Maybe This Time(14)

I turned my attention back to the table and placed another sunflower. I tried to ignore Andrew, whose gaze I could feel on me. I also tried to keep myself from messing with my overgrown bangs.

“What?” I finally said.

“Is your brother coming today?”

“To a Mother’s Day brunch?”

“Why not?”

“This isn’t for sons. It’s a mother-daughter thing.”

“Ah. I see how it is around here.”

“It’s tradition. That’s how it is. You’ll learn more about tradition when you witness the reaction of fifty women deprived of bacon.”

He lifted the lid off a chafing dish. “I know I’m not from Rockside, but is this not what you guys call bacon?”

My eyes shot down to see the dish nearly overflowing with crispy bacon. “Oh, well, I’m glad your dad learned after last time.”

“Pretty sure this town didn’t invent providing bacon at brunch.”

I placed the last few flowers on the table, ready to escape.

“Do you know what your problem is, Sophie?”

I stiffened and glared at him. “What answer would I have to give for you not to continue?”

“Your problem is that you have a chip on your shoulder. I’m not sure what about, but I’m trying to figure that out.”

“A chip on my shoulder?” I snapped. “Do you hear yourself talk? Who says that? I’ll tell you who says that: self-absorbed guys who don’t live in the real world and have no idea how to truly relate to people. If I have a chip on my shoulder, it only exists for you.”

Jett Hart walked up to the food table carrying a foil-covered platter, and I practically jumped out of my skin in surprise.

“Good morning,” I said cheerily. Probably too cheerily considering my nostrils were still flaring with irritation.

He set the platter down right on top of three sunflowers. When the dish didn’t sit right, he furrowed his brow and lifted it back up to see what the problem was. “Son, move those,” he barked. Andrew collected the three sunflowers as Jett walked away.

I gritted my teeth. Great, my memory of him wasn’t wrong either. I sighed and held out my hands for the squashed flowers.

Andrew dropped them in my hands. “They are kind of big and very … yellow.”

I held his gaze for a moment in disbelief. “The chip on my shoulder seems to be getting heavier.”

He laughed, which I hadn’t expected. Normally he was ready to meet my snark with his own. I must’ve caught him off guard with that comment. I rolled my eyes and couldn’t collect the rest of the flowers fast enough before I was able to hurry away.





The brunch was in full swing. Jett Hart and Mr. Williams were hovering protectively around the food like their presence would make it taste better. I wasn’t hearing any complaints so maybe it was working. Micah and Lance were helping with drink refills and questions. Andrew was socializing with guests, but actually, I realized, taking pictures. And my mom still wasn’t here.

I stood watching the parking lot and checked my phone again. There were no Sorry I’m going to be extra late texts.

I tucked my phone back in the pocket of my skirt and peered down the road. Maybe she’d gotten stuck at work. I mean, her job didn’t save lives or anything, but the owner of the diner where she worked sure acted like it did. Maybe it was better that she wasn’t here; then I could just do my job and not worry.

“Where’s your mom?” Micah asked as she passed me, holding a pitcher of orange juice.

I shrugged, pretending I hadn’t noticed her absence.

“She’ll be here,” Micah said.

“Who will be here?” Andrew asked, walking by at that moment with his phone in hand. Ugh.

“Sophie’s mom.”

“Speaking of moms, yours is trying to get me to eat with her because you can’t,” Andrew said to Micah.

“Don’t fall under her spell. Sophie can never resist my mom.”

“It’s true,” I said. “Mrs. Williams has power over me.”

“That’s because she loves you,” Micah said.

“And here I thought I was special,” Andrew said, putting his hand on his chest.

“Nope,” I answered back.

Micah waved her hand through the air. “She loves you too, Andrew, don’t worry.” Then Micah hoisted her pitcher and left.

“Mrs. Williams loves everyone,” I assured Andrew.

“You know, you really should be the one refilling glasses with orange juice.”

“You already made one swipe at the skirt today. Get some new material.”

His eyes lit up with amusement. Had he found me funny for the second time today? I didn’t like this change. I liked the shot-back insults better. I avoided his gaze and scanned the parking lot again.

“You should just text her,” Andrew said.

“What?” I asked, then realized he knew who I was looking for. “Shouldn’t you be taking pictures?”

He held up his phone and snapped one of me, then smiled and left. I scowled at his retreating form.

It was time to distract myself with work. I found Caroline standing under a tree, scrolling through her tablet. “Should I get the game started?” I asked her.