Hey Sunshine (4 page)

Luckily, I discovered it’s nearly impossible for people to be irritated if you’re late to your own party. When Chase stepped through the diner’s double doors, the crowd let out a roar, breaking out into the high school fight song as though he’d thrown the winning pass in a playoff game just that evening, not returned from four years of extreme firefighting as a grown man. I could think of a million more appropriate songs, but these folks couldn’t.

Smiling, I shook my head. Once the prince, always the prince in Ector County, Brancher specifically. Chase had it so good here, and his abrupt departure had been mourned and dissected for years by young and old alike.

I saw my parents sitting with Annabelle near the back of the restaurant in our largest booth, and they waved frantically, flagging me down. As we slowly made our way toward them, stopping every few feet so someone could clap Chase on the back and shake his hand, I saw Heather slip in the side door, Beckett Fox behind her. Spotting us, Heather grabbed his hand and pulled him with her as she mercilessly pushed through the well-wishers.

“Lord Almighty,” Heather exhaled when they reached me. “This is ridiculous. It’s like the return of the prodigal.”

My eyes skipped right to her companion’s face, who was watching us with an aloof but not unfriendly expression. His eyes met mine and I felt that pull again for an instant before I quickly looked away.
What was that?

“Avery?” Heather waved a hand in front of my face.

“What? Sorry, I spaced out for a minute,” I said, my cheeks reddening slightly. I thought I saw Beckett Fox grin for a nanosecond, but I refused to look at him again.

“I was just telling Mr. Fox here about the diner, how it’s pretty much the center of Brancher,” Heather said slowly, like I was losing it.

My regular personality, “Most Organized,” didn’t space out and daydream like that. “Most Organized” kept it on the straight and narrow at all times and would never think unfaithful, unrealistic, and potentially impure thoughts about a man she just met. Sometimes “Most Organized” was exhausting. And not very fun.

“That’s right! The Kitchen is the ol’ greasy gossip hub of this town, for sure. And Heather, just call him Fox. Everyone does.” Chase had come up behind us, finally done saying his hellos. His eyes darted from our group to the door like he was measuring the distance, but then he kissed my cheek and gestured for me sit down.

For a split second, the newcomer looked a little irritated that Chase was speaking for him, but his expression relaxed immediately.
Cool as a cucumber, that one,
I thought. And interesting… Fox. Somehow it fit him. Wary, a bit withdrawn, but undeniably sharp. On another note, I was a little annoyed about Chase calling the restaurant ‘greasy’ when he knew we went out of our way to serve a more modern, eclectic menu that ranged from fruit smoothies to country-fried steak, but I let it go as well.

I slid into the circular booth next to Annabelle, with Chase right behind me and Elise next to him, Heather and Fox following suit on the other side. Even our largest booth was a bit cramped for all of us, but with the rest of the diner so packed we didn’t have many options.

I caught Chase’s sister Elise looking at Fox with more than a little interest. I wondered why she had decided to drive herself to the diner and not head to the fancy party with her parents, and now I understood. She didn’t care that her brother was home – any new guy in town was immediately on the radar for the single girls of Brancher. The fact that Elise was twenty-one with no prospects of matrimony must have irritated Janice immensely. Only here could you be considered past your prime before you could legally drink.

Too bad Elise Dempsey was a spoiled brat with an ego the size of her daddy’s acreage. Someone – not me obviously, because it wasn’t my place – needed to warn Fox about that girl. But it wouldn’t be me. Definitely not.

“Hi Mama!” Annabelle said brightly. She looked up from her coloring book and grinned at me. My mother smiled at everyone from Annabelle’s other side as my father reached across to shake Chase’s hand first then Fox’s.

“Annabelle, this is my friend Chase. Can you say hello?” I felt like all eyes were on us as Chase and Annabelle met for the first time.

Obediently, her little face turned to Chase. “Hello,” she said shyly. I hid my smile in my hand. Anyone who thinks a toddler isn’t perceptive clearly hasn’t been around many.

“Hi there, Annabelle.” Chase smiled confidently.

Annabelle looked up at me, her face curious. “And who’s that, Mama?” she asked, pointing at Fox.

