A Season for Hope (Sarra Cannon) by Sarra Cannon Read Free Book Online Page B

don’t think it’s true.
    “But the thing is, even before the kiss, we were having such a great time.” I clasp the warm mug between both hands. “We connected, you know? He even loved the same music I do. It was crazy. I never really talked to Preston like that and we were together for years. He never asked me about what kind of music I like or what kind of movies I wanted to watch. And even if he did, I was always so scared to tell him the truth. I always told Preston what he wanted to hear, thinking that if I was the perfect girlfriend, eventually he’d really love me.”
    I fall silent. I’ve never put words to it like that, but as soon as they come out of my mouth, I am hit with the absolute truth of them.
    With Preston, I was always fighting to feel worthy of him. Last night with Judd, I was just myself. And for a little while, I thought that was enough.
    Monica pulls me into a hug. “Honey, if Preston couldn’t see that you are perfect just the way you are, then he never deserved you anyway.”
    Tears spring to my eyes. “I’m not sure I ever really gave him the chance to see the real me,” I say, realizing it for the first time.
    “Then it’s his loss,” she says.
    “Is it?” I say, wiping at my eyes.
    “Absolutely,” she says. “And if this other guy doesn’t see it either, then screw him.”
    “I tried,” I say with a smile.
    Monica laughs and stands up. “I’m sure you did,” she says. She turns and stares down at me. “It’s really good to see you smile again. I missed that happy face.”
    “Me too,” I say.
    “Now get your hungover ass out of bed and get ready for work,” she says. “You’re gonna be late.”
    I lean forward to get a better look at the clock beside my bed. It’s nine-thirty and my shift at The Cup starts in thirty minutes. “Shit,” I say. I jump out of bed and run toward the shower without the luxury of time to worry about last night for another minute.
    Chapter Ten
     
    I’m halfway through my shift when the bell over the door rings.
    I look up and hazel eyes meet mine. My heart skips a beat and my mouth falls open slightly.
    I stop in mid-step, a very full cup of cappuccino in one hand and a hot chocolate in the other.
    Sassy, one of the other servers, comes around the corner in a rush and smacks right into me. Coffee and hot chocolate splash down the front of my white work shirt and I stumble backward, the cups crashing to the ground.
    Everyone in the small cafe turns to look. I bend down, avoiding the one set of eyes I don’t want watching me right now. How am I constantly making such a fool of myself around him?
    “Be careful,” Mr. Edwards says. “Here, grab a broom. Don’t pick that up by hand. I don’t want you to cut yourself, Bailey.”
    I stand and take the broom from him. My face is growing hotter by the second. I don’t dare look up and see if Judd is still watching me. If he’s smart, he turned around and got the hell out of here.
    “You okay?” Sassy asks. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t watching where I was going.”
    “I’m fine,” I say. “It was my fault. I zoned out for a second. I’m not feeling too great today.”
    “Do you need to head home early?” Mr. Edwards asks. I hadn’t realized he was still standing behind me. “You shouldn’t be in here serving if you’re coming down with something.”
    I shake my head and start sweeping up the mess on the floor. I can’t afford to take any time off work right now. I paid an arm and a leg for that stupid dress for the Christmas dance. If I don’t work my butt off this month, there’s no way I’ll make rent.
    “I’m fine,” I say. “I just didn’t get much sleep last night.”
    “Okay, well, get that cleaned up and I’ll head back and remake those drinks for you.”
    “Cappuccino and Hot choc,” I say.
    Sassy and Mr. Edwards disappear into the small kitchen, leaving me out front to clean up the broken cups.
    After about the third pass over the wet floor, a pair of