Home > Here (Here in Lillyvale #1)(5)

Here (Here in Lillyvale #1)(5)
Author: Jenny Bunting

“It’s cute you think you can,” Caroline said.

Zoey shot a death stare.

“He did a shitty thing,” Caroline said. “And then karma kicked him in the ass. I think he gets it now.”

“I don’t know.”

“Give him a chance.” Caroline leaned in with her arm around Zoey’s front and pulled her in for a squeeze. Their temples together, Caroline sniffed her.

“You really saw Jonathan smelling like that?” Caroline asked.

“Yeah,” Zoey said with a whimper.

“Get your ass in the shower and lock yourself in there until you look like every revenge fantasy you’ve ever had.”

Zoey nodded and walked to the bathroom. She lifted her arm and immediately jerked her head away once she smelled herself. She had another reason she was glad she didn’t hug him.

 

 

3

 

 

Jonathan methodically grabbed three bottles of wine, a twenty-four pack of wheat ale, and a tub of potato salad like he was on a time clock, maneuvering around people on vacation time, confused by a layout of an unfamiliar grocery store. He bounced on his feet as the cashier checked his ID, searching for the date of birth on an Arizona driver’s license. When the cashier gave him the total, it took forever for the machine to read his credit card chip, and he held out his hand for his receipt like he was the next leg in a track relay.

He sped back to the vacation rental, although he usually loved driving leisurely through Tahoe. He still looked up at the large trees and cracked his windows to smell the fresh pine air. The town was busy with early summer business and its first week of hot weather. Tourists strolled through crosswalks as he drummed his fingers against the steering wheel.

These mid-eighties temperatures were nothing compared to Phoenix, where he had moved for college and stayed. Back home, it was already over one-hundred degrees every day and they just had their first over-one-hundred-ten day. He barely owned a real jacket or sweatshirt anymore, so he had made sure to purchase a cheap one before he left. Tahoe got chilly at night, and now anything under seventy felt outrageously cold to him. Plus, Tahoe weather was unpredictable, even in summer.

Jonathan had been honored when Brady had asked him to be his best man. They had been through some shit together, and Jonathan would be lying if some of it wasn’t due to Zoey, especially since Brady had dated her a year after their breakup. It seemed full circle to be in his wedding to Caroline, while Zoey was the maid of honor. They had all been friends in high school and had seen each other through a lot. Brady had been a good friend to him for all those years, even driving all night to be with him when he first found out his wife was cheating on him.

His divorce had devastated him, dropped him right back to ground zero, and he had been steadily building his life over again. He moved out of the insurance claims industry into investigations, which allowed him some excitement and an opportunity to get out from behind a headset and a cubicle. He found an apartment he really liked and an amazing gym community. He tried dating, but he hadn’t been truly single in over thirteen years. He was rusty and out of practice and just…sad.

Jonathan turned onto Cornelia Street and parked. After grabbing the bags from the backseat, Jonathan crept up to the door and opened it slowly. No one was in the front room, but he heard a bunch of voices from the backyard. The faint smell of smoke wafted into the living room. He opened the fridge to see groceries thrown in haphazardly, so Jonathan rearranged things so they were organized and everything fit.

Coors Light took up two full shelves. Those must be Dan’s since he drank it every time they hung out. Jonathan grabbed one of the beers he’d purchased and made his way to the backyard.

He heard Zoey’s husky laugh from the back, and nerves flooded him. He hadn’t gotten a good look of the house as a whole when he had arrived earlier, but holy shit, it was beautiful. The kitchen opened to a great room, with high ceilings and natural light beaming down from the skylights. He walked to the back and opened the slider. The backyard was completely shaded by evergreen trees, and there was a large patio table on the deck and a patch of vibrant grass with a cornhole game set up.

Jonathan cracked open the beer on the convenient bottle opener on the wall. He held it to his chest, looking around for her. She was seated on an outdoor couch, laughing with her whole body.

Zoey had changed her clothes, let her hair down, and she looked even more beautiful than when he’d seen her in the coffee shop. Her casual clothes had been replaced by a long, sky blue dress that dipped low in front, showing a hint of cleavage and toned, bronzed shoulders. Her face was free of makeup, except for a neon pink lipstick.

As soon as she saw him, her laughter halted.

He took a step toward her, but Dan stood in front of him like a blockade.

“Hey, big guy!” Dan said, grasping his hand and pulling him into a bro hug. “How have you been? How’s Phoenix?”

“Great. Just glad to get out of the heat.”

“I was there once in July after a Vegas trip. Brutal.” Dan leaned in and said in a whisper loud enough to be a shout, “So, Zoey.” He then pointed at her with an exaggerated finger.

“Yeah, Zoey. It’s been a long time.”

“All I’m saying is I’m cool with it,” Dan whispered.

“I appreciate that,” Jonathan said. He swung his arm up to touch Dan’s shoulder as a sign of appreciation. It was really, really weird to be this friendly with Zoey’s other exes. Dan was a good dude, though.

“I’m just saying I would be happy for you two if y’all got back together,” Dan said.

“Thanks, Dan. I don’t think it’s going to happen, though,” Jonathan said, taking a pull of his beer. Zoey shifted in her seat, her eyes watching him as he stood with Dan. “She can barely stand to be in the same room as me.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll make something happen,” Dan said.

“I don’t need your help, but thanks.”

Dan and Jonathan stood side by side, surveying the small gathering. Zoey sat next to Caroline, who wore a similar dress to Zoey but in white. Brady stuck the thermometer into the hunk of meat he was preparing. He then checked a black patty and looked around. “Does anyone know how to cook a black bean burger for Addison?” Brady turned around and grinned when he saw Jonathan.

Brady left the grill to take Jonathan in for a big hug, which ended with Jonathan lifting him off the ground. “How are you, man? It’s almost the big day.”

“Can’t believe it’s finally here. I’m so glad you could make it.”

“Anything for you.”

“Who all is coming tonight? Is your sister going to be here?”

“No,” Brady confirmed. “Makenna has work tonight, so she’s getting on a red-eye to Sacramento and driving up tomorrow with my parents.” Brady’s sister was a makeup artist in L.A.

“Dan must be upset,” Jonathan said.

Brady rolled his eyes. “He only asked me twelve times when she was coming up.”

“How’s Zoey?” Jonathan asked.

“I think she’s getting over the fact that she finally has to interact with you.”

“Lovely.” Jonathan looked behind him. Dan had joined the ladies, a can of Coors Light in his hand.

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