“Is that weird for you?”

  “Is what weird?”

  “Sleeping all day and being awake all night.”

  Elle shrugged. “I got used to it. I’ve been doing it for years at this point. I don’t really know much else.”

  “Doesn’t it make it hard to do anything normal? Like…grocery shopping or going to the movies or appointments even?” June twisted her coffee cup between her hands, relishing the warmth on her fingers. “I’m sorry if this is weird. We can talk about something else.”

  “It’s fine. It was an adjustment at first, but really, it’s not that hard. I work four or five twelve-hour shifts a week, so I have days off. I do most of my appointments and that kind of stuff then. Like any job, it’s a balance and a juggle.”

  “I hear that.”

  They shared a gentle smile before another awkward silence took over them. This time, June shifted roughly in her chair, her mind skimming through conversation ideas. It really shouldn’t be this hard to start over, should it? Sighing, she shook her head and decided it was time. Time to bare all, at least a bit more than she had been willing to share before.

  Taking a deep breath, June readied herself for the conversation about to take place. “I feel I owe you an explanation.”

  “Of what?” Elle gave a soft, comforting smile.

  “Of what happened.” June made a wide gesture with her hand. “With everything before now.”

  “You don’t.” At June’s surprised look, Elle repeated herself. “You really don’t. I don’t need an explanation. Something was going on with you, and that’s it. You explained that enough.”

  “Yeah, that’s true. But we’re trying this friendship thing again, right? So, I should trust you with what was happening instead of trying to keep you and it completely separate.”

  Elle shrugged. “Can’t argue with you there.”

  “So…I had a girlfriend, and we broke up.”

  “Oh.” Elle’s lips pursed.

  June figured Elle hadn’t known at all. She’d done a very good job at keeping the two separate and of never talking to Elle about Lydia. Besides at the time she wasn’t certain what was happening with her and Lydia, and it was a bit of a cluster, and she didn’t want to just drop that bomb on a new relationship.

  “That night we went out for dinner, when we…kissed…” June said the word on a whisper like it was a secret. “I saw her sitting at the bar, making out with another woman, when supposedly we were working through our problems. We’d just started therapy, the whole nine yards. Anyway, you don’t need to know all that. But she was cheating on me. I saw her. I flipped out. Wasn’t thinking. I kissed you, still not sure why, but I did. Then she and I broke up, she’s dating that chick now—I think. And I’m trying to piece my life together in a way I want it to be.”

  “Good for you.”

  “What?” June looked up, surprised.

  “Good for you for not crawling back to her or trying to make excuses for her cheating. Once a cheater, always a cheater, right?”

  “I guess…but technically, I cheated.”

  Elle waved June’s thoughts off. “I’m not sure I’d call what you did cheating. By technical definitions, yes, but was it already pretty much over?”

  “Yes. As soon as I saw her that night, it was over. I told her from the beginning that was one thing I wouldn’t be able to forgive.”

  “Then it was over, so it wasn’t cheating.”

  June worried the mug in circles on the table and cast her gaze down to the table. She suddenly missed when Elle would reach over and grab her hands randomly, squeeze them, and give her that boost of encouragement. Missing the contact, she looked up again.

  “That may be, but it certainly doesn’t feel that way.”

  Elle shifted so she was leaning in toward June. “It may also not feel that way because you just broke up with someone who you were with a while, I’m betting, if you were willing to go to therapy with her.”

  “Years.”

  “See? I’m betting you’re just sad, lonely, and processing the loss of the relationship on top of the feelings of betrayal.”

  June narrowed her eyes and scrunched up her nose. “Hey, aren’t I the chaplain?”

  Elle giggled and leaned back again. “Yes, but even chaplains need friends.”

  “I’ll drink to that.” June raised her coffee mug and waited until Elle raised hers to meet in the middle. Toasting, they each took a sip.

  “Since you made a confession, I feel I have to make a confession.”

