Chapter 6

Bridgett

Drinks

Standing in my kitchen, I look down at the cookies I just pulled out of the oven. I don’t know where I went wrong, but it’s obvious I made a mistake somewhere because my cookies do not look anything like they’re supposed to. In fact, they look more like overcooked pancakes with chocolate chips than anything else.

Ken, who was my family’s chef growing up and still cooks for my parents, would be highly disappointed if he saw this disaster. When I was little, I would sneak into the kitchen to hang with him whenever I knew my mom wouldn’t be around. Because Lord knows she would have lost her mind if I told her I wanted to learn to cook and actually enjoyed it. But Ken let me help him anytime I asked and showed me all his tips and tricks for making everything from breakfast to fancy desserts. Obviously, I’ve lost my touch over the last few years.

I shake my head with a groan. Maybe trying to bake Noah cookies was a stupid idea. I don’t even know if he eats sweets. With a body like his, I doubt he does. Using the spatula, I scrape one of the cookies off the tray and take a bite, shrugging at my discovery. They might look like garbage, but they actually taste delicious.

I hear a knock on the door and frown. Heading out of the kitchen toward it, I check the peephole to see who it is—all while praying it’s not my mother. After the confrontation we had earlier today, I’d be happy not seeing her for a very, very long time. But with plans to visit my dad tomorrow after work, I doubt I’ll be that lucky. Because even if my father asked her for a divorce, I’m sure she will still be at the house, making her presence known.

A smile curves my lips, and I swing open the door when I see my brother’s girlfriend, May, on the porch.

“Hey, what are you doing here?” I ask as she steps inside to greet me with a tight hug. The first time she ever hugged me, it completely caught me off guard, and I honestly didn’t know what to do. My family did not hug growing up, and no one else I know is big on hugs either. But…it’s nice.

“I was driving by and thought I’d stop in to see if you’d be interested in going out with me for a drink.”

“Right now?”

“Yes.” She laughs. “I know you’ve been working a lot lately, and we haven’t had a chance to catch up.”

“I’d love to go.” I watch her smile before she looks around with her nose in the air.

“What smells so good?”

“I was making cookies for Noah and—”

“You’re making cookies for Noah?” she cuts me off, her eyes wide.

“Yeah.” I head back to the kitchen. “The day after my car was totaled, he stopped by to bring me my purse and saw that I was looking for a new vehicle.” I lift one shoulder. “He took pity on me and drove me to the dealership, so I wanted to thank him. And since I don’t have a lot of money, making something homemade seemed like the best idea.”

“I didn’t know your car was totaled.” She rests the palm of her hand against her chest. “Aiden didn’t tell me that.”

“It’s not a big deal.” Really, I’m not surprised my brother didn’t tell her. I know he wants to protect her, and that includes safeguarding her from me. I grab one of the fast-food containers I washed and saved to use as Tupperware later and start loading the cookie dough into it.

“It is a big deal. He should have told me.” She shakes her head and lets out a breath.

“Don’t be mad at him. I’m sure he just didn’t think about it. And it’s okay. Noah helped, which was really kind.”

“And now you’re making him cookies.”

“I was, but this batch was no good. I’ll have to redo them,” I say. She picks one up off the pan and takes a bite .

“They’re delicious. What recipe did you use?”

“I didn’t use a recipe.”

“You didn’t?” Her brows dart together.

“No, I have it memorized since it’s one Ken and I used to make all the time when I was little.”

“Ken. Your parents’ chef, Ken?” she asks, and I know Aiden must have mentioned him to her at some point.

“Yep.”

“You used to bake with him?” she asks, sounding surprised.

“Yeah, I was always in the kitchen annoying him when I was little. Really, I bothered him even when I was in high school.”

“Did your brother ever hang with him?”

“No, he was always gone with Noah and wasn’t really around very much,” I say. She looks thoughtful as she studies me closely. Needing to get out from under her scrutiny, I take the dough to the fridge and set it inside, asking, “Do you think I need to change?” I glance down at the jeans and sweater I put on when I got home from work this evening.

“I’m wearing what I wore to work today, so you’re good.”

“Cool.” I place a layer of foil over the cookies that are already done and then grab my bag off the counter.

“Do you want me to drive?” I pick up my jacket from where it’s lying on the edge of the couch and put it on.

“I can drive us.” She opens the door, and I follow her out of the house and stop to lock up. “Which one is your new car?” she asks, and I turn around to face the parking lot.

“The white Toyota.”

“Nice.” She walks over to check it out. “Do you love it?”

“Yes.” I feel oddly proud of my new car. It’s not the nicest one I’ve ever owned, but it’s mine. I paid for it—or am paying for it—all by myself, which is huge.

“I’m glad you found something.” She clicks the alarm for her vehicle, and I get in on the passenger side while she gets behind the wheel.

The drive to the wine bar takes less than twenty minutes, and when we get inside, I’m surprised by how modern and hip the space is. The backlit bar, dim lighting, concrete floors, and well-spaced tables make it feel like a place you’d find in a big city somewhere.

“Hey.” A handsome guy with the whole hipster thing going on greets us at the door. “Are you two looking for a table or wanting to sit at the bar?”

“I think a table.” May looks over at me, and I nod.

“Cool, follow me.” He heads toward the back of the room and shows us to a small table with two chairs. “You can pull up the drink menu using the QR code on this.” He points to a stand in the middle of the table. “Or you can get a wine card from me and use it at that wall there.” He points to a wall lined with fancy machines and wine bottles behind glass. “I’ll give you a couple of minutes to decide.”

