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Noelle let out a genuine laugh despite how upset she was. “Not exactly, but I did think it in my head. Instead, I was cool and mature.”
Quinn made a face letting Noelle know she didn’t think that had been the way to deal with Chance. Quinn was outspoken in a way Noelle could never be. Noelle didn’t do confrontation well. She tended to shy away instead.
“Let that jerk come in here and I’ll gladly tell him for you,” Quinn assured her. She hated Chance for hurting Noelle in such a public way. Noelle wanted to hate Chance too but she couldn’t. She would never allow herself to trust in him, but hate was too hard of a burden to carry.
Noelle was making a new display in the window of all the latest bathing suits and cute outfits for the upcoming summer season. She loved owning her own business. Fashion had always interested her, and getting the idea to open a boutique allowed her to be her own boss. After three years, the store was doing very well. She was even thinking of expanding into men’s clothes. Willow Springs was a small town but had enough people to make her store a popular place to shop for those who didn’t want to drive the forty-five minutes into the nearest city.
“I’m not sure how to handle it,” Noelle said honestly. She picked a few of her favorite strapless dresses to put on the mannequins as she talked. Keeping busy helped her keep her cool. “I feel like I am finally healing, and I don’t want to mess that up by trusting in him again. Being hurt isn’t all that much fun.”
Quinn sighed and set the cleaning equipment down. She watched Noelle dress the mannequin. Quinn was wearing a navy blue strapless dress that was exactly like the one Noelle was putting in the window. Quinn had a white sweater over it because the spring air was still chilly at times. “I know you really loved him, Noelle. That love almost destroyed you, too,” Quinn reminded her. “Don’t jump into any quick decisions about anything. If Chance is sincere in fixing things between you two, he will be patient until you have time to think. Don’t rush into anything.”
Noelle took a minute to make sure she liked the outfits she picked out. After making sure she was satisfied with the display, she turned to Quinn.
“I did love him, but that’s what is scary. I gave him my trust and he betrayed me with Carly. After months of making me feel stupid and petty about her flirting with him, he betrays me, with her of all women. That almost made the situation more painful. I don’t know if he can fix this, Quinn. The wound is too deep. I prepared myself for facing him again, but it’s not the same in your head as it is in person.”
Quinn looked sympathetic. Her green eyes were filled with emotion. Noelle knew Quinn had a bad breakup in the past and had hardened her heart to romance. Quinn was levelheaded when it came to dating. Why couldn’t she be as strong as Quinn? Quinn frowned. “The problem is, men see a small blonde woman who knows how to be manipulative and they lose whatever brain cells they did have. Carly is a master manipulator. Men are not so smart.”
“That is true.” Noelle snorted. She did all she could to avoid Carly these days. She worked and went home. She avoided town, unless it was absolutely necessary. Carly, however, hung out and told any person willing to listen her grand stories.
Noelle liked keeping busy, so she had no time to think or dwell on the past. Noelle’s Nook had become her salvation. It gave her security, something she didn’t have a lot of growing up. Her parents had been too busy fighting with each other to pay attention to her needs. She had been ignored mostly.
Since it was a small rural town, everyone knew or heard about the drama between her, Chance, and Carly. Everywhere she went people bugged her for juicy details. It didn’t help that Carly enjoyed having the spotlight on her. Her story grew bigger by the day. According to her, she had a grand love with Chance Brooks, and Noelle was the one trying to keep them apart. What bullshit. Noelle had not spoken to Chance since the night at the bar. Noelle often wondered if Carly believed her own fair
y tales. Noelle wondered how much was true and how much was in Carly’s head. The gossip grew, but Noelle did her best to not add to it by engaging Carly. People finally gave up trying to get information out of her and left her alone. She was afraid it would start up all over again once Chance showed his face in town.
“I was very naive buying into the whole true love fantasy,” Noelle admitted. She felt like a fool now. Never again would she put herself into that position. She felt broken inside. Love was a painful thing. Hopefully she would be wiser and stronger this time. “Every woman wants to believe she can change a man, but that’s just a myth. You can’t change a person. They have to do that themselves.”
“Very wise.” Quinn agreed. “I for one don’t plan on falling in that trap ever again. I am staying footloose and fancy free.”
