Page 83 of Second Chance

“What happened?”

“They got a gig in Atlanta. It’s a ‘bigger’ deal.” Billy air-quotes the word.

“Do we have a permit yet?”

Billy shakes his head before twisting it in the direction of the window facing BookEnds.

“It isn’t her fault,” I defend, getting tired of his blame on our innocent business neighbor.

“I know,” he says, lowering his voice and his eyes.

Uh-oh. My stomach drops. “Now, what did you do?”

His head snaps up and his eyes narrow at me. “Nothing. I didn’t do a thing.” He stalks off, leaving me wondering what that was all about and a bit curious about the unusual shade of pink in his cheeks with a glow of sex in his eyes.

+ + +

Worse than facing my mother, I run into Cora.

“Why didn’t you tell me, Miss Matilda Harrington?” Fists on her hips, she stops me in the freezer aisle at Tom’s Grocery.

“Tell you what?”

“I thought we were best friends.” The tone of her voice makes her sound like the ten-year-old child who annoyed the hell out of me. However, I admit, she is one of my best friends as an adult. Her tone softens when she speaks again. “Mati?”

I peer left and right before looking at her. “There’s nothing to tell.” But something in my expression gives me away.

“Did you have sex?” The word seems to echo through the aisle, possibly through the whole store. She said it loud enough it could have been projected over the loudspeaker. Sex in aisle six.

“No, I did not. And can you lower your voice, please?”

“Did you have sex?” she repeats in a hushed tone, mocking a whisper.

“Cora. I just said I didn’t.”

“But you look happy.”

“Is sex the only means to happiness?” The blinking of her eyes and surprise in her face warns me of her answer. I’m on the verge of telling her I’m being sarcastic when she steamrolls ahead.

“Absolutely not. Men do not complete us, Matilda.” I roll my eyes. I understand what she means, but Cora’s self-discovery and self-sexuality stuff can get a little deep.

“Don’t you roll your eyes at me. You are a strong, capable woman.” My eyes flinch, eager to roll again, but I don’t allow them. I know these things about myself. I feel the weight of truth in her words. Still, I’d like a man to complete me in another way. Thoughts of Denton have filled my head all day, especially after he kissed me goodnight on my doorstep like we’d been on a date instead of two people eating together at the diner or fooling around in a hayfield.

“I think I had a date with Denton Chance last night.” The reality of what happened hits me. Were we on a date? Alyce talked me through what to wear and I got carried away by doing my hair and the touch of makeup. I told myself I just felt like putting in some effort. I wanted to look nice. I felt…pretty. Not that I needed to feel pretty, but I wanted to look good. For Denton. For myself. Oh, I don’t know what I was doing…

“You think?” Cora stammers, hands coming to her hips again. “The whole town is talking about seeing Denton and you at the diner. Not to mention, he disappeared with you from the Pub after a run-in with his ex-wife.”

“How do you know these things?” I ask, but it’s rhetorical. I hold up a hand to prevent her from answering. “Why does the town even care?”

“Denton is a big deal. Rockstar. Prodigal son. Heartthrob.” My eyes roll of their own volition at the last comment. “And you’re…Mati Rathstone.”

The name knocks the breath out of me. Does the town think I’m cheating on Chris? Do they see me as running around?

“I think everyone’s been waiting for you to choose who you’d go for. I bet Kent Duncan. You cost me twenty bucks, Mati.”

My mouth falls open a second, and then my voice rises as I speak. “What the… Are people taking bets on who I’ll date?”

“Not bets. Just a little wager.”

“Isn’t that the same thing?”

“Pa-tay-toe. Pa-tah-toe.” She waves dismissively at me.

“Cora!”

“Billy started it.”

“Oh. My. God.” Some days I hate my brothers. Cora holds up both hands.

“Don’t shoot the messenger. I stopped at the wager of timing.”

“What timing?” My eyes close. I don’t know why I’m even asking.

“How long before you both admit you’re still in love with each other?”

I shake my head. How can we admit we are still in love with each other? We were never in love in the first place. Love fell only on me, and it’s my best-kept secret. Isn’t it?