Page 16 of Give Love a Chance


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“What the hell was that?” Quinn shouted after a few seconds when nothing else happened. She peeked her head over the counter slightly.

Noelle looked around and found a brick on the carpeted floor. She wasn’t sure if she should pick it up. Her heart was racing frantically, and she had to breathe through her nose to calm herself down. She stood back up and looked outside. Cars drove by, and she saw a man on his phone. She hoped he dialed the police. “Someone threw this brick through the window. Should I pick it up?”

Quinn looked pale and shaken as she stood up, too. “Better not. What if it has fingerprints or something?”

Noelle was still shaking as she looked outside. She didn’t see anyone suspicious, but then again she was sure whoever it was would not stick around and wait to be discovered.

Mr. Sanchez from next door came running in. He looked at the broken window with wide, shocked eyes. “One of my customers heard the glass breaking. What happened?”

Quinn came to stand by Noelle. She pointed to the brick. “Some jerk threw that through the window, Mr. Sanchez. Scared us good. I thought it was a drive-by.”

Mr. Sanchez shook his graying head in confu

sion. “I had a few customers in the store and didn’t see anything. Who would do this in broad daylight?”

Noelle wanted to call Chance, but she refrained. He was just a friend, and she could not burden him with her problems. It wouldn’t be right. She would be sending mixed signals.

“I am just glad the store was empty of customers. This could have been so much worse.” Noelle frowned, feeling shaky as she rubbed her cold arms. “I think someone outside called the police.”

“I’ll have my son come over and help you clean up.” His young teenaged son, Jesse, often helped him out after school.

“Thank you, Mr. Sanchez.” Noelle gave him a shaky smile as he left.

Ten minutes later, a police car pulled up and parked in front of the store. Chase entered, looking them both over for injuries. He looked worried.

“You girls okay? Someone called and said someone vandalized the store. I had no idea what I would find,” he said. Noelle noticed his eyes lingered on Quinn for more than necessary, but Quinn seemed oblivious.

Noelle explained what occurred. She felt a bit calmer now that he was here. He picked up the brick and turned it over. On the brick in sloppy red letters was one word. Homewrecker.

Noelle looked at it, feeling confused. She looked at Chase. “I don’t understand. I am a single woman. I am not involved with a married man or any man.”

Chase looked angry. “Chance.”

“What?” She looked at him with confusion. “Chance and I are friends, and he doesn’t have a girlfriend. Does he?”

Chase looked at her patiently. “In Carly’s head you are the interloper. I know she has been calling his house several times a day, and Hank had to ban her from the bar because she was harassing him to find information on Chance. Has she been in contact with you, Noelle, other than last night?”

Noelle gasped loudly, and Quinn hung on to her arm for support. The idea that Carly did this scared her. Noelle shook her head no. “When Chance first left town, she confronted me a few times, told me to stay away from her man. She claimed Chance was sending for her.”

“Bullshit,” Chase grumbled, looking angry. “She is a spoiled bitch, and I blame her parents.”

“Have you seen anything or anyone suspicious?” Chase asked both of them.

“I have felt like I was being watched a few times. I put it down to my imagination over stress.” Noelle had to go sit on the stool behind the counter. Her legs felt weak and wobbly. Was Carly watching her? How creepy that would be.

“We had a few hang-up phone calls, but I didn’t think anything of it either. You think Carly is dangerous?” Quinn added, putting a hand over her mouth in fright. Chase set the brick down and pulled Quinn close. Quinn leaned against him for a few seconds before pulling away.

“I’ll get a broom,” she said nervously.

“I’ll have a report typed out for your insurance company by the end of the day,” Chase said, looking to where Quinn had disappeared. He picked up the brick to take with him.

“If you feel scared, call me or Chance,” he said seriously. “Don’t let pride stand in the way of your safety, Noelle. I am going to see where Carly is.”

She nodded and watched him cross the street to where the dry cleaners was. He was probably going to see if they saw anything.

“I doubt they will find any prints.” Quinn sighed coming out of the backroom with a broom and dustpan. “If this was Carly, she has crossed the line. Rumors is one thing, but vandalism takes it to another level.”

Noelle agreed, feeling aggravated. Fixing the window would be a big expense for her, not to mention the fear she now had. Carly had crossed a line here. Was this retaliation for Chance being stern with Carly?

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