. I would have come, anyway. Your cheesecake is just an added bonus.”

  “I know you didn’t just lie to my face, young man. Then try to hide it with flattery.” She narrows her eyes and tsks. Quickly her stern look morphs into a smile.

  “Wow, Mom, you held that much longer than I would have been able to. Nice job,” I compliment her, leaning over to give her a high five. All of us laugh, and Parker grumbles something about this being why he never shows up. “Oh, brother. Don’t pretend you don’t enjoy every headache inducing minute of family time.”

  Taking advantage of him sitting right across from me, I kick his shin. “OW! Yeah...such a joy,” he replies, glaring at me.

  Mom asks what everyone is doing this weekend, and I clam up. I haven’t told anyone here that I’m going out with Max tomorrow. Everyone already knows that I’ve been conflicted, but I’m not sure how they’re going to feel about me actually going out with him. I push the brisket around on my plate, hoping by some miracle they’ll just skip over me. Fat ch
ance. After Zack finishes telling Mom about the skate park trip him and Julian are going on, I know I’m up next.

  “Lydia…” I look up to see Mom laser-focused on me.

  “What about you, Parker? We never know what you’re doing. I’m sure everyone is super interested to hear what Parker’s plans are.” Dammit. I think I laid that on a little too thick. That thought is confirmed when Parker snorts, and Mom gives me one of her looks. You’re never too old for a Mom look. The second your mother levels one of her looks on you, I swear you instantly become a teenager. I don’t know what kind of voodoo magic moms possess, but it works!

  “Nice try. What could you possibly be doing that’s bad enough you don’t want to tell your family?” Mom asks, pointedly.

  “Ugh, fine. It’s not even bad…” There’s no avoiding it, but I can’t help but grumble the next words out of my mouth, “I’m going on a date with Max.” The table fills with a deafening silence, and everyone is staring at me. I clear my throat and repeat myself.

  “Oh, we heard you the first time. I’m just trying to wrap my head around it,” Julian says.

  “It’s not like y’all didn’t know I was considering it,” I mutter.

  “I think everyone is just a little taken aback by the news, Lyd,” Rachael pipes in, always the peacekeeper. “I’m happy for you. When’s the date?”

  “Tomorrow.” I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face.

  “I thought you were going to tell me if you were going to pursue something, so I could beat the snot out of him first,” Julian gripes.

  “And I thought you were joking.”

  “Why would he be joking? I wasn’t. I threatened to kick his ass if he hurt you, but I’m liking Julian’s plan better,” Parker adds, with a sinister look on his face. “We could always go right now…”

  “Guys! No one has to fucking beat him up. We’re cool. It’s cool.”

  “Babe, she’s right. You can jump in if he hurts her, but let her go out with the guy first. We don’t even know if it’ll go anywhere, it’s just one date,” Zack says, rubbing Julian’s shoulder.

  “See! Thanks, Zack. You are officially Rachael’s best boyfriend,” I tell him, enthusiastically.

  “Hey! What did I do?” James questions. “I was winning last I checked.”

  “Nope. Julian is nearly beating you, and he’s the worst. You need to up your game, man.”

  Rachael chuckles at James’s irritated expression. “I think you’re great, James. Pretty sure it’s my opinion that matters most.”

  “This is true, sweetheart.” He leans over and gives her a quick kiss, before going back to minding his business and eating.

  “There is nothing y’all can do. It’s already done. As of right now, I’m just going on one date with him. I don’t know what will happen after that. I’ve heard everything y’all have said on the matter. I really have. I’m going to protect my heart, but I can’t help how I feel. I want to go out with him.” Tears prick my eyes, and I roll them, exasperated that yet again I’m fucking crying.

  “He’s already making you cry,” Parker snarls.

  “No, you big idiot! You guys are making me cry.”

  “The fuck did we do?”

  “You’re being all sweet and loving and shit. It makes me fucking happy and apparently aggravates my sinuses or something.”

  ∞∞∞

  Watching the fire as it dances in the pit in our backyard, I contemplate all the things my family said during dinner. Before the guys got out of hand, Mom chimed in with her voice of reason pointing out that I’m perfectly capable of making my own decisions. I could tell she wasn’t all that happy about me going out with Max, but she trusts me and has always had faith in the fact that she taught us well.

  I’m brought out of my thoughts when Rachael nudges my shoulder, holding out a beer. I glance down at the one in my hand to find that at some point in time I drained it without even realizing. Placing the empty bottle on the ground next to my Adirondack chair, I gladly accept the fresh one, “Thanks.” She moves around me to sit in the next chair.

  “I’m sorry about Julian. You know he means well.”

  “Rachael, you don’t have to apologize for my brother. I know he does. They both do.” Sinking into my chair, I take a long drag of my beer, letting the amber liquid glide down my throat. “Do you think I’m stupid? For going out with Max, I mean.”

  “You know I don’t. You’re one of the smartest, kindest, most wonderful people I know.”

  My lips quirk up, “Aw, you love me, you really love me.”