  “Oh?” June wasn’t sure she wanted to hear what Elle had to say, but in the name of rekindling lost friendships, she opened her ears and her heart.

  Elle took one more drink before setting her mug down. “I went on a date with someone.”

  “Just one date?”

  “Just one.”

  “Is there going to be another?”

  “Yeah, there is. But I’m not sure if there will be a third. I must admit, either I’m way out of the dating game, or that was one of the weirdest, most awkward dates I have ever been on in my life.”

  “Why? What happened?” June now had a vested interest. Suddenly, it was as though they’d been friends for decades and were sharing intimate secrets with each other. This was the level of intimacy that had been missing from their friendship before, and all June wanted to do was continue.

  “Well, to start, she’s attractive, don’t get me wrong, but it kind of just stopped there. Personality-wise, there was a lot left to be desired, not to mention at the beginning, she could not stop talking about her ex. It was just strange and not what I wanted to talk about on a first date.”

  “Sounds like someone who just got out of a relationship.”

  “Perhaps.” Elle quieted for a minute before continuing. “Or she and I may just not be a good fit. Guess I’ll find out on the next date.”

  “You really want to go on a second date with her?”

  Elle shrugged. “Why not? It’s good practice while I’m at it.”

  “I guess,” June mumbled. “Though I don’t see much point in dating if you’re not wanting it to be serious at all. That’s just the way I am, though. I know lots of people who are the total opposite.”

  Putting her hands up in defense, Elle shook her head. “Look, I’m just getting back on the market after a twelve-year consistent break from it. I need the practice, trust me.”

  June shook her head and chuckled. “You don’t need the practice. You’re perfect already.”

  She bit her lip hard. She hadn’t meant to say that, but the words had come out of her mouth before she could stop them. Stamping down the nerves bubbling in the pit of her stomach, June tried to backtrack and figure a way out of her blunder.

  “Aww, thanks for the compliment, but I really do need the practice. That way I won’t completely be a fool with the next person I go on a date with.”

  And there it was, Elle’s hand on hers again, squeezing lightly. As much as June enjoyed the contact, if Elle was dating someone, she didn’t want to be the one to get in the middle of them. She slipped her hand from Elle’s and wrapped it around her mug again.

  The awkward tension was back but in a completely different form. June pushed it down and asked, “How has work been going for you?”

  “Really good. I think the new changes I’ve been making in how I interact with people have definitely been helping. Thanks for making me see that I was being an utter jerk to just about everyone imaginable.”

  “Not a problem.” June gave her a cocky half-grin. “Any time you need Chaplain Smart-Mouth, I’m here for you.”

  Elle let out a laugh that echoed through the half-full coffee shop. “I forgot I called you that.”

  “I didn’t. I think it was funny. I can be a bit of a smart mouth at times.”

  “I may just take you up on that offer.”

  They carried on their conversation for another hour before bidding farewell and heading back to their lives. June felt lighter than she had for the last few weeks, knowing her life was getting on the track she so desperately wanted it to be on.

  Chapter Twelve

  Snow had been falling in a thick blanket for hours. Elle had considered canceling, but Lydia had sent her a few borderline whiny and begging texts, so she opted to continue. The roads weren’t packed with light fluffy snow, which was a godsend as Elle drove slowly to the restaurant.

  For their second date, Elle didn’t take hours preparing. Her nerves were slight, but she still had a huge bubble of excitement in the pit of her stomach. She hadn’t ever thought she would be dating again. Logan had stamped down any desire she had to enter back into the dating world for years, and while their separation and divorce had been slow and tedious to completion, she wasn’t sure dating would have ever been worth her time.

  Yet something about Lydia had her close to bursting with excitement. She couldn’t tell yet if it was Lydia herself or just the prospect that someone found her desirable and wanted to be with her, that she hadn’t been left cold, unwilling, and alone like Logan had told her she would be.

