Anna

The waitress at Kettle dropped my plate of pancakes on the table.

“Ya know,” she drawled. “We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone. We don’t. But we can. You better rethink your attire next time you come in here, missy. If you know what I mean.”

I didn’t.

I blinked up at her, cheeks burning, and then I surveyed the crowd. Denim, faded T-shirts, flip-flops.

“I . . . um . . .”

The waitress slowly shifted her gaze to the Baylor Bears poster on the wall, then back to me. Specifically, to my UT baseball cap, and then lower to the matching Longhorn tank top.

The flush spread to my chest. “Um, yeah . . . thanks for the advice, ma’am. I’ll remember, for next time.”

Hand on hip, she pursed her lips. “Make sure that you do.”

She sauntered away, and I sank lower in the booth, acutely aware of my wardrobe as I sipped my coffee. All around me there was a sea of green. Green shirts. Green hats. All with that damned bear emblazoned on them. I frowned because I’d never truly fit in here. Baylor was a means to an end. A concession. I’d get my law degree, and more importantly, I could focus on my studies without obsessing over Sean.

Much.

He was back on the road, a mini-tour of Nashville and a couple of dates in the surrounding states. Still, he’d managed to send an email every night and FaceTimed with Willow at least twice throughout the day.

Banishing Sean from my thoughts, I finished my breakfast and then tucked into the corner of the booth with my textbook. The restaurant was full, so when an audible gasp rippled through the crowd, it caught my attention.

My mouth dropped open when I lifted my gaze and saw Sean following the hostess to a table in the front. A smartly dressed woman, mid-to-late twenties, slid into the booth across from him. My stomach turned when I noticed the way her eyes glinted. She was facing me, while all I could see of Sean was the back of his head, his long hair pulled into a loose bun, and his left arm with the willow tree tattoo on his bicep.

What was he doing here?

Anger rooted me to my seat while every cell in my body screamed to march over to his table. Several people were whispering now, and I heard Sean’s name. The woman he was with must’ve noticed, because she sat higher, looking around like she was the queen of England. And then she touched him. Just a pat on his arm, but I felt it like a burn on my skin.

My next class was starting in a half hour, but there was no way for me to leave without Sean seeing me. So I waited, my pulse climbing to dangerous levels. And just when I thought I couldn’t take it anymore, they got up and left. Walked right out the front door.

With a shaky hand, I pulled my phone from my backpack and fired off a text.

What time are you getting in so I’ll know when to have Willow ready?

It took Sean a long time to answer. I was already in my car, driving aimlessly when his message came through.

I can meet you after your last class.

I pulled over and studied the text.

He hadn’t answered my question, but then, why would I expect him to?

Tears pricked the back of my eyes as I fumbled with the keyboard.

No class today. I’ll pick Willow up from daycare now and meet you in the park at one.

No message came back. And I shuddered to think of what Sean was doing. But I couldn’t confront him. I’d lost that right the day I’d walked away.

Rubbing my chest, I eased into traffic, wondering when the ache would finally go way.