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Yeah, it’s a good thing Connor intervened before I said something stupid.
Chapter Two
Cole
While carrying the pitchers of drinks, I glare at the back of Connor’s head. He’s been my best friend since grade school, but his constant snarky remarks toward his sister make me angry. Harbor isn’t the same annoying kid she was when we were younger, and their parents forced the boys to let her tag along. Hell, she wasn’t even that bad then.
“Are you going to carry those all day or put them down?” Connor smarts off as he lets the football loose. It flies in the air, whizzing by my head and smacking against the house.
“You’ve got shit for aim.” I deposit the drinks and wait for the next hurled insult. We love to talk smack as much as we enjoy playing football.
“If I was aiming for your head, I wouldn’t have missed.” Connor’s face squishes together as the guys around us zing their own one-liners.
The door swings open, and my attention returns to the house. Only this time, it’s Mrs. Slater and not Harbor. “Connor Bradley Slater.” Her eyes narrow into slits. “Did I see you throw a ball at Cole and hit my house?”
“Yes, Ma’am.” His face is sheepish as he shoves his hands into the pockets of his sweat shorts. “Sorry, Momma.”
“You’d better be.” She rests her hands on her hips as she studies each of us in one sweeping motion. “You all know it’s my birthday, and it’s your responsibility to ensure you don’t make me angry today.”
“Yes, Ma’am,” everyone says in unison, with a hint of laughter in our voices. We learned long ago that respect and compliments were the way to Mrs. Slater’s heart. As soon as she’s reasonably pleased that we’re contrite, she turns on her heel and retreats into the kitchen.
It doesn’t faze her when we chuckle over her antics. Mrs. Slater is the best. Both she and her husband made sure us guys were welcome in their house and designated this site as the hub for our get-togethers while growing up. And the girls.
Harbor and her friends were always flying in and out of the house until a little over four years ago when she moved to San Francisco and rarely came back. Seeing her again makes the darkness in my days a little less intense.
Dude…. I cringe and pour a heaping glass of water into a cup and down the drink in one gulp. All you miss is the past. Not Harbor.
Life was simpler then. We were in college, and everything was good. We were partying all night, playing video games between classes, and our parents were still footing most of the bills. Then, some of the guys transferred to farther away colleges, my girlfriend moved away because she hated small towns, and more responsibilities were dropped on our heads, in the middle of all that, Harbor moved away and didn’t come back. And now it feels like the wheels have fallen off.
“How’s the fire station?” Austin, the third oldest brother, asks as he leans against the railing across from me.
“Good. A new guy started a couple of weeks ago. He’s a transplant from Kansas City, living in Roman’s house this fall.
“That’s right.” Austin nods. “Roman took off to explore the world for a few months. Lucky dog.” He was another of the guys we grew up with, but lately, he’s been itching to get out of town. “What’s the new guy like?”
“He’s okay.” I shrug. “City kid. I don’t think he’ll last around here, though.”
“Shit.” Austin shoves off the railing. “Few do. It takes a special kind of person to stick around Meadow Bay.” His eyes shift to the horizon, and my gut churns. We’re not as close as Connor and me, but we’ve had each other’s backs for years. I’m not sure I can stomach him leaving me, too.
“What’s going on?”
“Nothing.” He glares and shoves my chest. “Get ready to lose, my friend.” The serious expression on his face disappears as the smack talk returns. “Because I’m about to destroy your team.”
“Right.” I roll my eyes, feeding into the banter as I set the cup on the table. “You and what army?” I’m ready to return to our friendly rivalry and stop the melancholy bullshit.
As we traipse down the steps, we toss the ball back and forth. That’s when I notice Dakota, one of the girls I dated in high school before I started dating Hadley.
She stands on the edge of the side yard and waves. “Hey, Cole.”
“Hey.” I nod and walk over to her, slinging my arm over her shoulders. “How’s Abby?”
“Good.” She smiles and wraps her arm around my waist while juggling a package under her other arm. “She just started walking.” Her eyes light up with adoration. “She’s so stinking cute. I could squeeze her little cheeks off.”
“She is a doll.” I laugh at her enthusiasm. Dakota is married to one of the guys at the station, and their baby turned 11 months old a few weeks ago. They’re both over the moon with this kid. Not that I blame them. She’s cute as a button with Dakota’s eyes and Vargas’ smile.
“Thank you.” She pats my side and steps back.
We stayed friends after breaking up, realizing that we didn’t have that connection. And we didn’t. The way she and Vargas look at each other is pure joy. Hell, I never looked at Hadley like that, either.
