Backup Plan - Emily Goodwin Page 0,45

work, back to my old self, and will go a few days without thinking about her. And then a few days will turn into a few weeks and I’ll get along just fine. As long as I don’t think about her for the rest of the—

“Chloe!” Rory jumps up, bumping into the table and nearly spilling our drinks. “Oh my god, Chloe!”

Chloe’s just walked into the café and is alone. She’s wearing teal athletic pants and a matching crop top. Her hair is up in a messy ponytail, and she doesn’t have any makeup on.

She’s beautiful.

“Rory!” Chloe smiles and hurries over, pulling my sister in for a hug. Mom gets up and goes over, hugging Chloe as well.

“Wow, it’s almost like you’re getting a second chance,” Mason mumbles.

“Second chance?” Dean echoes, lifting Adam out of the highchair. The baby started fussing the second Rory stepped away from the table.

“He’s wanted to fuck her since they were kids. Well, teens, to be accurate.”

“Don’t talk about her like that,” I shoot back.

“Ohhh, right.” Mason raises his eyebrows and adds more sugar to his coffee. “He doesn’t want to fuck her.” He tips his head. “If you’re not interested…I am. Little Fish-face has really grown up, if you know what I mean.”

I go to kick Mason, but he jerks his leg back, expecting it. Rory brings Chloe over to the table so everyone else can say hi and so she can introduce her to Dean.

“This is your baby?” Chloe asks, looking at Adam. “He’s adorable!”

“Thanks,” Rory gushes. She hasn’t stopped smiling since she spotted Chloe enter the restaurant. “He’s an easy baby and a decent sleeper. I think I’ll have another.”

“How’s your father doing, honey?” Mom asks Chloe. She turns, angling her body away from me, and talks to Mom for a minute before her name is called at the hostess table to let her know her to-go order is ready.

“What are you doing tonight?” Rory asks, and Chloe hesitates. “We’re having dinner before these two losers have to go back to work.” She motions to Mason and me. “I know you’re super busy, but I would love so much to catch up!”

“Bring your father and Wendy,” Dad adds, and I’m not surprised he knows Chloe’s dad is dating someone. Gossip spreads fast in a small town.

“Um, they’re on vacation. I’m hiding out at the lake house to try and finish a book.”

“Can you spare an hour for dinner?” Mom asks hopefully.

Chloe’s cornered, and I know her well enough at least to know she doesn’t want to make anyone feel bad.

“Don’t force her,” I say, trying to be supportive of Chloe but everyone glares at me. And this time Mason kicks me in the shin.

Chloe flicks her eyes to me, and something sparks behind them. Something I haven’t seen before…something I can’t quite place.

“Yeah,” she says with a smile. “I can spare an hour or two.”

Chapter Thirteen

Chloe

What the hell is wrong with me? I don’t like pain. I go to great lengths to avoid it. Sometimes I take Advil before settling down for a writing sprint because I know my back will hurt from sitting still for hours on end. I avoided the dentist for an impressive three years without getting another cavity because I was scared the one I needed filled would hurt. I might be stupid, but my tiny human brain can at least process that pain is bad.

So why the hell did I agree to go to the Harris Farmhouse for dinner tonight?

“Ughhh,” I huff to myself and take off my shoes, closing the front door behind me. I set my bag from Silver Café on the counter and go upstairs, trading my workout clothes for a sundress. I couldn’t sleep when I got home from the bar last night and stayed up taking my frustrations out by getting lost in my story. I wrote nearly five thousand words before I fell asleep on the couch in the living room.

I woke up, got dressed, and had every intention of going for a run. But then I got distracted with Instagram and decided to record some little video clips of the lake to post to my stories. Fast forward twenty minutes, and I “ran out of time” to work out and instead ordered breakfast.

It’s hot and sunny out again, so I grab my sunglasses and a big floppy hat along with my bag of takeaway and go down to the dock, sitting on the edge with my feet in the water