is in love. I think I can swing some wings and beer.”
Carter’s face pops into my head when she says the word love and I groan inwardly. I wish I could stop thinking about him. The swift tightening in my belly when he invades my thoughts is irritating.
Maybe it was silly to think that after months of silence a man like that would still be waiting to hear from me.
But, I did think it.
Because I was waiting for him.
And I thought he felt the same way,
No, I was sure of it.
Built my hopes on it.
I’d been so desperate for someone to look at me the way he did that I made it into something it wasn’t. It’s a painful lesson, but one I’m glad I learned.
I’ve always known that I wasn’t the girl fairytales were written about. Carter made me forget that.
I won’t ever forget it again.
I can’t if I’m going to break the cycle that’s turned the women in my family into nothing more than bargaining chips. That stops with me. Cameron will know something different.
“We’re here,” Dina says with genuine excitement that I wish was catching.
I can’t muster the energy to fake smile, so I turn my face away and peer out the window instead.
I gasp in horror.
A squat, crumbling brick building sits isolated in the middle of a huge field that seems to be moonlighting as a parking lot. The blinking orange neon sign slapped haphazardly on the roof declares it “Corks Wine Bar.”
The name is an insult to wine bars. It looks like a rest stop.
“What is this place?” I demand.
“Let’s go!” Dina jumps out before I can demand she turn around and take me back home.
“Dina!” I call after her already retreating back, she stops and turns back.
I step out of the car and my stilettos sink into the mud.
“Ugh, my shoes,” I groan and pull my heel free. I try to walk on the balls of my stupidly high heels. I almost fall on my face.
“Do like me,” Dina yells and I look up to see her shoes dangling from her fingers. I glare at her and then lean against one of the cars parked around us and pull my shoes off. I shudder at the squish of mud between my toes when I start walking again.
“Sorry, should have told you to take ‘em off in the car,” she says without any hint of apology in her smile as I approach her.
I don’t smile back. “I can’t believe on my one night out in a year, this is where you brought me. I got dressed up.”
She only grins wider and throws her arms open in dramatic fashion. “This is East Winsome’s finest dining establishment and it’s karaoke and open mic night.”
Alarm flies up my throat and I slap a hand over my mouth. I catch my yelp just before it flies out. I didn’t pay attention to where she was taking me. I remember my last visit to this town and how fatefully terrible that turned out. And what if some of those people, Etta especially, are here tonight?
Apprehension halts my steps.
Dina turns around, her expression turning to confused concern as she walks back to where I’m standing.
“What’s wrong?” she asks, her voice devoid of all its humor.
I never told her what happened last summer, not of any of it, and I don’t want to bring it up now. But I also don’t want to walk in there and relive any of those old feelings of helplessness.
“I don’t know…I just have a bad feeling about this,” I hedge, hoping that answer will be enough.
It’s not.
She loses her concerned look and ribs me gently with her elbow.
“You need to get out more, Lizzy. There’s nothing bad in there but the service. Come on.”
I shake my head in absolute refusal. She pouts, and looks woefully between me and the door. I know I’m being a poor sport, but my stomach is in knots.
“Please? Let’s sing. Like we used to when James played. I miss it. I miss you. Pleeeease?” She bats her eyelashes at me.
“No fair using emotional blackmail on me.” Despite my furious frown, my resolve is melted by her recalling of memories that are instantly heartwarming. Those were the happiest days of my life.
“Come on. Please. Let’s at least eat dinner. If you’re not feeling it, I promise we’ll leave. But I want to serenade you, I’ve even got the song picked out and everything.” She smiles at me coquettishly and bats her eyes