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Hale had found what he wanted, and he was going after it.
Van didn’t even know if he wanted to live in Dallas.
“Do we have to make decisions right this second?” Van didn’t want to think about this. He needed time to figure it out. “Who knows. I could flunk out. Jake could find someone he likes more. We could all die in an alien invasion and then we’ll have spent our last days in emotional turmoil for no reason.”
Hale stared at him for a moment like he wanted to argue but then sat back and sighed. “Sure. We don’t have to make any decisions right now.” He picked up the menu. “What’s the special today?”
“I could stay, you know.” He felt like they should talk more even if Hale had given him exactly what he wanted. He was obviously putting it all aside and moving on.
So why did that feel like the wrong thing to do? The trouble was, Van wasn’t sure what the right thing was.
“For Christmas?”
Van shrugged. “I could tell Jake I have to work. I’ve spent every Christmas with you since we were like nineteen or something. It would be weird to not have you around. Besides, I’ve heard Serena has some friends coming in and they’re taking the guest house, so if I go alone, I’ll end up bunking with Tristan. I love that kid, but why does his room always smell like feet?”
“Because he’s a boy.” Hale sat back. “I don’t want to be the reason you don’t see your family for Christmas.”
But Hale was his family. “I’ll see them next year since I’ll be there.” And Hale would be here with Elisa, if he could convince her. “Besides, I haven’t gotten a ticket yet so I’d end up flying out of Alamosa on Rocky Mountain Scare Ways, and you know how that goes.”
Flying small planes over the mountains could be a true experience. He would fly from Alamosa to some small city airport and from there to Dallas, and he would be alone the whole way.
If he stayed, he could see where things were going with Hale and Elisa.
“You okay, guys?” Pilar stopped at their table. It was obvious she was about to head out to the festival. She had her parka on and carried some extras for the booth. “Van, I thought you were taking the day off. Was it… I heard…”
Yep. Everyone had. Absolutely everyone. “I’m great. Sasquatch was a kind and gentle lover.”
Hale shrugged. “I wouldn’t know. He rejected me. He has a type.”
She snorted. “Okay. I had to ask. You get the wildest rumors around here. I also heard there was a meteor shower coming next week and it’s a cover for an alien invasion. I hope they’re gentle lovers, too. Also, there was someone asking about you last night. She looked super serious.”
Huh. “She asked about me?”
“She asked if I knew you or Hale. She said she’s a lawyer,” Pilar replied. “That seemed a little scary to me.”
It was the second time he’d heard someone was looking for him, and he had zero idea why a lawyer would be interested in him. Or Hale. “Let me know if she comes back. I don’t think I’m in any trouble.”
“Okay. I wanted to ask you first. If I see her again, I’ll let her know you work here.” Pilar gave him a wave before heading for the back door.
He watched as Elisa walked by the window, carrying a bag from the store next door. It was new and sold mostly the honey from the bee farm on the other side of the mountain. It had been owned by an elderly gentleman who didn’t have a lot of contact with the town, but his daughters had recently taken it over, and they seemed determined to build a business out of it.
How would he work with Elisa if she got a job here? How would he be able to be around her and not get his hands on her? Hale would hate him if he did.
Or maybe he could gently work her back to Hale, and he would suck it up and be the bigger man and get his heart broken when he had to leave.
Maybe the best thing he could do for Hale was to make sure he didn’t leave him alone. What if the best gift he could give Hale was to replace himself. It would hurt like hell to watch them be happy, but Hale was worth the sacrifice.
“I wonder what that’s about.” Hale sat back. “I don’t know why a lawyer would be looking for one of us. Do you think it’s about the car accident we witnessed?”
It had been a minor thing, nothing more than a fender bender on the highway on the way to Pagosa Springs. No one had been hurt. Or at least it seemed that way at the time. They’d stopped and both men seemed fine. Still, Van had given the police his number in case they needed a witness. “That could be it. But why wouldn’t they call?”
