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“Sorry, man. I looked around but didn’t see you. I figured it was too early,” Chance explained. “I don’t recognize the bartender. What happened to Seth?”
It was lunchtime but going into a packed diner held no appeal. People would be eager to ask questions about him, Noelle, and Carly. Also, if Carly was around, he would not be polite. He knew he needed to confront her, but not today. He was still reeling from Noelle’s news last night. He had found himself here instead, eating a burger and feeling overwhelmed with getting Noelle back.
“Seth quit. Leo has been here about two months now. I don’t usually come in until five or six. I had a delivery today,” Hank answered, folding his arms across his chest. He searched Chance’s troubled face. “So have you settled back in?”
Chance sighed. He was done with his food and pushed the basket away. “I’m trying. I got me a job up in Cole County with my old army buddy, Jaxon. He retired a year ago after being injured.”
“Cool.” Hank grinned. “I told you I would have hired you. I need a bouncer. We get crazy on the weekends.”
Chance leaned back and laughed. “Do you pay with money or beers?”
Hank chuckled. “So how goes it with your lady love?”
“Slow. I knew it wouldn’t be easy getting her back, but man it is hard.” Chance sighed with frustration. He wanted Noelle committed to him and back in his bed. He was impatient, but he would give her the space she requested. He felt so guilty for not being around when she had her miscarriage. Getting her to take a risk was not going to be easy.
“Is it worth it man?” Hank asked. “I can’t imagine putting up with all the drama. That’s why I stay single.”
“Right.” Chance snorted. “No one can put up with your grumpy ass. But yes, Noelle is worth everything to me. This is it. No going back. I need her in my life. It would have been easier if I had realized this a year ago, but I never do anything the easy way.”
“Good enough for me. I like Noelle a lot better than that wild chick that followed you around. That was some bad taste.” Hank frowned, and Chance winced. It wasn’t his best moment, and he hated remembering it. Hank had witnessed the whole ugly scene, along with half the town.
“Carly came in here bugging me for your address for weeks after you left town. Finally, I banned her from here,” Hank stated, not looking sorry. “She tried coming in here last night looking all red-eyed and half-drunk. She asked me if I had seen you. I told her no. I kicked her back out.”
“I haven’t seen her. Don’t want to.” Chance shook his head. He did not want to see Carly, but he knew sooner or later he would have to face her and deal with his part in all of this mess. Willow Springs was a small town. He hated being mean, but her lies kept the drama alive for weeks instead of letting it die a natural death in a few days. Adding fuel to the fire with the gossipers had been a way for her to cause Noelle more pain.
Chance hated feeling guilty. There were so many things he wished he had done differently. Stayed and talked it out with Noelle, or listened to her in the first place, instead of accusing her as being childish. It was ironic how one wrong decision could affect so many lives. “Noelle told me Carly was sneaky, but I thought it was just her jealousy talking. Carly is always flitting around like a butterfly flirting with any man. She flirted with Chase, too. I considered her harmless, but I know that is not true now.”
“Because of one bad decision to get wasted out of my mind I lost Noelle,” Chance muttered. “Now I am stuck being Noelle’s friend. It sucks.”
“Ouch.” Hank winced. He motioned to the waitress. “You deserve a beer on me. We should go for a ride on the bikes this evening to unwind. Chase is off today. I talked to him earlier. It’s been a while since the three of us rode.”
The waitress came back with a beer for Chance and a soda for Hank. He never drank while working. Chance loved feeling the wind on his face when he rode. It was a sure way to relax and unwind.
“Sounds good. I haven’t seen Chase yet. He was steamed at me when he was sobering me up. He said Noelle looked heartbroken. He warned me I would end up hurting her, and I did.” Chance winced when he thought of his oldest buddy from school, Chase Reynolds. He was a deputy for the police department in Willow Springs.
“He’s over it by now.” Hank shrugged. “He likes Noelle.”
Hank put his hands up when Chance growled. “Not romantically. He thinks she is sweet. He was a neighbor of hers as a child and hated the way she was treated by her good-for-nothing parents. That’s all there is to it.”
“I know. I thought maybe he had a crush on her and that is why he didn’t want me dating Noelle,” Chance muttered, sipping on the cold beer. “You call him. I tried all week and his phone went to v
oice mail.”
Hank pulled out his cell phone and talked to Chase for a few minutes. After he hung up he told Chance Chase would meet them at Hank’s house. They stored their bikes in Hank’s large garage.
“Let’s go.” Chance stood up. “I could use a nice long ride on the highway. I need a plan of action.”
Hank chuckled and followed Chance out of the bar.
* * * *
“What we need is a night out,” Quinn said, looking at Noelle’s sad expression. Although it felt good telling Chance about the miscarriage it also brought up all the sad feelings again. She had given Quinn an update on last night’s dinner events.
“I’m tired, Quinn.” Noelle hadn’t slept well after Chance drove her home last night. He had not asked to see her again, and although she told him she just wanted friendship, it hurt her feelings. Everything felt so confusing. What did she want from him? Did she want more than friendship? She did, but she was scared, too.
“You are sad, Noelle,” Quinn said softly. “Let’s go to the Red Barn. You had fun last time we went.”
“I did,” Noelle agreed. If she went home she would heat up a TV dinner and sit in front of the TV moping. “Okay. I say we both deserve a new outfit, too.”
