Part 24 (1/2)
The tall, skinny kid in front of her was way too smart. And so d.a.m.n sincere she wanted to cry. She did normally tell him things, but she couldn't this time. What was best for her brother was Bryce and she'd gladly suffer so they had a strong relations.h.i.+p.
”It's nothing. I think I'm just missing mom and dad. Plus, I'm worried about opening Driftwood and being behind on things for the Spring Fair.”
He squinted like he didn't totally buy it. ”I can help with whatever you need.”
She wished that were true. ”I know.”
”I've got to head out, but I'll be home by six to go to dinner. And I'm getting you drunk if your att.i.tude hasn't changed.”
”We'll see,” she said to his retreating back. ”Wait, what about a shower?”
”I already took one,” he sang out. Jerk.
She took a cold, but clean shower, dressed in one of her favorite T-s.h.i.+rt dresses, made her bed, folded clothes that didn't need to be folded, cleaned up the mess on her nightstand, blow dried her hair, made Coop's bed, and picked his dirty clothes up off the floor and threw them in his hamper. Basically, she did everything she could to keep her mind occupied until Sophie arrived.
Someone pounded on her door. She hurried to answer it.
”Your doorbell squirted me in the face,” Sophie said, wiping at her eye.
”I'm going to kill my brother. Sorry about that.” Honor pulled the gag doorbell off the door. ”Coop gets a little carried away on April Fool's day.”
Sophie grinned as she eyed the real doorbell off to the side. ”I don't think I've ever been pranked before. That was a good one.”
”We'll plot our revenge on our way. Let's go.” Honor shut the door behind her. ”You look good today.”
”Thanks. I told myself it was mind over matter. No way was I letting this little one interfere with our plans.” Sophie absently rubbed her stomach before putting an arm around Honor. ”Happy birthday!”
They arrived at Pretty in Pink a few minutes later. Being inside the nail salon was like walking into a decked out cotton candy cloud with crystal chandeliers. ”The birthday girl is here!” Maggie announced.
”Hi, Mags.” Honor hugged her friend and shop owner.
”Hi, Maggie,” Sophie said.
Maggie gave Sophie a wide smile and wrapped her in a gentle hug. ”How is our mommy-to-be?”
”She's great.”
”Good. Let's get you guys started.” Maggie put them next to each other in spa chairs for the full mani/pedi treatment.
Conversation flowed and for the first time in days, Honor's thoughts quieted. When Maggie brought out a birthday cake with candles and had everyone in the salon sing, Honor put on a happy face for real.
The shop quieted down and two twenty-something girls walked in. They sat across the room from her and Sophie. Honor didn't recognize them and they kept talking to each other with barely a glance to anyone else.
”So, yeah, she really messed him up,” the shorter of the girls said.
”Sounds like. What kind of person does that to a guy?” the taller girl said.
Short Girl shrugged. ”A selfish one, I guess? He knows I love him, but I'm afraid after what he's been through, he'll never fully commit. I'm wondering if I should break things off.
Tall girl put a hand on her friend's arm. ”I'm sorry, Hannah, but maybe give Lance a little more time?”
Honor's breath caught. Her foot slipped off its perch and made a splash in the tub of warm water. Lance had left for college in San Diego and stayed there after graduation. Honor had heard he was seeing someone. Someone named Hannah.
”Maybe,” Hannah said. Her gaze connected with Honor's and for a split second Honor wondered if Hannah knew she was the selfish girl who had messed Lance up.
The room shrank and Honor had to concentrate to keep her disposition even.
”Honor?”
She turned her head to Maggie. ”Looks yummy. Thanks.” She took the piece of offered cake and dug in. With each bite her head swam.
She'd thought she'd turned the corner on her past, but here it was, dragging her back down.
Chapter Fourteen.
The next morning Honor put on her running shoes and hit the beach. The early morning surf rolled gently onto sh.o.r.e, clouds hid the sun. She started off slowly, leaving deep footprints in the hard, wet sand. A few surfers floated in the mellow tide. A guy waved a metal detector back and forth. In the distance she saw another jogger heading toward her.
For a moment she almost dropped to her knees, fatigue and lack of sleep telling her body to stop moving. But that wouldn't do. Stopping meant her heart would have nothing else to do but ache.
She'd woken at the crack of dawn with a killer hangover and one thought: It was time to concentrate on herself and ditch the pain eating her up inside. And the best start? A run. A run until her lungs burned and her heart pounded and the suffocating feeling of loss and loneliness was sweated out of her. She picked up her pace.
If she worked her muscles until they protested, revved her pulse as high as it could go, and let the wind rus.h.i.+ng past her take her stupid thoughts with it, then she could start fresh. Rediscover the Honor Payton had hoped she would.
And, she would.
Forget a juice cleanse. This was going to work way faster.
It had to.
Not that she had any delusions of falling out of love with Bryce in the next hour. Which really sucked. There should be a love switch. Or a clapper! Clap on-I love you. Clap off-Not anymore!
But maybe she could forgive herself for her mistakes.
She pumped her arms faster and concentrated on her stride. The beach stretched for miles. She could-would-make this happen. Her sanity obviously depended on it. Who in their twenties knew what the heck a clapper was?
She increased her pace. Her feet slapped the sand. She wiped her forehead, the first beads of sweat finally wetting her skin. With every deliberate stride, she blanked her mind and focused on the sh.o.r.eline. Nothing else.
”Honor?”
Her gaze flew to the jogger about to pa.s.s her by. She stopped. He stopped. A weight plunged from the back of her throat to the pit of her stomach.
”Lance?”
”Yeah.”
They looked awkwardly at one another as if they had no idea how to act. ”Hi,” she finally said, catching her breath with her hands on her thighs.