  Shaking off the memories, Elle pulled into the parking lot and shivered at the thought of stepping out of her warm car and into the falling snow. Plastering on a smile, Elle grabbed hold of the front of her jacket to make sure she remained warm and to try to keep the snowflakes out of her shirt. She pushed open her car door and headed outside. Her feet carried her quickly from the car to inside the restaurant, where she promptly shook off what snow had fallen on her before she looked around.

  Lydia had picked their destination again. This time the restaurant was dimly lit with light wood-stained tables placed throughout. The tables were decently close together, but the decoration on the walls took Elle off guard. Dead animals hung on every wall possible. A large fire grill sat in the center of the room, and meat was placed on it before being lowered down slowly by a crank on the side.

  Before Elle could continue her gaze, the hostess stopped her with a kind smile.

  “Good evening, ma’am.” Her sweet voice barely carried above the whispers and talk of nearby tables.

  Elle smiled at her in return, changing her glance from the room to the petite woman in front of her. Her hair was brushed back in a ponytail that curled slightly to midway down her back, and her bright-blue eyes were set only on Elle. She realized too late that the woman, Brittany by her name tag, had probably asked her a question but she’d been too distracted to answer.

  “Do you have a reservation?”

  Elle cleared her throat. “Yes, I believe we do. It should be under Lydia.”

  Brittany looked down at her magic desk that told her everything. She skimmed the names until she stopped. “Yes, here you are. The other half of your party isn’t here yet, but I can take you to your table if you’d like to wait there.”

  “Yes, please.”

  Brittany led the way, and Elle followed close behind. The tension in her chest got tighter each time they passed one of the dead animals that was stuffed and on display. She couldn’t even name all of them. Some were easy enough: deer, elk, moose, bear. But beyond that Elle had no idea what the others were. She was far from a hunter, and frankly, this was not the type of restaurant she would normally find herself at.

  “Here we are. Your server today is Whitney, and he’ll be by shortly to check in.”

  “All right, thank you.” Elle gave her another smile, hoping she easily masked her unease. Either way, it didn’t seem to make a dent with Brittany as she left and headed back to her station. Soon Whitney had been by, and Elle had ordered a glass of wine. Before she knew it, she was sipping at her drink. Off to her right a few tables down was a nice fireplace with a roaring fire that kept her warm.

  Once she was halfway through her glass of wine, Elle decided to glance at her watch. Lydia was twenty minutes late at that point. Sighing, Elle reached into her purse and grabbed her phone. She checked for messages to see if Lydia had written her. There was nothing. Figuring she was probably late due to the weather, Elle relaxed, opened up her texts, and scrolled through the last message thread she had.

  She and June had been going back and forth about the rumors of a new coffee shop in town, one that reportedly should have a drive-through. If the rumors were true, both were looking forward to it; if they weren’t, then both were planning on being disappointed and had been tossing around ideas about their own coffee shop and just what they would do with it. Smiling at the last text June had sent, Elle typed out a short reply.

  We could call it the Lighthouse.

  It was seconds later when Elle could see the small three dots alerting her to the fact June was typing. She glanced up again, trying to ignore all the dead things on the wall, and checked to see if Lydia was at the door or not. Seeing no one there, she went back to her conversation with June.

  June’s reply had already come in.

  Maybe. Not sure that fits for a coffee shop.

  Cynic.

  Elle smirked to herself at her teasing.

  Before she knew it, her wineglass was empty, and Whitney was over asking if she wanted a refill. Elle was about to decline when she caught sight of Lydia out of the corner of her eye. She nodded at Whitney and waved Lydia over. In a huff, Lydia sat down on the chair across from Elle, fluffing out her jacket and her hair. She looked pretty disheveled as snowflakes fell to the ground around her and melted instantly in the warmth of being inside. Elle just sat back and watched, waiting to hear what excuse Lydia had for being thirty-five minutes late.

  The rest of the evening went about the same. Elle straining to continue conversation when all Lydia wanted to do was talk about herself and Lydia being huffed about work. By the end of the hour, when dessert was ready to be ordered or not, Elle wanted to make an escape. Lydia must have sensed it because she leaned forward, showing an ample amount of cleavage from her low-cut shirt and giving Elle a sultry, pouty look.