Noelle laughed. One day a man would sweep Quinn off of her feet. She was beautiful and bubbly. Noelle’s only wish was that whoever that man was he didn’t hurt Quinn. Heartbreak was painful and never went away completely.
Quinn stopped smiling. “Did you tell him about the baby?” Quinn had done her best to help Noelle through the grieving process.
Noelle felt the familiar pain in her chest. She almost put her hand on her stomach as she often did when she mourned the loss. “Not yet. I was so shocked by his sudden appearance. I will. Later.” Much later.
* * * *
Chance looked at his mom, Polly Brooks, across the dinner table. He had missed her so much. Polly always had a way to make him feel calm and loved. The house had not changed at all over the years. It filled him with warmth and familiarity. He had spent many happy years of his childhood living here. His dad had been killed by a drunk driver when he was thirteen, but he had many fond memories of his dad, too. He always felt the same sense of home, no matter how long he had been away. He never bothered getting his own place since he was gone for long periods of time.
“You really ready to retire, son?” his mom asked as if afraid to hope his statement was real. Her brown eyes were focused on his face.
“I’m tired of traveling to deserts and jungles. I want to stay still. I am ready to find a new path for my life,” he told her between bites of food. “I have an interview with SWAT tomorrow morning in Cole County. You remember Jaxon Steele? We served together in the army. He got shot in the leg last year. They wanted to put him on desk duty.”
Polly’s smile was filled with humor. She had met Jaxon a few times. He was a wild character. “I bet that didn’t go well.”
“Not at all,” Chance agreed, thinking of all the fuss Jaxon had shown for that suggestion. “He got me an interview. He really likes the job. This job sounds like it will keep my interest. Jaxon seems to have found a good niche. Maybe I can, too.”
Polly looked back at him with understanding. When he had arrived last night, he had been exhausted from travelling for two days. He had heated up some food in the microwave and had gone straight to bed. This was their first chance to converse. She knew his only dream had been to join the military and serve his country. She worried but never stopped him from going after his dream. Now he was just tired of never being in one place. He was getting older, and he wanted a wife and a family. He knew Noelle hated him right now, but his new mission was to change that. He planned to show her he did care. She wasn’t just another notch on his bedpost. She had thrown those words out there during their last argument. Maybe he had never spoken words of love out loud, but he had given her his commitment. He had never done that with any other woman.
“Does this also have to do with Noelle?” she asked him. Chance knew his mother was unhappy with all the rumors floating around town about him, Noelle, and Carly being involved in some kind of love triangle. What bullshit. She had lectured him something fierce before he left for the base. His mom might be petite, but when she gave him a lecture he nodded and said yes, ma’am. Her all-gray hair was short and layered in a trendy style. He knew she was still active in a lot of activities around town. She had retired from being a teacher but didn’t want to sit around getting old.
“Some,” he admitted, looking down at his plate of meatloaf. His mom was an excellent cook, but his thoughts were preventing him from truly enjoying the meal. “I spent a lot of time thinking about her while I was gone. I love her, Mom. I tried to fight what I was feeling last year. I know I messed it all up, but I want to fix things.”
He needed a beer, but he wasn’t ready to head into town or Hank’s bar just yet. Hank, his buddy from high school, knew he was home, but Chance told him he needed time before heading to the scene of the crime so to speak. Chase, his other friend, was not taking Chance’s phone calls. He was so angry with him for that horrible scene at the bar. Chase had a soft spot for women.
Polly’s brown eyes were filled with sympathy. “Carly caused quite the drama, until it was like a three-ring circus out there. All this nonsense of you and her being star-crossed lovers was quite ridiculous, but people ate it up. Poor Noelle handled it all with grace of course, but it took its toll on her physically. She looked so sick for so long. I tried checking up on her a few times, but it was obvious she felt uncomfortable discussing anything with me, so I left her alone.”
“I never planned for any of it to happen,” he said honestly. He hated himself for drinking so much that night. He never saw Carly as anything but a harmless flirt. She flirted with every man, so Chance never took her seriously. “I made a mistake in not listening to Noelle about Carly wanting to cause trouble between us. I hurt Noelle. She trusted me. I know after her parents she never let anyone close except Quinn.”
