A Guide to Being Just Friends, page 5
She wouldn’t have thought, this time yesterday, that today would be entirely different. That was life though: it turned on a dime, and the only thing she had control of was how she responded to what happened.
6
Anyone looking his way would believe Wes’s undivided attention was focused on his date. Eye contact, check. Body positioning, check. Feet pointed forward, check. But a split-second flit of his gaze had let him see Hailey walk through the door. Now, as she stood in line, his thoughts and his focus stumbled. Which made him feel rude. Which irritated him.
“So, I thought, why not? The worst-case scenario, the quiz will tell me I’m only suited to do what I currently do.”
Right. Cassandra is thinking of a career change because hers isn’t fulfilling. See? Multitasking at its finest.
“If anything, it might provide some deeper insight,” Wes said, feeling good about maintaining the conversation even when Hailey spotted him, waved enthusiastically, then covered her mouth with her hand, removed it, mouthed “sorry.” He cracked a smile but the date could easily assume this was for her.
But when Hailey gestured to his date and stuck two thumbs up with a wide smile, he nearly laughed. She was … unique.
“Have you ever done one of those tests?” Cassandra asked, picking up her half-skim, half-whole, five pumps of vanilla, no whip, one shot decaf, one shot regular coffee. Was it even coffee at that point?
“No,” he said, doing his best not to watch Hailey chat amiably with the barista. He’d noticed when he was in her shop for several hours the other day that she had an easy way with people.
Cassandra leaned forward. “Wesley?”
His gaze snapped to hers. “Yes?”
“Let’s be honest. Neither of us are connecting here and as much as we look great on paper, it’s got to be more than that.”
While he agreed with the first half of what she said, he disagreed with the second part. Not in this instance, but in general.
“I’m sorry,” he said, meaning it. “I appreciate you meeting me though.”
“Same. Welcome to San Verde. I hope you find what you’re looking for.” She got up, took her coffee, and sashayed away as Hailey picked up her drink and what he suspected was chocolate cake from the end of the counter.
Hailey watched Cassandra go then slowly approached his table. “I thought you were done with this?” She sat down.
He shrugged. “I’d forgotten I already agreed before I decided that. It came up on my calendar. She showed up so that’s a win.”
Hailey’s gaze wandered to the exit then back to him. “Well? Was she the one to change your mind? Keep you on the app path to finding love?”
Wes laughed, hiding his wince. He wasn’t looking for love. “No. She confirmed the hiatus.”
She pointed at him. “Nice. Industry lingo.”
He nodded, remembering his surprise when she’d shared her employment history. With her elegant jawline, full hair, and wide eyes, she could play the Hollywood girl next door. Instead, she’d served lunch. She might look like a leading lady but was completely down-to-earth.
Hailey opened her take-out container. Chocolate cake. “My website is fantastic. Thank you again.”
She was so appreciative of even the littlest thing. “No problem. Really. I could do websites with my eyes closed.”
“Sometimes I feel like I could make salads that way,” she said, making a face that embodied pleasure to the point his own cheeks heated.
“Good?” The word came out like sandpaper.
She nodded, gaze at half-mast, and gave a happy sigh. She was unlike anyone he’d ever met. When she’d suggested friendship the other day, the idea caught him off guard. But sitting across from her, knowing she was the kind of woman who could wreck him with anything more, which would end with him wrecking her beyond repair, it felt like a good option. Definitely preferable to walking away. He liked her.
“I’m coming to collect one of my salads tomorrow. My brothers and I are looking at the office space above your shop.”
She swallowed, took a sip of her drink. “I’m jealous. Not of the office space but anything above the shops. I’ve heard the apartments are adorable.”
“That wouldn’t have been my adjective of choice but they’re very nice places,” he said. “I live down the street in one.”
“Now I’m jealous again. One day.”
He smiled at the way she could put so much stock in two words. Had he ever done that? Maybe when he was too young to understand what a heavy hand his father would have in his desire to design video games. How he’d see it as a frivolous hobby and give Wes more responsibility. One of his father’s favorite sayings was “Life is built on getting things done, not dreaming about them.”
“I’m sorry your date didn’t go well. Maybe you need to try a new approach.”
Wes finished his coffee. He had a meeting soon. “I am. The no-more-apps-for-a-while approach.”
She put her fork down. “I like to see people happy. You should know that. Since we’re friends and all.”
He meant it when he said, “I’m happy. I’d be happier if you shared that cake.”
She grabbed a fork from the cup of them set on the table, passed it to him, and moved her container closer. He took a bite, thinking he needed to hit the gym.
“Delicious.”
She nodded. “It’s my new favorite. When I can only fit into yoga pants, I’ll blame you and Tara.”
He shrugged. She didn’t look like she needed to worry about such things but he had a sister and knew sometimes women worried about things they didn’t need to. They didn’t see themselves the way others did. “It’s California. That’s what everyone wears anyway, isn’t it?”
She leaned to the side and checked out his pants, making him laugh. “Oh! We should check out yoga.”
He swallowed wrong, coughed. “We? No, thank you.”
“It’s good for stress.”
“I’m not stressed.”
