Page 75 of Starting Back
“Perfect.” Claudia clapped her hands together. I turned to where her gaze traveled over my shoulder.
Mary had one hand on Leo’s arm and the other on her daughter’s shoulder. I knew she wouldn’t let the day end without introducing them. I watched as Leo shook Renee’s hand and went to leave when Mary pulled him back.
“Why is Mary always so damn pushy?” I groaned and turned away before I saw anything else.
“Oh boy, we may have a rumble in the sticks tonight if she shows up. This place is so much more fun than Brooklyn.”
I ignored Claudia’s squeal.
“Come on, girls. We have sleepovers to pack for.” I took Emma’s hand and tilted my chin for Chloe to follow me.
“Yes, you all probably do.” Peyton’s lips twitched as she waved goodbye.
Knowing something wouldn’t last was different from hoping it would last forever and then it didn’t.
Leo and I were on a new timeline now—and if I kept stalling, it would run out.
TWENTY-EIGHT
KRISTINA
“You’d think they’d expand this place,” Nicole said as she scooted her chair closer to the table to make room for the crowd behind us. “This is why I always hated coming here.”
“Maybe one of you should open a bar here to give them a little competition.” Claudia arched a brow as she took a long sip from her wineglass.
“Maybe you can make that your segue into small-town life,” Peyton teased. “A city bar in the country, that’s a million-dollar idea, Claud.”
“And when you do, please have swanky couches to sit on.” I shifted on the hardwood chair that my parents probably sat on when they came here back when Halman’s first opened.
Halman’s had been a town staple for as long as I could remember and hadn’t had an update since I was old enough to legally come here. Same plain gray tables, black floors, and dull paneling. They’d gotten a big-screen TV a decade ago to replace the tiny one that hung from the ceiling, but that had been the only upgrade in my generation.
Despite the decor, they always had a crowd, although Halman’s attracted older customers in recent years. The local college kids preferred to head a town or two over when they wanted to drink, not wanting their parents to receive a full report of where they were and what they did before the morning papers came.
“That’s because you’re supposed to mingle, not sit around and stare like we’ve been doing.”
“I’ve mingled plenty all day long,” Peyton said with a chuckle. “I’m good on my uncomfortable seat.”
We all cringed at the screech of Claudia’s chair as she pushed it back. “Suit yourself. Does anyone want a refill? I’m going to make friends with a couple of locals.” Her brows jumped as she stood and strutted up to the bar.
“God bless her,” Nicole said, glancing back at Claudia with a grimace. “I want to get away from the crowd, not wade into it.”
“When did we get this old?” I sighed, shaking my head.
“You’re not old. I don’t want to get up either.” Peyton laughed over the rim of her ginger ale glass. “I’m out for the company of friends, so…” A frown pulled at Peyton’s mouth when she trailed off.
“What? Did Claudia find a friend?” I joked, resting my elbow on the back of my chair as I turned to figure out what Peyton was staring at, my stomach dropping when I found my answer.
For what seemed like the hundredth time today, my eyes found Leo. I couldn’t tell who he was chatting with, but his stance was relaxed and his smile was easy, just like the first moment I met him.
I was about to turn back around when I noticed Renee come up to him and curl her hand around his bicep, squeezing it as she leaned in to whisper something in his ear.
Life was passing me by, and if I didn’t make a move, I’d never catch up to it. I slammed down my glass of cider as something inside me snapped and I couldn’t sit still.
“Excuse me,” I muttered as I stood, slinging my purse over my shoulder as I stalked toward the bar.
Although Mary and her nosy ways bothered me, I had nothing against her daughter.Hadnothing, until she decided to get too close to Leo.
She wasn’t doing anything wrong, as he didn’t belong to me or anyone else. I had no claim on him, and he could get close to whomever he wanted to.
