String Beans (The Girls of Beachmont #2) (11 page)

“Where’s your car?” Wyatt asked while I looked at
my friends with wide eyes.

Pure. Fucking. Evil.

I will get you all back
—at least
that’s what I tried to convey with my eyes, but all I heard was their laughter.

“This way,” I said, pointing in the opposite
direction.

I climbed into the driver’s seat and waited for
Wyatt to join me inside.

He started laughing and looked over at me. “They’re
not subtle, are they?”

“Not even a little.” I smiled. “Sorry about them.”

“Listen, full disclosure, I’m
very
interested. But I know you have things you need to deal with,
so no pressure.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out.
How could it? Wyatt winked sweetly and I shook my head, laughing at him.

“You’re something else, Mr. Earp.”

I turned the ignition, and pulled out onto the
road and followed Callie to the restaurant. I turned on the radio, though I
wasn’t listening to anything but my own thoughts.

I knew my marriage was over.

But knowing it was over and taking the steps to
make it official were two different things.

Jolie wasn’t off base when she said I should look
into filing the papers, but I held onto the word
married
like a security blanket.

And if I was being honest, it all boiled down to
protection. Protecting myself.

If I was still married, I couldn’t find someone
else.

And if I couldn’t find someone else, then I
couldn’t get hurt again.

Foolproof plan.

Jolie and I spent the rest of the weekend getting
her settled in the apartment. As I expected, she had too much for the tiny unit.
Our living room was eclectic, with my consignment finds and her weird blue
velvet-like sofa. I had yet to purchase a dining table, but luckily, Jolie took
care of that and even had a few bar stools for the small counter space.

We still had to put some of her things in storage,
but not as much as I had thought.

By Sunday night, we were both completely spent. I
ordered us a pizza and we relaxed in front of the TV with Callie until it was
eleven. Jolie and I both had work in the morning, and I needed my rest.

Fortunately, Monday morning rolled around and I
was ready to go. I was wearing a pair of slacks and a top that made me look
like a business professional. It was strange dressing up for work, because at
the music store I would wear jeans and tanks. It took some getting used to, but
when in doubt, I could just raid Jolie’s closet since she was living with me.

I wasn’t typically a fan of the first day of the
week, but that morning I felt energized and ready for something big to come my
way. Jolie was excited to meet her new boss, though I warned her she needed to
leave early for work because of traffic.

I wasn’t surprised when my stubborn friend ignored
my words and woke up at the same time I did. Her office was easily a thirty-minute
drive on a good day with no traffic.

She’ll learn.

I didn’t want to stick around to watch the full-on
panic attack that Jolie was sure to have when she realized how late she really
was. Spewing profanities, sweat, and maybe even tears were to be expected.

“Hey,” I called out to Jolie as I was leaving for
work. “I’m heading out now so I can get some coffee.”

“Tell Wyatt I said hello,” she answered, but I
didn’t bother responding.

I locked the door and started taking the steps
down, and when I reached the second floor I saw Callie walking toward me. I
glanced at my watch and wondered if I’d have enough time to get something and
go.

“Hey sleepyhead,” Callie said as she got closer.

“Good morning to you, too, sunshine.” I smiled.

“Well, you seem happier. Lighter.”

“Um, thanks?” I laughed.

“I mean it,” she said, hugging me tightly.

When she pulled away, I looked at her, wondering
if I should ask the question that was on my mind.

“Did he get settled?”

“Well, his stuff is there…if that’s what you’re
asking. As for actually moved in, I’m not sure. But just so you know, I don’t
think you have anything to worry about.”

“Worry?”

“Yeah. Wyatt.”

“Why would I be worried about Wyatt? We’re
friends.”

“That’s good,” she said, though I could tell she
didn’t believe me. “Where ya headed?”

“Coffee,” I answered. It was one word, but it was
all I needed.

“Mind if I join?”

“Not at all.”

As we walked down the street, we made small talk
about our week and she told me that she had a couple of auditions set up.
Considering that she hadn’t been on one since we met, I knew it was a big deal.

The door announced our arrival and we both stood staring
in amazement at the crowd in front of us.

“This is gonna take forever,” Callie said with her
mouth agape.

“Maybe we should just come back this evening,” I
replied, looking at all the people.

“Hey, Vi. Callie,” Wyatt called and waved us over
to the side.

“Or not,” Callie said, pulling me through the line
of people until we reached the side of the counter. “It pays to know the
owner.”

“Good morning,” I said when I was close enough
that he could hear me. “
Busy
morning.”

“Just like I like it.” He smiled.

He was behind the counter helping to take orders
and keeping things moving but still making an effort to talk to us…to me.

“Here you go,” he said, handing me a to-go cup.

“What’s this?” I asked.

“Non-fat vanilla latte.” He smiled, turning to the
person in line who was waiting. “Sorry, Callie, I’m not sure what you like to
drink.”

She looked at me and then to my hand before
looking at him again. I knew what she was thinking and I’d have to correct her.

Later.

“Same.” She smiled. “Please.”

“On it.” He winked and busied himself making a few
drinks that Emma and Busy handed him.

“What do I owe you?”

I wanted to hit myself, or at the very least, roll
my eyes at the loaded question I lobbed at him. Fortunately, he was too busy to
flirt.

“It’s on me.”

I looked at the cup in my hands and then back at
him and nodded. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“And you’re not interested in him…why?” Callie
whispered when he wasn’t looking.

“Not now,” I muttered back.

“What time do you have to be to work?”

“Eight,” I answered.

She looked at her phone and I already knew I had
more than enough time, especially considering the Bateman Law Office was only a
fifteen-minute walk.

“Good. Find us a seat and I’ll be there in a
minute,” she said, leaving no room for argument.