Color rushed to my cheeks immediately as everyone’s attention moved from Chase and Annabelle to Annabelle and Fox. I glanced quickly in Fox’s direction, trying to decipher his expression. He was looking directly at me, a ghost of a smile on his lips, and my face flushed even more.

“It’s not nice to point, baby,” I admonished her.

Fox surprised me by suddenly reaching across the table and offering his big hand to Annabelle. “My name is Fox.”

Annabelle looked at Fox, then back to me, and smiled. She grasped Fox’s outstretched hand quickly, his long fingers enveloping her small hand and wrist.

“My name is Annabelle,” she said seriously. “You don’t look like a fox.” Her expression was still curious, her nose scrunched, as she surveyed him.

Fox’s face split into a beautiful grin. I heard Elise’s sudden intake of breath at the transformation and silently willed my own reaction to not be as obvious. His eyes locked onto mine, and I greedily drank in the strong curve of his jaw, the dimple in one cheek, and the shock of dark blond hair that managed to look messy and purposeful at the same time as it refused to stay tucked behind his ears. A wave of desire swept through me, beating in all of my pulse points, especially my upper thighs.

For one second, I imagined reaching across the table and pushing that hair away from his face, so I could look into his eyes and see myself in their reflection. I wondered what I would look like there, who I’d be. A silly, idealistic coed with a baby and a bunch of baggage? Or a woman with ambition, with obstacles and precious cargo, but nothing she can’t handle? I hoped it’d be the latter, even as I berated myself for caring about the effect he had on me.

“That’s true, Annabelle. Sometimes things aren’t as they seem though, right?” Fox asked, his grin almost shy as he looked quickly at me again before turning his gaze back to her.

Annabelle thought about his words for a moment, then nodded. “Like pretend,” she said, satisfied, and went back to her coloring.

I watched the entire exchange between them with something pinching in my chest, not entirely unpleasant but definitely unfamiliar. When Fox sat back in his seat, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. Suddenly, it was very important to me that this stranger think highly of me and my daughter.

Further introductions were made, pleasantries exchanged, and small talk abounded as we ate. I very deliberately didn’t look directly at Fox again, just in case my racing thoughts were as transparent as they felt.

Chase laughed and talked animatedly through the meal, so alive and enthusiastic at my side, where he held my hand under the table and made Annabelle laugh with silly voices and bubble-blowing into his drink.

“See, babe? I told you we’d get along just fine,” he whispered in my ear at one point. I nodded and smiled at him. And for a second, I almost thought this could be my new normal. Almost.

Except… I couldn’t get Fox’s words out of my head. Things aren’t always as they seem, indeed. And today was a prime example of that.

* * *

After dinner, my parents took Annabelle home with them so Chase and I could head out to the Dempseys’. I was looking forward to being alone with him again, talking and hopefully rekindling that physical spark we had years ago, but first we had to get this stuffy party out of the way. His parents still made me so uncomfortable, even after all these years. I had nervous butterflies in my stomach as we said goodbye to the crowd of our old friends and left the diner.

Heather, Fox, and Elise were the last to go, and we stood outside for a moment, enjoying the evening.

“Are you going to the Dempseys’ party, Fox? Or can I give you a ride somewhere?” Heather asked.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Elise perk up and then frown, and I stifled a laugh when Heather pretended to be oblivious.

“If you wouldn’t mind, the motel would be great,” Fox said.

“Avery, it was so nice to see you!” Elise gushed suddenly, like we hadn’t been living in the same town for the past four years and wouldn’t be attending a party at her home in twenty minutes.

Still, I nodded politely. “You too.”

“I’m happy to babysit that little darling Annabelle whenever y’all might need me!” Elise said with a quick glance at Fox, and I wanted to roll my eyes at her timing. What a show.

“Um, thank you,” I said slowly.
Not likely.

“C’mon, babe.” Chase nudged me. “Bye, everyone!”

I let him take my hand and lead me to his new SUV, mammoth and gleaming under the stars. The street was quiet, the neighboring stores dark, and just a dull glow emanated from the diner as our cook Billy and my “aunt” Joy, our longtime diner manager, cleaned up and prepared to close for the evening.