“So you’re naturally uptight?”
Why did people think he was uptight? His brothers teased him about the same thing. He’d had responsibility thrust into his lap at a young age. He was taught to deal with what came his way. That wasn’t uptight. It was being an adult. “I’m not uptight. Plus, I’ve done yoga. I don’t like it.”
“We could go to a yoga class and then watch When Harry Met Sally.”
Wes couldn’t help his smile. “If this is going to work, you have to try to remember I’m a guy. One who doesn’t want to do yoga and watch rom-coms.”
She closed her container. “Sorry. We can guzzle beer and smoke cigars.” She’d deepened her voice comically.
Wes stood. “How about something in between those?”
“I’ll think on it.”
“I have a meeting. It was nice to see you.” He meant it. She made him smile even when she said ridiculous things. He’d come to California with a built-in circle. It hadn’t occurred to him, other than dating, what someone outside his circle—a friend—could bring to his life. He waved and pulled out his phone as he left the shop.
As he strolled along the sidewalk, he pulled up the text thread with his brothers. He rolled his eyes, seeing one of them—most likely Noah—had, once again, renamed the thread. Wes had labeled it “Brothers” when they’d started it eons ago. It went back so long, he couldn’t even remember when they started it. In that time, Chris and Noah took turns calling it something else. Today’s was “Two Men & a Wesley.”
Wes
Hey asshats. Don’t forget we’re meeting at Hailey’s tomorrow.
Chris
Why would we forget?
Noah
Because we have a life and he doesn’t.
Wes chuckled.
Wes
What have you done with your life today? Let Gracie make you something to eat, show you some designs, and nod along so you don’t piss her off?
Wes adored both women and was thrilled his brothers had found happiness in all areas of their lives. There was a small piece of him, burrowed deep, that could acknowledge his envy. Some people might think that with them as examples, he’d believe more wholeheartedly in the love thing. But he knew better. From their mom leaving and the women his father fell for taking up residence in their home. From their sister acting out and their dad becoming more remote with every passing day. From his father never recovering when the one woman he’d loved had finally had enough.
He’d protected his younger siblings as well as he could. It hadn’t helped any in terms of saving their relationships with their father but that was his old man’s doing. Wes had given them the supportive words and shoulder they needed growing up because he knew their father wouldn’t. Eventually, both his brothers had left him anyway. Sure, they’d left because of work, not Wes, but it didn’t make him feel any less … alone. They were thrilled when he decided to move across the country and join them. But they wouldn’t have returned to New York for him. Wouldn’t have stayed for him. It sometimes made him question anyone’s staying power.
Noah
Grace wants you guys to come for a BBQ next weekend.
Chris
I’ll check with Everly but I’m sure we’re in.
Noah
Invite Stacey and Rob
Wes thought of Hailey and how she was working to build a life here, how Everly and Grace had accepted her with ease.
Wes
Should I invite Hailey?
Chris
Absolutely! Way to go, bro. She’s awesome.
Wes
As a friend. That’s all we are. You know what friend means right?
Noah
Sadly, for you, it probably means exactly what the dictionary says
Wes
Don’t be an ass
Chris
You’re asking the impossible. For sure, invite her.
Wes
I will.
Chris
Cool.
Noah
Tell me you don’t think she’s hot.
Wes
Give me a second, I’m looking for a GIF of someone strangling their brother.
Wes reached his apartment with twenty minutes to get ready for his meeting. Between missing his brothers and his increasingly strained relationship with his dad, it hadn’t taken much convincing for Wes to follow them to the West Coast. He loved New York but it changed when the two people he was closest to left.
Now he was here and he was happy but he was also restless, and that wasn’t something he was used to. His brothers had really found their groove. Wes didn’t have to work. He could dive into actually creating a video game if he wanted. He’d been thinking more and more about it but still felt this nagging sense of guilt that it would be a “waste” of his time and talent.
Hell, he could spend every day on the beach with someone bringing him ice-cold beers if he wanted. His father would probably respect that more. Why the hell do you still care what he thinks? Glancing at his sketchbook, it was like he could hear his father’s words. They were like a tattoo he wanted removed. That took time.
Grabbing an iced tea from his fridge, he sat down at his small kitchen table, next to the window, listening to the sound of low, soft music drifting out of someone’s apartment.
Chris and Noah seemed so centered, sure of what they were doing. Opening his tablet, Wes reviewed his emails. He took care of all the paperwork, the tech support for each company, vetted possible acquisitions, dug into companies, and managed the investment portfolio. Professionally, he was doing everything he wanted and now, he was doing it with his favorite people.
They were going to create an empire that matched their father’s. His focus was best served doing exactly what he was already doing.
He thought of how happy Hailey seemed every single time she made a sale or took an order. He hadn’t felt like that about a deal or acquisition in so long it felt like a ghost of a memory.
Pushing his tablet aside, he opened his laptop, told himself to stop searching for problems. He was as privileged as it could get. He had no right to feel this little tick of disquiet. If he wasn’t careful, he’d be just like his father, never content with what he had. Always needing more and not caring who he had to step on to get it.