“Thanks,” May and I reply at the same time, and he smiles at the two of us before taking off.

“Are you having wine?” I grab my phone so I can scan the code.

“I don’t know. I’m not really in the mood for wine.” She scans the code herself. “Oh, they have a raspberry martini.”

“That sounds good.” I look over what they have to eat since I’m actually starving. “Do you want to share a cheese board with me?”

“Yes, I’m so hungry. I didn’t really have a chance to eat lunch today.”

“Is everything okay?” I focus on her, feeling concerned. A few weeks ago, a senior in her school tried to shoot Aiden and actually ended up hitting another teacher. Apparently, the kid was secretly in love with her and wanted my brother out of the way. I had no idea until I heard about the shooting on the news.

Not that I was surprised my brother never mentioned anything. He might be letting me stay at his place, but our relationship hasn’t changed at all.

“Oh, yeah, we have the school book fair this week, so it’s been really busy.”

“I used to love going to the book fair. I didn’t know that was still a thing.”

“It is, and the high school hosts it twice a year for the smaller schools. It’s a lot of fun.”

“I bet.” I smile, then look up at our waiter when he stops next to our table.

“Are you ladies ready to order?”

“I think so.” I look at May.

“Yep.” She rattles off the drink she wants, and I go with a Moscow mule and order the cheese board for us to share. “So, how has work been?” she asks when the waiter walks away.

“Okay, but I can’t wait to get my license and find something else.”

“You don’t like working at the office?” She tips her head to the side as she studies me.

“Everyone there has made it very clear I’m not wanted.” I let out a dry laugh, and her expression softens.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. I mean, I knew going in that the only reason I got the job is because my dad owns the company.”

“I guess.” She scrunches her nose. “So how are things moving along with Conner and that whole situation?”

“He still hasn’t signed the papers, but my lawyer assured me that he can’t prevent the divorce from going through in the end. That made me feel better about the whole thing.”

“Has he said why he’s not just signing them?”

“No.” I look across the room when I feel like someone is watching me and find a group of women gathered at the bar—all of whom I used to talk to regularly. None of which I talk to anymore since they are all married to or dating Conner’s friends.

“Do you know them?” May whispers, and I focus on her.

“Yeah,” I whisper back, then jump slightly when our waiter places two glasses on the table in front of us. “Thank you.” I tip my head back to look up at him and catch his smile.

“Your board will be out in just a couple of minutes, but if you need anything between then and now, just let me know.”

“We will.” May picks up her glass and holds it out toward me as he walks off. “Let’s toast.” I pick up my glass and hold it close to hers.

“What are we toasting to?”

“To drinks with friends.” She smiles, and I feel my muscles relax. I know my brother would likely prefer that his girlfriend and I were not friends, but I honestly couldn’t be more thankful for May’s constant support and acceptance. Especially now when I feel so alone.

“I’ll drink to that.” I tap my glass against hers, then take a sip, hoping to calm my nerves that seemed to come to life after seeing who was at the bar.

“Bridgett?” My spine stiffens at the sound of my name in a very familiar voice. I swing around and watch Molly approach with Vanessa and Catharine. “I thought that was you.” She gives me a sugary-sweet smile before leaning down to press the side of her lips to my cheek. “How have you been?”

“Good.” I touch my fingers to my face, sure she left behind some of the bright red lipstick she has on. “How are you?”

“Fabulous.” She smooths her hand over her hip, drawing attention to her small waist and the large, sparkling diamond on her finger. “Busy, actually. Brayden and I are working on having a baby.”

“Good for you.” I keep my face neutral, knowing for a fact that her marriage is just as preposterous as mine was. She and her husband have been together for three years and married for one. In that time, I know he’s cheated multiple times, and so has she. I can only imagine that all their dysfunction will lead to disaster sooner or later, which will suck for any child they have together.

“I heard you’ve been working for your father.”

“I have.” I keep my answer short, hoping she’ll get that I have no desire to pretend we’re friends or think that she actually cares about what I’ve been doing.

“Are you going to continue doing that when you and Conner move to London?”

“Pardon?”

“Conner mentioned that you two are moving to London since he got a promotion at the firm and they’re sending him overseas.”

“Conner and I aren’t together.”

“What?” Her eyes widen, and I frown, not sure her surprise is genuine.

“He and I are no longer together.” I quickly glance at May, finding her with her lips pressed together in a tight line. “I moved out weeks ago. We’re getting divorced.”

“Oh.” Molly takes a step back and looks between May and me. “I had no idea. Conner told Brayden you’ve been staying at your parents’ to help with your dad.”

“I’m actually living in my brother’s old place,” I say, then thank my lucky stars when I spot our waiter headed our way with our cheese board.

“Sorry.” He squeezes past Molly so he can place the wooden dish on the table between May and me. “Get my attention if you need anything else.” He smiles at us.

“We will.” I smile back, then look at Molly, who’s stepped closer to Vanessa and Catharine. “We’ll catch up soon,” I lie, having no desire to talk to her or anyone else from my old life ever again.

“Yeah, sure.” She nods, and I turn back to May, who keeps her attention across the room for a long moment before focusing on me.

“So, Conner hasn’t told his friends that you two are getting divorced.” She drops her gaze to the food between us as she grabs a piece of cheese and a few grapes .

“It would seem so.” I sigh, picking up my glass to take a sip, needing the alcohol more now than I did before.

“I don’t like that.” Her concern-filled eyes lock on mine.

“Me neither.” I rub my lips together, hoping like heck he will get it through his head that he and I are done and that there is no fricking way I am getting back with him.

Not even if doing so was the only way to guarantee the survival of the human race.