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“It sounds like you guys are having a good time in here,” a familiar voice said.
Chantelle froze as the tenor voice washed over her. Their appointment was tomorrow. Why was he here now? The moment her eyes connected with his, he froze. Chantelle could have sworn the hairs on the back of her neck lifted.
Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she said. “Hi… Lance.”
“Chantelle?” he raised an eyebrow. “You’re… back.”
***
Lance had to be dreaming. Chantelle. Yet as he stared at her heart-shaped face and cocoa brown eyes, his knees weakened. He cleared his throat, denying the notion. He hadn’t seen her since that fateful night. Though he heard of her visiting in the past, she never stayed long enough for them to run into each other. He’d even been out of town during her father’s funeral. Graduation day played vividly in his mind.
“What are we going to do? Do you want to go through with this?” She had asked.
“I don’t know,” he had said.
She folded her arms. “You don’t know?” She didn’t look convinced.
“My parents are right. I don’t know how to handle this.” He reached for her, but she held her hand up to him.
“You know what, how about I decide for you? We’re done,” she had said. She stormed away to her compact car, but not before he saw the tears in her eyes.
“I didn’t know you would be here,” she said.
Blinking, he brought himself back to reality. “Your brother invited me.” His gaze narrowed at his friend.
“For the record, she is early,” Mrs. Evans said. “Let’s go to the living room. Elise? Chantelle, you can help me with setting the table.”
Dragging his feet to the living room, he plopped on the couch. Did he even want to stay?
“Sorry we caught you off guard.” Grant sat in the chair opposite him.
“You knew she was coming home?”
Grant nodded.
“You didn’t think to warn me?”
“We thought she wouldn’t be here until tomorrow. You know my sister.”
“You could have said something.”
“I think you two need to bury the hatchet. It’s long overdue. Besides, you’re getting married.”
Lance nodded. “Right. I’m getting married.”
“Lance?”
Her smoky voice melted his heart as always, but he rubbed the back of his head to meet her gaze. “Yeah?”
She pointed to the foyer. “Can I talk to you for a second?”
Lance rose to his feet to meet her. His height still towered over her. She would fit his embraces when he would hold and kiss her at the lockers in high school.
“What’s up?” he asked, stuffing his hands inside his pockets.
“How are you?”
“Fine and you?”