  She chuckles and smacks my arm. “Always have, always will, bitch. I just want you to be happy. Don’t forget, I’ve been in your life a loooooooong time. I remember how you were with Max, and after. You were devastated when he left. Then you hardened yourself to the world. You still let that carefree girl that you were before out every once in a while, but I think it’s time you let her shine. Whether things with Max work out or not, I think exploring it will help you find her again.”

  “Have I really changed that much?” I ask, looking over at her. She sinks back into her chair, staring into the fire, as if the answer might be buried somewhere deep in the ashes. Hah. I swear if she compares me to a phoenix, I’m going to lose my mind laughing.

  “Yes and no. You’ve always been this snarky and stubborn, there’s no denying that.”

  “Why thank you.” I mock curtsy.

  She rolls her eyes, with a bright smile on her face. “You’re ridiculous. As for how you’ve changed…” she sighs, pausing to take another drink, “you closed yourself off. You used to be the most open person I knew. With me and the rest of the family you’re mostly the same, but you don’t show the real you to anyone else. I’ve seen you date and hook-up with men over the years, but you never dared let them in. I don’t think any of those idiots were your forever, but even if they were, you never actually gave them a chance to know you. Now, don’t get me wrong, in no way do you need a man to be happy, but speaking from experience, finding your person, or in my case people, there is no other feeling in the world that compares.” She looks over at her three idiots joking around with Parker across the yard, a satisfied smile gracing her face. Reaching over, she takes my hand in hers. “I want that for you. I want you to have all the happiness and more, because you deserve it.”

  Stumbling over the lump in my throat, I squeeze her hand and nod. As soon as I think I can talk without my voice cracking, I tell her, “Thank you, Rachael. I’m glad you found your idiots. They really make you shine.”

  Max

  23

  Pulling up to the Lancaster’s house, I realize I haven’t been this nervous since the first time I took Lydia out on a date. I put my truck in park and take a moment to draw in a deep breath. “You got this, man. This is your girl. It’s been a long time, but you know who she is. Fuck. I know who she was, I need to get to know who she is.”

  A bark of laughter has me jumping so high I almost hit my head on the roof of my truck. “Are you seriously talking to yourself right now?” a snarky voice sounds to my left, just outside my open window. Dammit. Note to self: make sure your windows are closed if you’re going to give yourself a fucking pep talk. Glancing over, I see Parker Lancaster, leaning up against the door jamb on crossed arms. “How’s it going, hotshot?”

  “I’m here to take your sister out.”

  “You think I don’t know that, dumbass. I’m just here to let you know that I’ll fuck you up if you do anything to fucking hurt her. I don’t know why she’s giving you another chance, but I can tell you, you don’t fucking deserve it. You don’t deserve her,” he snarls.

  “I know.” There’s no use denying it, when I know he’s right. “I don’t fucking deserve her. She is far better than me on every level, and after I left like that...I don’t know why she’s giving me another chance either. But I’m gonna fucking take it and run, doing everything in my power to show her how much I love her. Because I do. I fucking l
ove your sister more than words could express. I regret leaving, Parker, but I can’t change the past. All I can do is be a better man and try to give her everything she deserves.”

  “You better fucking do more than try. I swear on my daddy’s grave, I will fucking end you if you hurt her.”

  “And I’ll let you. Hurting her is the last thing I ever want to do.”

  He backs off, pulling my door open as he straightens up. “As long as we’re clear.”

  “Crystal.” He glares at me, but nods, accepting the fact that I’m not backing down, at least for now. I reach over to grab the two bouquets resting on the passenger seat before climbing out of my truck. “I was thinking about the first time I came here to pick Lydia up for a first date. You’ve gotten a lot bigger, but you were just as fierce back then. I was never more afraid that a kid was going to kick my ass than I was that day. All three of you Lancaster boys had murder in your eyes, but you snarling at me was the most surprising.”

  He claps me on the back, much too hard for it to be considered friendly. “Sorry you couldn’t be greeted by the whole clan this time. Julian sends his regards though,” he says, a sinister glint in his blue eyes. “Far as I know Brody hasn’t heard yet...I think you already know how protective he is over our sister, though.” Just hearing his name gives me a phantom pain in my jaw from the time he punched me after Lydia and I had our first fight. I’m guessing Parker noticed my wince, because another bark of laughter escapes him. “Good talk, Weston.” He slaps my back again, even harder, and walks off toward the front door. As soon as he opens it, he shouts, “Lydia, that jackass is here to see you.”

  He left the door wide open and went straight toward where I remember the kitchen being. When I walk through the doorway, I nudge the door closed and look around at the same living room I stood in twelve years ago, waiting for the girl of my dreams. There isn’t a line of angry Lancaster boys staring me down this time, but most everything else is the same. I can hear Mrs. Lancaster muttering angrily at Parker, and I walk over to look at the collage of photos on the wall. Most of the pictures are different, with new additions to the family, but I zero in on the picture of Lydia and her brothers on her first day of high school. Brody stands proudly in his business attire, having stopped by for the picture before work. Julian has his left arm wrapped around Lydia’s shoulders, tucking her in close to him, with his other hand in a slightly raised fist, coming in for a noogie—I know from stories that’s what happened right after the photo was snapped. And then there’s Parker looking over at his older siblings with a smirk on his face, knowing exactly what Julian has planned.