Page 39 of An Unexpected Turn
“Sure. You ladies go.”
“Great, thanks.” I grabbed my purse and plucked my jacket from the rack by the doorway. I hadn’t spread anything out yet. I’d gotten used to avoiding all the lingering construction, but even that wasn’t as extensive as I’d originally thought. It would all be over soon, and I’d have a brand-new and improved condo of my very own.
The thought should have thrilled me, not triggered an annoying pang gnawing at my side.
“Ready?”
Aunt Maya’s voice ripped me out of my thoughts.
“Oh, sure.” I forced another smile and followed her out my front door to her car.
“Where do you want to go? The coffee shop?” I asked as I fastened my seat belt, my gaze landing on Jake’s company logo on the side of the truck parked in my driveway.
I had no idea what would have happened had Jake come by instead of one of his workers, but I’d been fantasizing about pulling him into my bedroom the minute I saw him. We’d have a whole bed, a locked door, and no family popping over to interrupt us. But he didn’t show up, and I didn’t know if he really had somewhere else to be or if what we had last night was as far as it would go.
Being open and honest was overrated. Living in uncomfortable denial was the better option, especially compared to the shit I felt like for putting myself out there, only to be hurt and humiliatedagain. The nerve endings between my legs were taking over my brain cells, and that needed to stop—now.
“Ugh, no. I’m not in the mood for Mary’s attempts to gossip while I try to eat my eggs. The diner has a kick-ass Bloody Mary.” She frowned, lifting an eyebrow at me. “And you, my dear niece, look like you could use one.”
The laugh falling from my lips surprised me.
“I could,” I agreed, leaning back against the headrest and shutting my eyes for a moment. Somehow, I needed to forget about what was or wasn’t happening between Jake and me for at least the day. My life as of late seemed to be work, thinking about Jake, and then lamenting how bad it was to think about Jake in the first place.
It was time to break this awful and pathetic cycle. I’d make sure to start accepting more invitations to have drinks after work and meet other people. Maybe dating one of the officers at the station wouldn’t be so bad. I’d only be distracting myself, but going through the motions was better than remaining stagnant.
“Hey, did you drift off there for a minute?” Aunt Maya whispered as she nudged my arm. We were already in the diner’s parking lot. I’d shut my eyes and obsessed for longer than I thought.
“I guess I did.” I yawned for effect and stepped out of the car. She waved hello to the crowd leaving the diner as we came in, the host greeting her as if we were royalty before leading us to a table.
“I crack up at the reception I sometimes get as the chief’s wife,” she whispered as we slid into a booth. “Your uncle and I laugh and make up stories as to what illegal stuff they may be hiding by being so nice to me.”
“I don’t know about that.” I picked up a menu. “Most people here seem over-the-top nice.”
“And that’s exactly it, over the top.” She pointed a French-manicured finger at me. “Keith makes sure to stay in touch with the community so he can spot the trouble more easily. So yes, most are nice, but I guess more eyes are on us than others because he’s so involved.”
My stomach folded in on itself for a second. More eyes on them most likely meant, indirectly, more eyes on me. And more tongues wagging if I decided to date my uncle’s best friend.
Opinions didn’t matter to me, not really. It was when the opinions affected my job or how I tried to help the students entrusted to my care. I was over Travis, but not the fallout after.
“Peyton.”
Again, I jumped at my aunt’s voice, too into my spirals to pay attention to anything or anyone.
“I asked you out to breakfast because I missed the girl time we had while you stayed with us, but I’ll be honest, I’m worried about you.”
“Worried? I’m fine.” I waved a hand. “It’s just been a lot, getting used to my job and dealing with the unexpected damage in my condo.”
“From what I saw today, the condo is almost done and good as new.” She pursed her red lips as she studied me. “It’s been a long time since you were sixteen and would call me for advice about the boys you liked.”
“Well, you were the only one I could go to. Mom was not the boy-advice type, and Uncle Keith would have driven down to Brooklyn to take me to school in his police cruiser.”
“I was happy you chose me. I loved every minute of it.”
Warmth flooded my chest as I relaxed. Aunt Maya was the only one who let me just be me in her presence. I didn’t have to reassure her I was okay or ease her own worry about anything when it came to me. Since she’d married my uncle, I was always able to give it to her straight—until now.
“I’m too old to cry about boy trouble.”
“There are no age limits on that.” She dipped her head. “Do you think your uncle wasn’t trouble when I met him?”
