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He could be an ass. “Yes, but I do get your point. I’m not looking at the positive side of tonight. I was sitting here doing what I always do. I go through all the ways this thing could go wrong and wait for Van to point out that it’s not so bad.”
Van shrugged like he didn’t understand why that was so bad. “It’s what we’ve always done. And he’s still here. I’m proud of him for not deciding to go home to brood. This whole public brooding thing is a big step for him.”
“All right. I will admit that the minute she walked away I was already writing the whole thing off.” He had to be honest if any of this was going to work. “It’s easier to move on than to put myself out there again, but I don’t want to move on. I want to sit here and wait until she’s done and then make sure she gets back to the motel okay. It’s snowing pretty hard outside, and she’s not used to mountain driving.”
“Excellent. That’s a real fine excuse to see if you can still get an invite inside.” Rye nodded approvingly. “That is some nice, positive thinking.”
“Uh, that was my idea the whole time,” Van pointed out.
“It needs to be Hale’s idea sometimes,” Max countered. “Look, I know this sounds weird coming from a set of twins who often can read each other’s minds, but you have to be two whole-ass human beings, and that means you can’t constantly take opposing positions where you try to convince the other you’re right.”
He didn’t think that was… Except was that how their lives ran now? Hadn’t they spent a good portion of the beginning of the evening arguing over which woman they would date without taking the time to actually discuss the situation? Had they become so grounded in their own positions that it was becoming increasingly difficult to build anything good? He’d been sitting here but he’d also been planning on giving Van all of his reasons why they should leave and spare themselves the embarrassment.
He wanted her. If she didn’t want him that was one thing, but if he didn’t take the chance that was totally fucking on him.
Hale pushed off the barstool. This was why he put up with Max’s sarcasm. Sometimes the man was right. He did let Van do all the positive thinking, and that wasn’t fair. He could imagine Van needed lifting up from time to time, too. Maybe that was why things had changed when Van’s brother had come back into his life. Jake provided Van with something Hale hadn’t offered, and that needed to change. He’d allowed the past to drag on him, and if he didn’t try to change his mindset, he might not have a future.
Hale put a hand on the bar, his attention on Van. “I’m going to go and tell her that we’re staying here for her. We’re going to follow her and make sure she gets back to the motel okay, and we’ll firm up plans for tomorrow night’s date. Then I’ll go and see if we can get a shark board. Don’t correct me. I like shark board. Those things are shark boards from now on.”
Van gave him a salute. “Shark board it is.”
Max said something about not rewarding the bee lady for her aggressive marketing tactics, but Hale was laser focused on Elisa. He marched right over to the table where she was sitting with her dad, who was known for being a little out of whack and needing to be tranquilized from time to time, marched past the surprisingly full dining room for this time of night, well aware those eyes were still on him.
“Oh, he’s making a move,” Callie said into her cell phone before pretending like she wasn’t watching him.
Small town. He liked Bliss. He would have to get used to the fact that everyone knew everyone else’s business and felt like they could comment on it. In this case, he could use his ability to deflect like a shield. He walked right past all of them and found himself at her table, staring at her like an idiot because she was awfully pretty.
Mel looked up first and cocked a brow his way. At least he thought that’s what he was doing because that trucker hat of his rode low on his head and he’d done a halfway decent job of hiding the fact that it was lined with tin foil. It still poked out. “Is there something I can help you with, Hale? Your name is Hale, right?”
“Yes, sir. I’m Hale Galloway, and I just wanted a moment with Elisa.” Hopefully no one would have to tranq Mel tonight. It might not help his case, but he was going to be upfront and honest.
