He nods and leaves me alone in my sorrow.
I should have gone with my first instinct, which was to break it up with Veronica in my office instead of going to her hotel with her. I’d opted for the hotel because if she made a scene I didn’t want Rosie to witness it, but instead it all backfired anyway.
Nice going Ruben.
Chapter 16 ~ Rosie
Three days after the picnic with Ruben and the disaster of an evening, I’m due back in work at eight and I’m having trouble finding the will to go. I really want to see Ruben, and something keeps telling me that there’s more to the story than what I overheard, but I’m afraid that it’s just wishful thinking. I want to believe that he wants to be with me as much as I want to be with him, but after living my life craving someone to want me for who I am, I’m having trouble believing he does.
“Rosie.”
I nearly jump out of my skin when someone touches my shoulder at the same time as saying my name.
“It’s Sabrina. Do you remember me from Lily’s twin’s baptism?” She gives me a quizzical look.
“Of course I remember you. Sorry you startled me. Have you settled back in to Lexington life?”
She threads her arm through mine, and says, “Have coffee with me and I’ll tell you about it,” not giving me any choice. I grin. This is just what I need to take my mind off Ruben.
“We’ll sit here as it’s a nice day. Is this okay?”
I nod and watch her dash inside to order some coffee, at least that’s what I’m presuming she’s doing considering she never asked me how I like mine.
“Here you go. I remembered you like Vanilla Latte, so I hope you still do as I’d forgotten to ask you before I went shooting off inside.” Sabrina places the drinks from the tray to the table along with a third coffee and a plate of amaretto biscuits—my favorite.
“Carla’s joining us,” Sabrina comments seeing my raised brow in question as she takes the seat opposite me. This is the woman who has Lucien tied in so many knots he doesn’t know whether he’s coming or going. She looks different than she did the last time I saw her. Sabrina’s hair is a shiny, ginger red and falls to her shoulders, which suits her especially with her green eyes and freckles over her nose and underneath her eyes. She looks young and fresh.
“You asked me if I’m settled and I am, but it’s kind of lonely, you know? My mom’s here, but all she ever does is point out my weaknesses—never sees anything positive—and everything that isn’t going right in her life is my fault. And don’t get me wrong, I love Lily like a sister, but she can’t spend a lot of time with me so it gets lonely.”
“I know that feeling. I’m alone really, although I do have Liz and Ed who own the apartment I live in above their diner. I like working at Kenza,” I did, “but I’m not interested in the people who hang around there. They’re not that bad, but just not for me. Hunter’s great and then Ruben’s brothers come in for a drink now and again, more so lately, so I’ll talk to them. It isn’t the same though.” God, my life is so sad.
Taking a sip of my latte, I sit back and savor the flavor while enjoying the peace. This part of Lexington tends to get quite in late afternoon, and if you look into the glass window of the coffee shop, the reflection of the snow-capped mountains can be seen.
“I think we should be friends. What do you say?” Sabrina asks looking unsure, but when I start to grin, she returns it to me.
“I’d love that. It would be great to have a female friend again, at least one close to my own age.”
“Let’s shake on it.” Sabrina holds her hand out over the table, just avoiding the plate of biscuits with her chunky bracelet. “Shit, let me take this off. I only wear it to annoy the hell out of my mother. She hates it.”
I chuckle at her. “To friends,” I say shaking her hand.
“Friends.”
Sabrina gives me a sly look. “So if we’re girlfriends that means I can ask you anything right?”
“Why do I get the feeling I’m not going to like this part?”
“Oh, c’mon. I only want to know what’s happening with Ruben?”
“Oh, that’s something I wanted to ask,” Carla says, sitting between us, “especially after the picnic.”
I choke on my drink not expecting them to know there could be something between Ruben and me. They don’t miss much.
“There is nothing happening with Ruben.”
Carla pauses as she’s reaching into her purse and Sabrina cocks her eyebrow, as I continue, “No seriously. We went on the picnic and we had a good time, but that’s all it was.” I shrug not wanting to go into detail about what happened afterwards, although I have a feeling I’m not going to escape.
“Rosie. I saw you both at the baptism, plus I’ve noticed Ruben’s distraction over these past months and I bet you’re the one to blame.” Carla rubs her hands together as I feel a blush creeping up from my neck into my cheeks.