How did someone I’d only recently met become
someone who knew how to handle me so well? It took Dani and Millie nearly a
year, though Jolie figured it out early on. When I thought about it, Callie was
a lot like Jolie. Both outgoing, having little regard for boundaries, and
incredibly pushy.

The spot I usually liked to relax in was taken by
a few business-type people, so I found a small table for two near the door. I
glanced over and saw Callie flirting with Wyatt and laughed. Who wouldn’t flirt
with that guy?

Me. That’s who.

She smiled and took the drink from his hand,
laughing at something he said before making her way toward me.

“So. You were going to tell me why you’re not
interested in our resident
hottie
,” she said as soon
as she sat down.

“No I wasn’t.”

“Okay, well now you can tell me anyway.”

“It’s not a matter of interest, Cal.”

“What is it then? Because I turned on the charm
full-force over there, and didn’t get nearly the attention you did. The guy
clearly likes you.”

“The
guy
,
Callie, doesn’t know me.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I’m not gonna lie, Wyatt is very attractive. I
mean, just look at him…the eyes, the arms, the hair…” I trailed off, staring at
him.

“You were saying?”

I shook my head to clear the Wyatt-fog in my mind
and smiled at Callie. “I’m not sure I’m ready for anything right now. It feels
too soon.”

She watched me thoughtfully and I was glad she
didn’t make fun of me for my lack of a spine.

Callie exhaled loudly and sat back in her chair. “I’m
not going to say I understand, because I really don’t. But I can tell that
you’re still hung up on the ex.”

“That’s not it at all.” When the words came out, I
knew them to be true. I wasn’t hung up on Will, I didn’t miss being a wife to
him, and I certainly didn’t miss who I was when I was with him. “Do you know
how long it’s been since I’ve dated? Flirted?”

“You haven’t flirted?” she challenged and then
laughed. Hard. The laugh I expected when I said it was
too soon
. “I might not know you that well, Vi, but I’ve seen you
flirt…and you’re damn good at it.”

“That’s not the point.”

“Then what is the point?” She glanced at her phone
again and showed me. “You have about nine more minutes to dumb it down for me.”

“Will is all I’ve known since I was twenty.
Everything I know about men is wrapped up in him. I thought he was perfect, and
look how that turned out. Now I question my own intuition…that sucks.”

“Maybe you need to rely on your friends’ intuition
until you can trust yourself again. Because I’m telling you right now, he’s one
of the good ones. And he’s not going to be on the market for long.”

“Then that’s something I’ll have to live with.
Right?”

I stood up with my coffee in hand and lifted it up
toward Wyatt. He smiled, and looked back at his customer before glancing at me
once more.

Thanks again
, I mouthed. I turned to leave and then paused for
a moment. “I’ll see you this afternoon?” I called out.

“I’ll be here,” he answered.

When I walked outside, the clear blue sky
assaulted my eyes, and I felt around inside my purse trying to find my sunglasses.
As I put them on, I noticed my name on the side of the cup I was holding. I
hadn’t seen it when Wyatt handed the cup to me before. Under my name he had
written a message.

Have dinner with me?

Just friends.

~E

I laughed when I saw the “E,” a reference to the
nickname I’d given him. I liked that he played along and with it.

I can do friends. Right?

***

“Good morning, Mr. Bateman,” I said when I walked
into his office.

The thin, graying man looked at me and smiled. “Viola,
it’s Charles—please. Did you have a nice weekend?”

“I did. I got a roommate.”

“That’s great.” He smiled. “How did you find
someone so quickly?”

“I wasn’t even looking—not yet. But I
mentioned the vacancy to my best friend a while back and I had no idea she
planned to take me up on it.”

“I hope it works out for you,” he said and then
motioned to the chair in front of his desk.

“You have several meetings today,” I told him as I
started running through his daily itinerary. It was going to be busy, but that
would help keep my mind off the conversation with Callie.

“Well, since we have some time before the first
client comes in, I’m going to look over my case for court tomorrow,” he said,
dismissing me.

I stood up to leave his office, but paused at the
door.

“Was there something else?”

“Actually…yes?”

“Was that a question?” He smiled and motioned back
to the seat I’d vacated.

“It’s of a personal nature,” I said, sitting down.
I swallowed hard and tried to compose myself because I wasn’t sure how the
conversation would go.

He nodded for me to continue.

“When I interviewed with you, did I mention that I
was married?”

“You did.”

“Good, because, I have a bit of a problem…I left
my husband several months back and I haven’t filed papers yet.”

“I see. Is that because there’s a chance of
reconciliation?”

“No.” I shook my head and scoffed. “That’s not
going to happen.”

“So what’s stopping you?”

“I don’t have an answer for that. Not anymore. And
that’s what I wanted to talk to you about. Would you be able to help me draw up
the papers? I’m not sure when I’ll serve him, but I’d like to have them ready
for when the time comes.”

“Don’t say another word.” He smiled. “I’ll take
care of everything.”

“Thank you, Charles. I do appreciate it.”

“I’m happy to help,” he said. He was quiet for a moment
and I thought that it was my cue to leave, but then he started speaking again.
“My wife and I have been married for thirty years.”

“That’s amazing.”

“In this day and age, it really is.” He looked at
the photo on his desk of their family and smiled. “I’m sorry that yours didn’t
work out.”

“I am too.”

“But you’re still young and perhaps something
better, something lasting, is around the corner.”

I appreciated the sentiment, especially from
someone who was in the business of helping sever marriage ties.

“I’m not sure I believe in marriage anymore.” The
reality of my words hit me square in the chest. I was, after all, the dreamer.
Where did my hope go?

“Give yourself some time. You’re still young.
Don’t throw in the towel just yet, Viola.”

“I’ll try,” I answered as I started leaving his
office. “And thank you again.”