7. Lexie

Chapter 7

Lexie

I was more than grateful to get the call from Oliver's grandmother. She assured me that the family that lived in the mansion up the hill kept to themselves, and I wouldn't have to worry about them.

Honestly, I didn't care one way or another. Having a place of my own that wasn't my sister's house was all I needed.

"You know you can stay here as long as you like," Gillian said when I told her I was moving into the cabin.

"I know," I said gently. "I just don't want to cramp your style."

She snorted. "What style? I just work, eat, and sleep."

"Well, you should be able to do that in peace," I insisted.

Gillian looked at me for a long moment. "Do you need some money? For clothes? For work?"

I swallowed hard, hating to admit that I did. "I can get by."

She shook her head and pulled out a credit card. "There's a three-hundred-dollar limit on this one," she said. "Get whatever you need. "

"I'll pay you back," I promised, but Gillian shook her head.

"Being able to see you is payment enough, Lex."

I wished that I could say I felt the same way. Gillian didn't understand because she'd grown up so close to our parents, getting any and everything she wanted. I'd be close to them too if they treated me the way they treated her.

But they hadn't treated us the same way. They'd tossed me to the side as soon as Gillian was born, and I knew that wasn't her fault. But it became hard for me to be around her, watching her get everything I felt I needed and deserved.

My parents seemed incapable of loving both children. But I didn't say any of that to Gillian. Instead, let her take me to the local department store. I picked out a few pairs of black slacks and several white t-shirts, since that was the dress code at the grocery store.

I also picked up a pair of shoes, some toiletries, sandwich meat and bread, and a bottle of white wine.

"The wine might be going a little overboard," I complained, but Gillian snorted.

"It's very important, after the week you've had."

The total came to one-hundred and seventy-five dollars, meaning I'd blown through over half of her credit card limit.

I winced but Gillian didn't bat an eye.

"At least let me feed you before she comes to pick you up," she'd said.

I nodded slowly, and Gillian ordered pizza. Once it arrived, she sat in the living room and ate with me.

"How long are you going to be in town?" she asked, and I paused for a long moment.

"Just until I'm back on my feet. "

She hummed. "Have you ever thought about moving back here? For good?"

"God, no!" I exclaimed, and Gillian looked a little hurt. "Not because of you, Gilly. But you know how it went down with Oliver..."

"Yeah," she said quietly. "You were so torn up about it for months."

Years , I thought but didn't say. Sleeping with Oliver Stanhope after all this time had been one of the worst decisions I'd ever made. I've been avoiding him like the plague ever since.

I refused to admit that it had felt entirely right while it was happening. I just knew that I couldn't let him lure me back to this tiny little town. I wouldn't have a future here and I didn't need to run from one man who was a mistake to another.

I wondered if he knew I was staying in his grandmother's cabin. I assumed she owned the place, since she had offered it to me.

Gillian gave me a big hug before Agnes picked me up and I returned it with a smile. She wasn't so bad after all, especially now that she was all grown up.

"I'll come back and visit," I promised, and Gillian nodded.

Agnes was chatty on the way to the cabin which was located on the outskirts of Wagontown. She talked about her store and gossiped some about Samantha, the girl that was leaving for college and I was replacing.

"She just can't keep it together, poor thing," Agnes said as we pulled up to the cabin, which was absolutely beautiful.

Recessed lighting outlined the underlip of the rooftop, making it appear warm and inviting .

"This is so nice," I breathed. I glanced up the hill where a massive house sat and noticed the outline of a man standing in a second-floor window. I frowned. "The people up the hill?—"

"They keep to themselves. You won't have to worry." She said quickly.

I nodded, but I wasn't sure I liked living so close to someone else. Oh well, I couldn't look a gift horse in the mouth. Agnes insisted I didn't have to pay rent for a while, at least the first three months.

I planned to be out of here in three months.

"The kitchen and fridge are furnished with some staples," she said. "And everything works, far as I know."

"It's beautiful. Thank you so much for this, Agnes. You don't know how much it means to me, what a huge help it is."

She smiled. "Well, any friend of Oliver's is a friend of mine."

I didn't tell her we weren't exactly friends. Not anymore.

"I'll get out of your hair," she said, patting me on the shoulder. "Call me if you need anything, and don't forget your shift starts at eight in the morning. Don't be late!"

"Of course not."

After she left, I looked around, peering into the huge backyard. It was a cozy log cabin with two bedrooms. It felt warm and homey in a way I couldn't quite put my finger on.

It was too warm to run the fireplace and besides, the air conditioning felt great on my bare skin after a hot shower. I sat in the living room, sipping wine, and enjoying feeling relaxed.

I didn't even think about Oliver. At least, not much.

The Stop 'n Go was close enough that I could walk to it, and it only took me about twenty minutes. I arrived around seven-forty-five. I hadn't wanted to risk being late.

It wasn't Agnes who met me at the door but a younger woman instead, probably about Gillian's age.

"You must be the new girl," she said, smiling warmly, and I nodded, smiling back.

"Lexie."

"I'm Jessica. I'm the manager here. I'll show you the ropes."

The job was simple and straightforward—stocking inventory, taking care of customers, and running the cash register. I'd worked in retail when I was in college, so it wasn't difficult to get the hang of it.

A couple of hours later, I was stocking milk in the back when a man opened the refrigerator door to grab a gallon. We immediately locked eyes.

As soon as that bright, blue gaze settled on me I instantly recognized him.

"Lexie?" he gasped.

"Tristan," I greeted, managing a half-smile. Things hadn't gone well the last time we'd seen each other, but that hadn't been Tristan's fault. It had been Oliver's.

I walked around to greet him, and he pulled me into a quick hug.

"It's so good to see you! I thought you got the hell out of this town."

"I did," I admitted. "It just didn't exactly stick. I'm only back for a little while."

He smiled. "I always wanted to reach out. I hate the way things went for you and me… and Oliver. "

I shook my head. "Let's not talk about that right now," I suggested, my heart aching just thinking about it.

"Tell me how you've been."

"I've been up and down," I admitted. "What about you? Are you married? Kids?"

"Nah. Maybe someday. Elena and I talk about it once in a while. We should catch up soon. Maybe meet for dinner and drinks sometime," he replied.

I pulled my phone out of my back pocket. "Give me your information. Getting together sounds great."

It was time for Tristan and me to heal from what had happened all those years ago.

"Have you spoken to Oliver?"

I froze. "Not much," I said vaguely. "What about you? Have you kept in touch over the years?"

Tristan shook his head. "Not at all. Didn't want him to tear my head off."

"He never should have?—"

"We don't need to talk about it," Tristan said quickly, and I realized that he didn't want to reminisce about that awful day any more than I did.

"I should get back to work," I said softly, and Tristan nodded, giving me another quick hug.

"I'll keep in touch."

It would be good, seeing Tristan and Elena. We'd been in classes together in high school but I hadn't known her very well. I remember she had been beautiful then, with long red hair and bright green eyes.

I was happy for him but living in Wagontown was going to be difficult. My past kept coming back to haunt me, and I wasn't sure how much longer I could stay without getting wrapped up in it all over again.