CHAPTER TEN
BRENDA

Saturday morning came and went, spent with Stacey at the coffee shop, since we’d missed our Friday night meetup. I’d gone to dinner with my parents the night before, and then I’d gone over to watch Clara so that Stacey and Frank could have a date night. Stacey had tried to get me to go with them, but I knew it was better to stay as far away from her brother as I could.

He made me feel things, things I shouldn’t feel, not when I was trying to avoid dating.

I needed a few things from the grocery store, so once I had breakfast with Stacey, where she told me all about Cash’s pitch at the game, I walked over. I took a deep breath as the doors whooshed open and I saw my ex-boyfriend, Mitchell Kettle. His dad, Michael Kettle, Jr, owned the store, Mike’s Food Emporium, and Mitchell would take it over one day. Normally, I tried to avoid coming into the store when I knew Mitchell would be there, but I couldn’t avoid it today.

I was out of bread and needed some snacks for later, when I binged the latest romance movies on Netflix. If I couldn’t be involved in a romance, I could at least watch some. Even if seeing Mitchell sucked all the joy out of my romantic notions. It wasn’t that I hated the guy, it was that I felt guilty for letting him down when I was near him, like I owed him something for breaking up with him.

I quickly walked into the store and ducked down the first aisle, out of view of the service desk. I breathed a sigh of relief as I went through the store, grabbing things that I definitely needed, or might need, over the weekend. My arms were full and I wished I had a basket, but I’d been too worried about Mitchell spotting me to grab one.

I was nearly finished and trying to grab the flimsy handle on a pack of toilet paper when I felt someone grab my arm and turn me around. I felt my heart sink when I saw Mitchell’s eager face. I tried to smile, but I think it came out looking as though I’d just smelled something awful rather than as a smile.

“Bren! It’s great to see you. Did you stop in to see me?” He grinned at me and leaned in, like old times, like I didn’t have my arms full of groceries. Clearly, he still isn’t over our breakup.

I felt terrible for that, but I’d never loved the guy. Why couldn’t he let it go? “Yeah, uh, no. I needed some things so I stopped in.”

I cursed myself for not stopping in on the way home last night as I should have. Now, I had to have a conversation with Mitchell that I didn’t want to have. Why couldn’t he understand that I can’t waste my life like other people can. I may not have a lot of time, and my cancer could always come back. Staying with a guy I didn’t love was a waste of my precious time, and theirs, but Mitchell didn’t seem to understand that.

“Oh, right, sure. Yeah.” Mitchell nodded his blond head eagerly, looking me up and down, as if he thought I was lying and really had come in to see him. I was wearing a pair of dark gray lounge pants, a light blue T-shirt, and a dark gray cardigan. My hair was piled into a messy bun on the top of my head and I had no makeup on. I was definitely not looking to impress anyone, least of all him. But, as usual, Mitchell didn’t seem to take notice of that.

“I really did, see,” I hefted the groceries piled in my arm and tried to go around Mitchell. “It was nice to see you, but I need to get back home.”

“Wait, how have you been? I hardly ever see you anymore.”

Because we broke up, I wanted to shout at him, but controlled myself. I was an empathetic person, to a fault sometimes, and I was good at listening actively, but all I heard from him was ‘me, me, me’. That was part of what drove me away from him. Instead of saying any of that, I smiled. “I’ve been busy with work and projects we’re working on at school.”

“Oh, I see,” he said, and for some reason that made him grin wider. Why? “I guess that explains it then.”

Ahha. He thought that was all that was keeping me from him. Would this man never let up? I’d have to be very careful about what I said around him in the future.

“So, uh, could we hang out tonight, maybe? I really miss spending time with you. You’re always such a funny person,” he asked, stepping into my way again when I, again, tried to go around him.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Mitchell,” I started, a twinge of worry creeping in. Especially when he grabbed my arm a little tightly, almost making me drop my things. “Mitchell! Let go!”

“Come on, Bren, you know we’re meant to be together. We used to have so much fun until you went and spoiled it.”

“No, you used to have fun, at my expense, Mitchell. That’s why we broke up. I didn’t love you and you were always doing stuff like this. Now, please, let my arm go.” I used my angry voice, though I hadn’t wanted to. This was exactly why I tried to avoid him. He could be a real…jerk.

The next thing I knew, Cash was there, prying Mitchell’s hand from my arm. “Get lost, Mitchell. This doesn’t look good for the store, you accosting young women like this.”

The words came out deadly quiet and I went still, my eyes wide as Cash leaned into Mitchell.

“Oh, great, it’s Cash Saunders, the darling golden boy of Tender Hills. Like you know Brenda.”

“It’s none of your business if I know Brenda or not. Don’t ever put your hands on her again, hear me?” Cash was still leaning into Mitchell and I couldn’t see his face, but the way all the blood left Mitchell’s face told me I probably didn’t want to see it anyway. Embarrassment rushed through me and I wanted to just walk away from both men.

“Oh, I get it now,” Mitchell said, backing up, his eyes shooting venom at me. “You’re his little back-home floozy, are you, Bren? That’s why you don’t want me to take you back? I see how it is.”

“Call her that again, you little twit and I’ll give you something to whine about,” Cash ground out and Mitchell quickly stomped away. “You alright?”

“Um, yes, I’m fine. I’m so sorry you had to see that. He’s not usually such a jerk.”

“No problem. I don’t like seeing men try to bully women like that,” he said as I started to walk to the checkout line. He stayed with me until we left the store and offered to help me carry the bags to the car. I didn’t want to accept, but he already had the bags in his hands when he offered.

We walked down Main Street in silence, but instead of walking to my car, he stopped at a bench by a tree. I took the bags from his hands, our fingers brushing together as I did so. I felt his fingers clutch at mine, and it felt so right that I didn’t pull away. I looked over at him, wondering if he felt like this was somehow…real, too? I pulled away when I saw his blue eyes were smiling at me, but full of concern too.

“What was that all about?” he asked and I shook my head, my mouth twisting up.

“We used to date. I broke it off. He’s not very good at taking no for an answer.” I summarized, then thought about how it made Mitchell sound. “He doesn’t really mean any harm, he’s just, I don’t know, persistent.”

“Maybe I should go back and punch him like I wanted to, anyway. Maybe then he’d learn what no means.”

“No, please, don’t.” I rushed to say, grabbing at his arm. His bicep was thick, muscled, and warm. I pulled my fingers away as if I’d been burned. “He really is harmless.”

“If you say so. I’ll leave it alone. For now.”

“I do, yes. Thank you.” I got up, ready to go home, to hide in my house and snuggle in with a good movie after this adventurous morning. “I should get home.”

“Sure. But here’s my number, in case you need anything.” He said, digging a card out of his phone’s case. I took the card and walked away with a smile and a half wave. My arms were too full to give a proper wave.

I eventually made it home and settled down on the couch with a fruit salad and some yogurt. I put on the first movie I’d wanted to watch, but couldn’t concentrate. Why had Cash been so upset about Mitchell? And would he have paid attention to what was going on if it had been any other woman than me? And why did I feel giddy when I remembered how he’d made Mitchell all but run away?