Then why did everything make me think of him? I went into a convenience store and found myself picking up Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups out of habit because they were Cole’s favorite after show snack. He particularly liked to eat them off my bare stomach.

I was driving past the movie theater and saw an advertisement for their science fiction Saturday. And that inevitably reminded me of the time Cole and I stayed in bed for an entire day watching a marathon of Star Trek movies.

Other times I would hear a joke and pick up my phone to text him, because I knew he would appreciate it.

How had he, without my realizing it, invaded every facet of my life?

Gracie and I had come home early, neither of us in the best of moods to be out socializing.

The reasons for my funk were well known. But Gracie had been in a horrible mood for almost a week now. When I asked her what was wrong, she attempted to reassure me that she was fine.

But I had heard her talking on the phone until the wee hours of the morning several nights in a row. I had recognized the angry cadence of her voice through the thin walls. And I knew that whoever was on the other end of the phone was the source of her crappy attitude.

I stretched out on the couch and blew on the top of my piping hot coffee. I had gotten my first paycheck from The Claremont Center on Friday. And while I wasn’t thrilled with how much my good friend Uncle Sam took for his pockets, it was still a heck of a lot more than I had ever earned on my own in the past.

To celebrate I went out and bought myself a fancy gourmet coffee machine. Complete with a mixed assortment of flavored drinks. I was currently indulging in a caramel macchiato.

I flipped through the channels until settling on my all time favorite movie, Dirty Dancing, for the thirtieth time. It was the perfect way to prepare myself for another week of work. Though I couldn’t complain. I had a dream job. And even though it had picked up to crazy levels in preparation of the Kimble Project Gala in two weeks, I was having a blast.

And then there was Mr. Theo Anderson and his refusal to relent in his persistent wooing.

And woo he did.

He made sure to bring me coffee several days a week and he called me throughout the day under the pretense of an asinine piece of information he needed to relay.

I always called him on his miserable excuses.

And then we’d flirt and tease but I was always conscious to pull back before it became too serious. Theo hadn’t brought up the subject of going out on a date again since our lunch at Barton’s but I knew he was waiting.

He thought it was because he was my client.

He had no idea that I was waiting for reasons not related to my job.

I was waiting to forget about a certain lead singer.

I knew that it would only take time. Though I was beginning to worry that I would be old and grey before the Cole Brandt effect finally wore off.

I was right at the climax of the movie. Johnny Castle had just blown onto the scene and said his iconic line, “Nobody puts Baby in a corner,” and there was a knock at the door.

I frowned, not knowing who could possibly be coming by for a visit at this time in the morning.

I pulled my robe tighter around me and got to my feet. Whoever was on the other side of the door was extremely impatient.

“Hang on. Where’s the fire?” I grumbled, twisting the deadbolt and pulling the door open.

“Maysie?” I asked, looking down at my best friend.

She gave me a wane smile and reached out to give me a hug, which I returned, though I was still in shock at her sudden arrival.

“What the hell are you doing here? Are you moving in? Because if you are, you should have said something, bitch,” I teased, though I was sort of serious. She had mentioned when we had been in Raleigh that she was thinking of coming back to Bakersville to get some needed distance from the drama of the boys on tour.

But that had been the last she had mentioned it. Gracie and I had figured she had said it in a moment of frustration and Jordan had calmed her down.

But here she was, standing on our doorstep, looking anything but happy.

“Can I come in? It’s sort of cold out here,” she asked, stepping around me into the living room.

“Sure, sorry. I’m just surprised to see you. The last we spoke you were on your way to Chicago,” I said, closing the door behind her and following her to the couch. Maysie looked even more exhausted than she did the last time we saw her. I knew whatever reason she was here, it wasn’t good.

“Yeah, well, we got to Chicago-” she began, sitting down.

“Do you want me to get Gracie? How about a coffee? I just bought this amazing machine,” I broke in. It was in my nature to be a mother hen, even if I was abrasive in how I went about it.

“No, I’m fine. And don’t wake up Gracie. I can fill her in later.” Maysie waved away my offer.

With nothing left to do, I sank down beside her, ready to listen.

“I don’t see any luggage. Am I to presume you’re not moving in?” I asked.

Maysie shook her head. “No, I’m at Garrett’s.”

“Really?” I asked, surprised. Though I shouldn’t have been. That was where Jordan had lived before going on the road.

“Yeah, with Garrett and Jordan,” she added and the world stood still.

Or at least it felt like it.

“Jordan and Garrett are back in town?” My voice cracked and I reached for my coffee. I took a sip, not caring that it was now cold. Because if Jordan and Garrett were back in town, then that meant Cole was back in town.