Big Witch Energy - Kelly Jamieson Page 0,65

I slip on flats and walk to the Singing Horse.

There, Kesha and Hannah have already pulled two high-top tables together. I hop onto a stool, forcing a cheerful attitude. Once we have beers and an order of nachos in front of us, I tell them about my Board of Elders interview and everything that went down, ending with lunch with Trace and how he’s supporting me.

“I really let him down,” I finish, dropping my gaze to the table, my bottom lip pouting.

They both say nothing, watching me.

“What?”

“You’ve been spending a lot of time with Trace,” Hannah says.

“Yes.”

“Are you falling for him?” Kesha asks.

They’re my best friends, and I need to talk about this. “Yes.”

“Ohhhh.” They both make an identical sound.

“He’s such a great guy.” I lean forward. “He’s smart and strong and talented. He cares for the Candlers, and he’s so appreciative of them for what they’ve done for him. He’s a little guarded… It’s because of his family dying when he was sixteen. He says he doesn’t do relationships because he’s not good at them, so… what?” I divide a look between my friends at the expression on their faces.

“When a man tells you he’s not good at relationships… believe him,” Kesha says knowingly. “There’s usually a reason.”

“I don’t know.” Hannah taps her bottom lip. “Remember when Derry was going out with that guy—what was his name?—Bakari. They broke up because he said he didn’t want to get serious. A month later he was engaged to someone else.”

“So…?”

“I think when a guy says he’s not ready, he’ll get ready if you’re the one he really wants.”

“What are you saying?”

They exchange a glance. “I’m saying maybe you shouldn’t get involved with him,” Kesha says.

I blow out a long breath. “I know. I know I shouldn’t. We’ve already talked about the reasons we can’t get involved. And this interview disaster doesn’t help.”

“You’ve slept with him,” Kesha says.

“Yeah.”

“Is it too late to tell you not to fall for him?” Hannah asks.

“I think so.” I feel a sting in the corners of my eyes.

“Oh shit.”

“Don’t be mad. I can’t help it.”

Kesha grabs my hand and squeezes. “We just don’t want you to be hurt.”

“You haven’t even met him!”

“Well, let’s fix that then.”

I swallow. “Okay. Next weekend.” I hope he doesn’t freak out that I want him to meet my friends. If he does… that’s not a good sign. I don’t say that out loud. “I know it’s awkward with the whole family situation, but I don’t care. I know it would be uncomfortable if we break up, but why think negatively? You never know how things are going to work out when you start seeing someone, but you don’t stop seeing them because things might not work out.”

“I do.” Hannah sighs and picks up a nacho.

I tip my head. “Yeah, actually you do. You always find something wrong with guys.”

“I’m working on it. Maybe Trace is like that? Maybe he’s afraid things won’t work out, so he doesn’t let things get started.”

I consider this. “That’s possible.”

“You really care about him?” Kesha asks.

“I really do.” I bite my lip and meet her eyes. “I know he feels something for me too.”

“Something.” Kesha lifts an eyebrow.

“Well, maybe it’s not love yet. But maybe… it could be.” Why am I trying to convince myself of this? Any hope I had should have been squashed by my failure.

“It definitely could be,” Hannah says. “You’re right; we’re being negative. We don’t even know him. And I can’t wait to meet him.”

“Please don’t say anything to Felise and Magan,” I ask them. “They don’t know about us.”

Kesha’s full lips push into an unhappy pout, but she nods.

We order another round of drinks and I change the subject to Kesha’s latest family drama. She’s just starting the story about her cousin Latasha when Felise and Magan arrive.

“Hold that story!” I tell her, sliding off my stool to greet my sisters. I’m excited for them to meet my friends, and vice versa. They give me hugs, and I make introductions and we all shift around the tables and settle in. The waitress arrives right away, and they order a bottle of rosé wine. “Make it two!” Felise says. “Wait, make it sparkling! With glasses for everyone!”

Kesha and Hannah grin.

“I like you,” Kesha says.

“Okay,” I say. “Kesha has a wacky family, and she was about to tell us their latest drama.”

“Let’s hear it.” Felise shimmies her shoulders.

“Okay,” Kasha begins. “It was a family dinner and someone said something about marriage being hard.