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"A big one," she said, pushing her mug in his direction.
Chloe's face was flushed, her eyes sparkling, a gleam of satisfaction in her gaze as she sipped her beer and relaxed while other singers took the stage. She'd conquered a fear tonight, and Decker was happy he'd helped. She actually had a really wonderful voice. And once she'd gotten over her nerves, she'd sounded great.
The song he'd picked had been perfect, because he had a feeling Chloe was the kind of woman who could break his heart if he let his guard down. But he wasn't going to do that.
His smile faded as Joel came back to the table. He forced himself to move to the next chair so Joel could sit next to Chloe again, reminding him that Joel was who Chloe wanted. He'd just been a temporary stand-in.
As Joel leaned in to whisper yet another apology to Chloe, he wondered what was really going on with Joel. He'd been ridiculously late, then distracted. He claimed to want a life that wasn't all about business, but he wasn't acting that way. And he'd seen this side of Joel before, the intense, ultra-focused, ambitious side that drove him sometimes ruthlessly forward in whatever quest he was on. Was he really going to settle here in this small mountain town and let other people rush past him? It just didn't make sense.
But it wasn't his business. Joel's decision, his relationship with Chloe, wasn't for him to judge. He'd told Chloe he tried not to judge people, so he needed to stop doing that instead of making himself a liar.
His frown deepened as Joel put his arm around Chloe and kissed her on the cheek. Chloe smiled. If she'd been pissed at Joel earlier, that feeling had vanished.
Blowing out a breath, he finished the rest of his beer in one long swallow and looked for a distraction. He found it in Hannah, who had changed seats with Zach and was sliding into the chair next to his.
"Nice job up there," she said. "You have a good voice."
"Thanks. It was fun. I think Chloe enjoyed herself in the end."
"I knew she would. She used to sing all the time, but then she stopped. She stopped doing a lot of things that used to make her happy, and I didn't enjoy seeing that. We grew up together, and I remember the girl she used to be before life kicked her down a few times."
"The divorce?"
"That and all the responsibilities she had to take on. She's been picking up the slack for many people: her parents, her in-laws, and her ex-husband. Now she has to raise Leo on her own, and she's consumed with being the perfect single parent. I wanted to give her a few minutes to let loose." She paused. "I'm talking way too much. Chloe would not want me to be telling you all this, but I have to admit I'm a little drunk."
He smiled as she slurred her last few words.
"Anyway," Hannah continued. "I'm glad you got her on the stage. I don't think she would have gone up there alone." She took another sip of her beer. "What's the deal with your friend always being busy?"
He turned his head to see Joel and Chloe engaged in conversation with Lizzie and Justin. "You'd have to ask him."
"He doesn't stick around long enough to ask him anything."
"He's here now." He pushed back his chair. "I need to get going. I have to work on my estimate."
"I'm sorry. Have I made you uncomfortable? If so, I apologize."
He smiled. "I have a feeling you make many people uncomfortable, Hannah."
"I can be too honest and direct," she admitted. "But I'm also very loyal, and I always look out for my friends."
"I respect that," he said, meeting her gaze. "But if you need to warn someone that you've got Chloe's back, it should probably be Joel."
"I'll get to him if he sticks around long enough. He seems like a big city guy to me, but I guess we'll see."
"I guess we will," he muttered. He gave a general goodbye to the table of friends and then left, feeling relieved to get out in the fresh air. He needed to clear his head, and he needed to stop thinking about Chloe. She was with Joel, which meant there was really nothing to think about.
He walked to the truck Joel had given him earlier to use while he was in town, so he could turn in the rental car he'd gotten at the airport. Sliding behind the wheel, he started the engine. He headed back to the apartment, then impulsively changed directions. He drove toward the lake and past the gas station, to the house they'd gone to earlier that day.
Pulling up across the street, he cut the engine and the lights. He didn't know why he was so drawn to this property. But there was something…
Staring at the house, he could hear voices in his head. He closed his eyes and leaned his head back, caught between wanting to remember something and wanting there to be nothing to remember.
The woman had come to the door, but his dad didn't want to let her inside.
"There's only one person I want to speak to," his father said, "and it's not you."
"I know. I'm working on setting up a meeting between you."