He sighed, clicked on the Zoom link for his meeting. Maybe Hailey was right—he needed to do some yoga.
7
People were weird. But Hailey was so grateful to have a steady stream of customers today, she didn’t care. Today she’d had three elderly women argue over who was paying and they nearly left without any of them doing so. There’d been a father-son duo who asked if she had anything on plates. They were followed by a group of teens who ordered individual cups of vegetables: one cup of carrots, one cup of cucumbers, one cup of tomatoes, and one cup of snap peas. They didn’t want lettuce or forks. Who was she to judge? This week had been much better than last and regardless of how strange some requests were, she loved interacting with people.
“Do you use organic lettuce?” the dark-haired, dark-skinned woman asked. She’d been studying the menu for about five minutes. Her workout clothes reminded Hailey that she really did want to look into yoga. She could go alone. Maybe she’d meet new friends. If you had your business cards ready, you could take them. She’d only made one new pal—which still made her laugh because she and Wes were very different—but it felt like she was on a roll.
“I have that option, yes.” Hailey smiled at the woman, who clearly took salads seriously. A trait she both admired and appreciated.
“Okay. I’m ready.” The woman nodded in confirmation, clapping her hands together.
Hailey bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing at the way she announced the words. This salad better be one of your best or she’ll be disappointed.
“I’ll have seven Chicken Landslides and three Pesto Pastas.”
“Did you want organic lettuce for the Landslides?” Hailey pulled on gloves, grabbed ten cups, the happy dance in her wanting to escape. She had to stop acting like having customers was a miracle. Act like you’ve been there. Ha. She hadn’t though!
“No, thanks. How long have you been open?” The woman scanned the empty store before turning her warm brown eyes back to Hailey.
“I’ll be celebrating a month soon. I’m really loving the area.”
“Welcome to the neighborhood. I work at a gym not too far from here. I have a feeling my co-workers are going to be thrilled there’s something like this close by.”
Hailey had practiced making each salad so many times, it was easy to carry on a conversation while she whipped them up. “I was hoping salads would be a hit. This is California, after all.”
The woman gave a happy laugh, making her ponytail bounce when she nodded. “We do like our veggies and smoothies. I’m Jaycee, by the way. I think you’ll probably see me again. Do you have a loyalty reward card or anything?”
Wes’s slightly know-it-all voice rang in her head. Yeah, yeah, she needed to do that. “I’m Hailey, and not yet but I’m working on it. How about today I just knock off the price of a salad?”
“Awesome.” Jaycee’s phone beeped and drew her attention even as the bell rang over the door.
She recognized Noah and his laughing eyes. He was followed by Chris, who had slightly lighter hair and a more serious smile. Wes was behind him and her heart did a happy little skip. She told herself it was the same one as when she saw Piper. Having friends stop by felt good.
She smiled and waved as he came through the door. “Hey, guys!”
They waved. Wes had a shy, slightly awkward smile that she found appealing. Platonically speaking. Because there was no other category for her right now. Even if there was, she didn’t want a checklist, ideas man. She’d had enough of that with Dorian. You should wear the blue dress, it goes with what I’m wearing. You shouldn’t wear those sunglasses; they’re too big for your face. You should separate my laundry from yours. My clothes are more expensive.
The guys said something to Wes that made his gaze narrow as they made their way to a table.
“I think a couple of them work out at my gym,” Jaycee said.
It was hard to see Wes as a gym rat but she’d proven she didn’t always get the best read on people. If he did go, it probably wasn’t for yoga.
“I’ve become addicted to the cake next door, so maybe I should work out at your gym,” Hailey said, finishing up the Landslides.
Jaycee dug around in her purse, then slid a card over the counter. “Here’s a free pass if you want to try it.”
As Hailey accepted it, an idea whirled in her brain. She thought about what Tara had said about joining forces with other shops, but what if she could branch out farther than the square? She should talk to Piper and see what she thought.
“Thanks. I just might do that.”
Jaycee left with a bag full of salads and Hailey got a satisfying thrill out of ringing up her order. She’d planned to go to the table and ask the guys what they wanted but they approached the counter.
“Hey,” she said, meeting Wes’s gaze.
“Hey. That was a lot of salad.” He gestured with his thumb toward the door.
“It was. Every day gets better.”
“You remember Noah and Chris. Guys, you remember Hailey…” he trailed off.
“Sharp,” she said. “I guess we didn’t exchange last names. Though, I know yours.”
Noah—his eyes crinkling—started to say something but Wes elbowed him in the ribs. Hailey laughed.
Wes pointed to Noah. “Try to ignore most of what he says.”
Noah bounced his eyebrows. “It’s nice to see you again, Hailey. Sorry my brothers don’t know how to behave.”
“I’m regretting bringing you both here,” Wes said, shaking his head. He rubbed a hand over his smooth jaw—did he ever let just a hint of stubble grow? She bet it’d look good on him.
“Well, I’m thrilled he brought you, and I had a customer order a BLT cup with no lettuce or tomato today so you won’t ring any bells for strangest order.”
“They wanted just a cup of bacon?” Noah’s smile was charming and bright.
