Page 110 of Small Town Swoo
“Yeah, you know Moe. His first concern was for the diner.”
My father chuckled. “He needs to retire.”
“Hopefully, he’ll slow down after this.” I went around the couch to give him a hug. “I might not be back tonight.”
“I understand.” He thumped my back a few times. “You tell her we love her and we’re here.”
Julia jumped up and threw her arms around me as well. “Have a safe trip back home.”
“I will. Very nice to meet you.”
“You too.” She laughed brightly as she stepped back. “It’s funny, I’ve heard so much about you, I forgot that we hadn’t already met! I feel like I know all George’s kids personally, he talks about you all so much.”
“I can’t help it.” My dad shrugged. “I’m so proud of them.”
“As you should be.” Julia slipped her arm through his. “You’ve raised wonderful people with big hearts, but that’s no surprise.”
He smiled at her, and I felt like a third wheel. “Well, I’m out. I’ll check in with you tomorrow, Dad. Take care, okay?”
“Will do, son. And good luck at that audition. Knock ’em dead.”
“Thanks, I’ll try.” I gave a final wave, scratched behind Fritz’s ears, and headed out.
I tried calling Ari again, but she didn’t answer, so I decided to just show up at the diner. If she was already gone, I’d head to her house and then try the hospital.
Since it was late on a Sunday—and still pouring rain—I found a parking spot on Main without any trouble, right in front of Moe’s. Between the swish of the windshield wipers, I could see the diner’s lights were still on. Jumping out of my car, I hurried through the rain toward the door. Through the front windows I could see the place was empty except for Ari, who stood with her back to me, wiping down a table inside a booth. The jukebox must have been on, because I heard music playing. As I raised my fist to knock on the glass, I was reminded of the first time I’d done this just a couple weeks ago—the morning after she’d sliced her hand.
It was incredible how much had happened since then. How much had changed.
My sister’s voice echoed in my brain.For a good actor, you’re doing a shitty job pretending not to be in love with her.
But that was ridiculous. I wasn’t in love with her. You didn’t fall for someone in less than a month. Surely that took a lot more time and effort. Of course, my parents had always maintained they fell in love at first sight. The story was that my dad told my mom on their first date he was going to marry her—and six months later, he did. Was that just family lore?
Maybe it was just these damn strings. Maybe it was just that we’d had such a good time together and now it was over. Maybe this hole opening up in my chest was just sadness that we had to say goodbye—a perfect reminder of why I didn’t enjoyfeelingsrelated to loss. Missing someone was the fucking worst.
At least I’d have this emotion to dig for if ever I needed to convey the heartbreak of leaving someone I cared about behind.
Because I had to leave. That wasn’t a question. Everything I wanted, the life I’d always dreamed about, was out in L.A. I’d worked my ass off, and I was only halfway there. I was only twenty-seven. I couldn’t give up now, not when such huge opportunity was on the horizon. But for one insane moment, I thought about running in there and begging her to come with me—leave her family and Moe’s Diner and this town behind, and just make a new life for herself out in Hollywood.
No, that was wrong. Not only would she think I was insane to suggest something so drastic, but her life and dreams were here—she wanted to take over Moe’s and make it her own. She owned a house she loved. She’d told me that night we’d sat out on the dock that she wanted to stay in Cherry Tree Harbor, that she was a small-town girl at heart. I couldn’t ask her to uproot herself and throw all that away for me.
But standing there with rain dripping off my hair, watching her turn and look at me like she’d known I was there, I honestly wished I could.
She rushed to the door, unlocked it and pulled it open. “Oh my God, come in. How long have you been out there? I’m so sorry, I didn’t hear you knock. I had the jukebox on.”
“I hadn’t knocked yet.” I ran a hand through my hair, sending water droplets spraying. “But now I’m getting your floor all wet.”
“I don’t care about that.” She looked up at me, and I saw her red, swollen eyes.
My arms came around her immediately. “What’s wrong? Is it your dad?”
“No, he’s a little better, actually. I’m just emotional, I guess. I can’t seem to stop crying.” Tucking her head beneath my chin, she wrapped her arms around my waist. “It’s been a long day.”
“I know. What can I do to help? And don’t say nothing, because I’m already here and I’m yours for the rest of the night. I said goodbye to everyone else already.”
“You did?” She sounded surprised.
“Yes.” I loosened my hold on her slightly and leaned back at the waist, tipping up her chin. Her eyes were puffy, and her nose was red, and her cheeks were wet with tears, but she was still so beautiful it hurt. “There’s no one else I’d rather be with.”