Chase told me that Fox had declined his invitation to stay at the Dempsey ranch, instead opting for our town’s only little motel, which lacked a pool or room service but boasted kitchenettes and a weekly rate. It was an older building, nothing fancy, though clean and well maintained. I wondered why Fox would decide to stay there instead of with the Dempseys and decided he must like his privacy.

I tried to tear my thoughts away from anyone but Chase as he slowly backed me up to the door on the passenger side, his hands resting on the car at either side of my shoulders, caging me in.

“Alone at last. That was a big crowd.” He smiled, leaning forward.

I let him nuzzle my cheek and turned my lips to meet his. He kissed me unhurriedly, like I remembered, exploring my mouth as he ran his hands up my arms to cup my face. I leaned into him, willing my brain to shut down and just enjoy the sensation of his kiss. He took my pliantness as an invitation to go farther and slid his hands down my sides to my ass, pulling me against him tightly so I could feel his arousal.

Startled, I pulled back and he laughed.

“Sorry, babe,” he said charmingly. “It’s been a while.”

I laughed too, although a little nervously. We were dancing around each other, trying to find a comfortable spot between a lot of history and a good reason for a future. There were bound to be awkward moments. Chase reached around me to open the passenger door. I let him help me in, and when he carefully closed it to jog around to the driver side, I allowed myself a shaky breath.
So far, so good.

* * *

By the time we got out to the Dempsey ranch, about twenty minutes outside of town, Chase and I had exhausted most of the usual small talk. Our longer conversations existed almost entirely in emails, and talking in person was a little awkward at first.

“Did you have a chance to read those articles on New York City?”

“You already sent those to me?”

“A couple days ago. You said you’d read them on the flight or the bus.”

“Oh that’s right,” he said. “Sorry, I forgot.”

“It’s okay,” I told him reassuringly. I was a little disappointed, but I brushed it off.
He’s had a lot going on and you can’t expect him to remember everything, Avery.

We pulled up to the ranch and my stomach dropped with dread, but Chase was all smiles as he ran around to open my door and usher me up the wide porch steps. A maid greeted us at the door and a server hired for the evening offered us our choice of drinks.

The Dempseys’ house looked the same as it had four years ago – beautiful but impersonal. We greeted a few of Chase’s family’s friends while I kept my eyes out for his parents. They spotted us from where they were deep in conversation with another older couple and immediately headed over.

“Finally!” Janice said, a slight irritation evident in her voice. “We’ve been waiting for you.”

“Sorry, Mom,” Chase smiled at her. “Lots of people to catch up with.”

His father patted his back. “Glad to have you home, son. Nice to see you here as well, Avery.”

Chase slipped his arm around me and I tried not to tense up. I felt all the eyes in the room on me, and although I was glad that I’d borrowed a nicer dress from Heather, I began to wish I’d worn something other than my boots. My outfit was fine for The Kitchen but I was underdressed for this party. I realized suddenly that the last time I’d been in their home was Chase’s graduation party four years ago, the one that they’d held the night before he left. I tried to push that thought out of my mind and I’d barely taken the first sip of my iced tea when Janice focused her sharp eyes on me.

“Avery, tell us. When do you graduate and what are your plans?” Her mouth turned up slightly at the corners in what I’m assuming was her version of a smile.

I cleared my throat before I became dangerously close to choking on my drink. “In May, actually. I can’t wait.” Chase squeezed my shoulder reassuringly.

Ron Dempsey took a generous pull from his vodka rocks. “That’s great news. Congratulations!” He signaled a passing server for a refill.

“What is your major, dear? Accounting, is it?”

I stifled a sigh. That’s what everyone thought – that I’d get a “sensible” degree and take over the diner. “No, it’s English Literature. With an emphasis on Creative Writing and a minor in Advertising.” Was this a job interview? Avery Kent, applying for the position of being good enough for your son.

“Your parents must be very proud. A degree in under five years. Impressive, given your… circumstances.” Janice fixed me with a knowing look.

Circumstances? Was she referring to my child? I felt myself start to bristle. Chase sensed my attitude and hurried to fill the silence.

“Avery wants to go to graduate school,” he blurted.

“Graduate school?” Janice raised an eyebrow.