Annie smiled. “I guess that’s one way to look at it.”
“So who’s your doctor? This is going to be so much fun. I can’t wait.”
Annie should have known Suzanne would be happy for her. When they’d first gotten married and both Macy and Suzanne were pregnant, they had practically begged Annie to do the same. She’d told them she wasn’t ready and they’d eventually let it drop. Truth was, she wasn’t ready now either. She tried to let Suzanne’s enthusiasm wash over her and it did.
A little.
“So what are you going to eat? Want to share nachos or something?”
“Are you kidding? I’ve been starving lately. I want, like, enchiladas or something. Beans, rice, the works.”
“Don’t go overboard,” Suzanne warned. “That weight will just creep up on you.”
“I don’t care,” she said. And at that moment, while perusing the enchilada platters on the menu, her potential weight gain was the least of her worries.
After their orders were taken and Suzanne’s salsa bowl was refilled, she scooted her chair closer to Annie.
“So do you have a plan?”
Annie frowned. “A plan?”
“You know, after the baby is born. School, work. A place to live.”
“Are you trying to depress me?” she asked.
“No, of course not. I’m just wondering what you’re going to do.”
“Well, I’m going to finish college, do my student teaching next spring, then start full time the next fall. That’s still the plan. As far as where I’m going to live, I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.”
Suzanne broke another chip in half before dipping it in the salsa. “Look, don’t take this the wrong way,” she said, “but have you considered Derrick?”
“Oh, God, not you too?”
“I’m just saying, he’s still crazy about you. He would—”
“Suzanne, there’s a reason we divorced, you know.” She took a sip of water, staring at Suzanne. “Are you happy being married, Suzanne?”
Suzanne appeared startled by the question. “Why would you think I’m not happy?”
Annie shrugged. “I’m just…I’m wondering why you’re happy and I never was. I mean, I don’t know what went wrong with Derrick.” She shook her head. “Well, I do know. I shouldn’t have ever married him in the first place. I just…I got carried away with it all, I think.”
“With what?”
“With all of us,” she said. “He and Aaron and Chuck. You, me and Macy. Everything just piled on top of each other. They were best friends, we were best friends. His parents and my parents were friends. I got caught up in it all and I couldn’t get out.” She took another drink of her water, wondering where she was going with this. These thoughts were private, thoughts she’d not shared with anyone before. “I think I knew before we even got married that it wasn’t the real thing for me, yet I went through with it,” she admitted. “And after six months, I was certain that it wasn’t for me. But no matter how unhappy I was, I pretended that I wasn’t. Because I was caught up in the whole group thing. And I put up with it for six years. Six years.”
“Oh, Annie. I could tell you weren’t happy. I thought maybe if you had a kid—”
“Now that was the smartest thing I did…not getting pregnant. I’d still be married to him then, I’m sure. And I’d be miserable.”
“So were you ever in love with him?”
“In love?” Annie shook her head. “No. No, I don’t think so. Not that deep, crazy kind of love. He was just the guy I dated all through high school, the guy everyone assumed I would marry. Before I could even contemplate what was happening, I was standing in front of the preacher saying ‘I do,’ and then it was too late.” She sighed. “I guess I’m telling you all of this so you won’t have this hope that Derrick and I will get back together. Because it’s not going to happen. Ever.”
Suzanne nodded. “Okay. I won’t bring it up again. I’m sorry. I thought it might be an option.”
“It’s not.”
Chapter Fourteen
Jordan waited until Brandon had finished with his customer, then waved him back. The smile that was almost always on his face faltered a bit.
“You wanted to see me, boss?”
Jordan led him into the office. She had stopped asking him to call her “Jordan” instead of “boss.” It had made no difference. He still called her “boss.” She assumed it was because of her dress—the business suits. She’d hoped that once she started dressing like them, in shorts, that he would loosen up, but no.
She motioned to the visitor’s chair. “Sit down,” she said.
“Am I in trouble? Did I do something wrong?”
She stared at him. “I don’t know. Did you?”
The color left his face. “I don’t think so,” he said.
She smiled, trying to get him to relax. “Then why do you look guilty?”
“Because this is like being called back to the principal’s office. You never ask any of us to come back here.”
She leaned her elbows on the desk. “Why are you here?”
He frowned. “What?”
“Here. At Fat Larry’s. Annie tells me you have your degree.”
“Yes.”
“So?”
He shrugged. “I’ve worked here since high school,” he said.
“Right. And now you have your degree. In fact, you got it in December.”
“You don’t like me working here?” he asked hesitantly.
“I love you working here. You’re a natural with the customers. You’re friendly. And you flirt just enough with the ladies but don’t ever cross the line. At least, not that I’ve seen.”
He actually blushed, and it made him look even more handsome, she noted.
“I guess I don’t understand your line of questioning,” he said.
“What are your goals, Brandon?”
He nodded. “Oh, I see. Is this like a…‘where do you see yourself in five years?’ kind of a thing?”
“Exactly.”
He smiled and brushed his blond hair off his tanned face. “I’m just…you know, hanging out. Enjoying myself. I’m into sailboarding,” he said. “So working here, the hours are flexible, I can still hit the water whenever I want.”
“You have your degree. You work part-time. Your goal is…sailboarding?”
“Look, money is not that big a deal,” he said. “I have a roommate. My Jeep is paid for.” He glanced over his shoulder as if making sure they were still alone. “I have money,” he said quietly. “My uncle…well, he paid for my college. Paid for my Jeep. He and my father were the only children and he never married. And I don’t have any siblings.” He paused. “He’s kinda rich.”
“And he gives you money?”
“Yeah. I’m on his payroll.”
“Unbelievable,” she murmured.
“Yeah. It’s sweet.”
“So if you’ve got it so sweet, why do you work here?”
“I love it here. Like I said, it’s flexible. And I’ve got to do something productive with my life. I can’t sailboard all day long.” He paused. “Besides, I started working here in high school. This is like home to me.”
She leaned back in her chair. “So if I offered you more money, that’s not really an incentive to you, seeing as you’ve got another job that you don’t actually have to work at.”
“I’m always open for more money,” he said with a smile. “What do you have in mind?”
She wondered if this was a good idea, but hell, she liked the guy. And she thought she could trust him. So, she gave voice to what she’d been contemplating for the last couple of weeks.
“Right now, Annie and I take turns closing the store. And I understand that before, Matt would always close.”
“Yes. And?”
“And I want to train you to close. If it works out, I’ll give you a raise.” She shrugged. “I was going to offer you more hours too, but that might cut into your sailboarding,” she said with a smile.