The Rebound by Catherine Walsh

Author:Catherine Walsh [Walsh, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781800195660
Published: 2022-02-13T18:30:00+00:00

I feel Jess’s enthusiasm diminish the farther we walk from the house. It’s a gray, chilly day and the main street is almost deserted except for an old man smoking on the corner. Even the art gallery is closed and I know Jess is taking it all in, storing it away to use against me later, so I’m relieved when I see Beth’s door propped open and the woman herself watering the hanging baskets outside, dressed in a bright pink dress despite the weather.

“Beth!”

Her eyes go wide when she sees me, and for a panicked moment I wonder if Luke told her about what happened between us, but then I realize her gaze isn’t fixed on me.

“This is Jess,” I say as we approach. “A friend from New York.”

“Hello,” Beth chirps. One hand goes to her hair, which she tucks behind her ear while the watering can goes slack in the other, dribbling onto the sidewalk.

“Jess, this is my friend Beth and this is her café.”

“Shut up,” Jess says. “You own this?”

Beth nods, her eyes flicking to Jess’s boots in a way that makes me think they’re another one of her happy places.

“It’s so cute!” Jess exclaims, and she sounds so unintentionally condescending that I wince. Beth hears it too, her smile dropping, but Jess doesn’t notice, already strolling inside.

We follow.

“You’ve got books! And the décor! Shabby chic, I love it.”

Beth looks at her doubtfully as if not sure if she’s making fun of her or not.

“Are these cookies vegan?” Jess asks, peering into the counter display.

“Um… no. The strawberry slice is.”

Jess makes a face. “I don’t like strawberries.”

And that’s enough. “Beth, can you give us one second?”

“Sure,” she mumbles as I drag Jess back outside.

“Stop it,” I say.

“Stop what?”

“Being you,” I hiss. I risk a glance inside to see Beth rearranging the cookie display.

“What are you talking about? I’m being nice.”

“No, you’re being intimidating. You might not realize it but you are. Beth’s been really kind to me and her café is not doing well, so could you please try and—”

“Oh my God.”

Jess’s eyes latch onto something behind me and I turn to see Luke emerge from the staircase, talking to Beth.

“Who is th— Hey! Stop doing that,” Jess protests as I pull her farther from the café.

I ignore her, explaining in a frantic whisper about Luke and Beth and me and slowly her stubborn expression turns thoughtful.

“You know,” she says. “You pretend you’re super boring but you’ve always got some little drama happening, don’t you? It’s like the time you told me you had a migraine all weekend but really you’d gone to Aspen with that Hollister model from reception.”

“Please don’t make this a thing.”

“Obviously,” she says, looking insulted. “But if he’s your first hookup after Tyler, I’m going to need a full rundown of what the sex is like. A blow by blow, if you will.”

“You’re incorrigible.”

“So many big words,” she pouts, pinching my cheek. “I can barely keep up with it all. I’ll be good. Stop being weird.

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