Actually, I do have a date, but whether it’s hot or not is still in question. A high school friend of mine wanted me to meet her brother. She thinks we’d get along well. We’re meeting up in a few minutes. So I have to go. Talk to you soon. Stay safe during the storm.
She really did have to go, so she shrugged her jacket on as she stared at the screen, almost wishing she didn’t have a kind-of-a-date with Liam Sullivan, her friend Tessa’s brother. She knew of Liam, but she’d only said a handful of words to him in the past. After months of Tessa’s nagging, Randi had finally agreed to have coffee with him at Brew Magic. If she didn’t move her rear, she’d be late.
She didn’t really expect a reply from S. since she’d basically said good-bye, but she got one anyway.
You have a date with a local guy on a Friday night? I think I’m jealous. I hope you have a lousy time while I’m sitting here alone working. Be careful and email me when you get home.
Randi smiled at the computer screen. She was used to her mystery man’s quirky humor. But the demand that she email him was . . . different. He didn’t know that she never sent him an email except when she was volunteering at the Center. It was more out of habit now than the concern about him tracking her down. It was kind of sweet that he was actually concerned about her safety.
Okay.
She sent the one-word email and forced herself to shut down her computer. She’d have to sprint down the street to Brew Magic or Liam would think she’d stood him up. From what she’d heard, he was a pretty nice guy, and she didn’t want to hurt his feelings. How could he not be nice? He’d given up a promising career to move back to Amesport to watch over his deaf sister. Not that Tessa would accept any help. Her friend didn’t think she was any different just because she’d lost her ability to hear.
Randi was meeting with him mainly to get Tessa off her back; she had a feeling Liam had agreed for the same reason. Her friend Tessa might be deaf, but she was a master at manipulating people. She could be like a dog with a tasty bone when she wanted something, and she wanted her brother Liam to be happily settled with a woman of his own. Tessa loved her brother, but he was incredibly protective since she’d lost her ability to hear. Since Liam blamed himself for Tessa’s condition, he’d moved from California back to Amesport several years ago.
He gave up a career he loved to look after his sister. I know he’s a nice guy, but I’ve just never really felt a connection with him.
The few times she’d met up with Liam had been at his and Tessa’s restaurant, Sullivan’s Steak and Seafood. Randi knew a lot about Liam because Tessa talked about him a lot, but they had only spoken to each other in passing.
Maybe there will be something more if we have a private chat . . .
Randi was an optimist, and more than anything else she wanted to feel loved. Sure, she’d had boyfriends, but they’d never amounted to a serious relationship. She liked sex as much as any other female her age, but she was burnt out on meaningless relationships that involved nothing but sex. There had to be something more. She’d seen it between her foster parents, and she saw it every day between her married friends and their spouses. Unfortunately, she’d never experienced that white-hot connection with anyone except the one man she couldn’t stand: Evan Sinclair.
Don’t think about him. He’s an arrogant, insufferable asshole.
She shuddered as she thought about how hard she’d tried to get to know Evan in the beginning, only to be soundly rejected. Obviously, a lowly teacher in a small town wasn’t worth him putting out the effort to even be polite. It wasn’t like she’d wanted to jump his bones. Well . . . maybe she had wanted to, but at the time she was just trying to be nice to a man she knew she was going to have to deal with for Emily’s wedding. She had managed to shrug off the first snub during Emily’s nuptials, thinking maybe Evan was just having a bad day. But when he’d responded the same way when Sarah and Dante had gotten married and the two of them had found themselves paired once again, Randi had finally realized that Evan simply didn’t like her. By the time Mara and Jared got married, Randi had completely ignored him except for the necessary superficial smiles and robotic motions she’d made as a bridesmaid to Evan’s groomsman. Since all of the married Sinclairs had wanted to be paired with their wives, Randi had ended up being a bridesmaid by default, as Mara’s best friend’s broken leg hadn’t completely healed in time for her to be part of the ceremony. She didn’t regret having been a bridesmaid so many times. Through the ceremonies, she’d made an incredible circle of female friends who had been there to support her during the last few dark weeks. Unfortunately, those friendships had come at the price of putting up with Evan Sinclair.
Too bad he’s such a self-involved dick, because he’s majorly hot. I wish I could figure out why I’m so damn attracted to him when I can’t stand him.
She was still contemplating what it was about Evan that irritated her when she left the building. The Center was busy as Randi exited, deciding to walk down to Brew Magic instead of taking the time to clean the snow off her car. Friday night saw a lot of activity at the Center, especially since Grady had married Emily and so many new programs and changes had occurred.
Shoving her cold hands into the pockets of her jacket, Randi gripped the Apache-tear crystal that Beatrice had given her months ago when she’d stopped by the elderly woman’s store, Natural Elements, to chat. Beatrice had been friends with Randi’s foster mother, and she’d stopped into the eclectic shop whenever she had the chance to update Beatrice on Joan’s medical condition. It was on one of those visits that Beatrice had made her prediction and handed Randi the crystal along with her predictions.
Joan will pass in the winter, but you’ll open a new chapter in your life soon after with a man who needs you even more than you need him. He’ll be your soul mate, and you’ll finally become a bride instead of a bridesmaid.
Randi shook her head with a sad smile, remembering the certainty on Beatrice’s face that day.