  Swallowing hard on the glass of water she had at her lips, Elle nearly choked. Cocking her head to the side, she tried to size Lydia up. The woman certainly knew what she wanted, but Elle was pretty sure the two of them wanted vastly different things. Elle wanted to date; she wanted to get back into the game, to try her hand at a relationship once again. Lydia, it seemed, wanted a fling and not much more.

  With her lips pressed together into a thin line, Elle relaxed in her chair with her arms crossed as she debated. A fling wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing if she was trying to get back into the dating pool. It could help ease her into the reality of flirting and dinners and potential nights over at each other’s house.

  Before she knew what was happening, Lydia had a hand reaching out for hers, and Elle was uncurling her arms and reaching back. Their fingers touched, and Lydia had hold of her. Lydia’s sultry voice came over the din of the room, “When shall we do this again?”

  Elle’s throat was dry. “Umm…”

  “Does Friday work for you? I would hate to wait any longer.” A perfect bottom lip pouted out as Lydia lowered her chin and blinked rapidly as she silently begged.

  “S-sure,” Elle found herself saying, not quite realizing what she had done until Lydia clapped her hands together with glee.

  “I know this wonderful place just on the east side of town.”

  “Okay.” Elle’s chest felt tight.

  “You can pick me up at eight.”

  Sputtering, Elle shook her head. “I’ll have to work that night. We’ll have to meet earlier, and I’ll have to meet you there.”

  Lydia pouted again, her lip jutting out, her eyelids lowering and blinking slowly. Elle’s stomach clenched hard. She spun one finger around her water glass to distract her from Lydia. Perhaps she should just tell her no. Even a fling at this point didn’t seem worth it. Lydia was a lot of work.

  “You know—”

  “That’ll work perfect. I’ll send you the address of where we can meet, my treat.”

  Elle swallowed down regret. “Okay.”

  She made the excuse that she had to get going after throwing some cash in the envelope for the bill, but as she stood up and walked by Lydia’s chair, Lydia grabbed her hand and tugged her down. Their lips met. Elle tried to pull away, but Lydia held tight, keeping their mouths locked far longer than Elle wanted. When Elle finally straightened, she stared down at Lydia.

  “I really like you.” Lydia’s sultry and smooth voice was back.

  “Uh…thank you.” Elle nodded and booked it for the door. She slipped into her car and knew immediately she’d have to stop this charade. She just was not interested in anything with Lydia anymore. Two dates had shown her what kind of a person Lydia was, and Elle had more self-respect than that. On her next date, she had to put an end to it all.

  ★

  Elle slid into the booth at the coffee shop she and June had begun to frequent. She’d sent an emergency text to her re-found new friend, asking her to meet up right away. June had agreed and offered here. Elle was still dressed up, her black skirt riding above her knees as she sat. She tried to pull it down to be more comfortable in this vastly different setting, but it just wasn’t working.

  Shifting to take her jacket off and let it pool around her hips, Elle waited for June to arrive. Their coffees were set before her, and she sipped on her own, glad to have something so good hit her tongue. Maybe June could even give her advice on how to date, since she’d obviously been dating far more recently.

  When June arrived, Elle waved her down, her heart jumping at the sight of June just leaving work and her dickie and white collar still in place. June sat across from Elle with a slight smile on her face, the double dimple not quite showing until she saw the hot coffee in front of her.

  “Sorry, I just came from the hospital.”

  “Get stuck with a patient?”

  June nodded. “Remember that toddler who climbed out the grandparents’ doggie door and drowned in the hot tub?”

  Elle nodded, vividly remembering the small body coming in on the way too large gurney, the dread that had taken over her heart as soon as she’d set eyes on him. His body was listless and blue. She had very little hope for his future, but in the buzz of all her other cases, she’d pushed him to the back of her mind.