by Rye Hart
“Yeah, that was Cason's idea,” I said, running a hand through my hair.
The front door of the diner opened, the bell overhead tinkling, and I cringed. I just had a feeling I knew who was coming through the front doors. It took everything in me in that moment to not jump up and stab them both in the heart with a spoon.
“Speak of the devil,” I muttered and sighed.
Hailey turned around just as Cason and Ben entered the diner, wide smiles plastered upon their faces.
“How'd you find us?” I asked when they reached our table.
“Easy,” Cason said, slipping into the booth next to Hailey. “It's the only place open and your truck is out front. Didn't take Sherlock Holmes to figure that one out, chief.”
Ben sat down beside me. “Besides, I was in the mood for a milkshake,” he said, a cocky smirk on his face.
“Yeah, of course you were,” I grumbled.
“So, Hailey,” Cason said, turning toward her with an arm behind her on the bench. “What did you miss most about Black Oak?”
“Truthfully?” she laughed. “Not much. No offense or anything, but it's not like I ever had a lot going for me here. I still don't, but hopefully, that'll change soon.”
“Oh, I have no doubt it will,” Ben said, leaning across the table, closer to her. “A lot has changed since you left. It's like a whole different town in some ways.”
“That's what everyone keeps telling me,” she said. “Yet, I see that so much has stayed the same.”
“Like what?” Cason asked.
She looked at the three of us, her lips curling up in a grin, and I so badly wanted to know what she was thinking. Instead of enlightening us though, she passed and gave us something that was a little more benign. “Well, like the diner,” she said. “This milkshake tastes exactly like I remembered it. And the bonfire – that hasn't changed a bit. And I have to tell you, that brought back so many memories.”
Judging by the look on her face and the air of sadness around her, not all of the memories that came back to her at the bonfire were good ones. She stared down at her hands for a moment, seeming to be lost in thought, before looking back up at the three of us.
“I don't mean to be blunt, you guys,” she said, biting her lip. “But why all the attention? To be honest, it's a little overwhelming and unexpected. I mean, it's not like any of you noticed or paid attention to me back in high school.”
“Like I said,” Ben said. “A lot has changed. We've all grown up, and it's been a long time since someone came back to Black Oak once they left. Usually, when somebody gets out, they stay gone. We're just interested in getting to know you, Hailey. That's all.”
She nodded, but she still didn't look entirely convinced. But she was smiling, almost like there was some small part of her that enjoyed the extra attention. Her gaze flitted back over to me and we locked eyes. I It felt like something hit me in the chest good and hard. As I looked into her eyes, I realized I could see myself easily falling for someone like her. She was sweet, down-to-earth, yet adventurous, and beautiful.
If I ever needed a girl who could get my mind off my ex, Hailey Roberts was it. Someone who didn't already know my entire past and wouldn't judge me on the mistakes I've made. I could work with that. “So, Quinn,” Ben said, turning back toward me, a sly smirk on his face. “How are things with you and Shelly?”
Damn him. That son of a bitch.
CHAPTER EIGHT - HAILEY
The next day, Jenn called, and I decided to meet her coffee at the one little coffee shop in town. It wasn't a Starbucks – not even close. It was a hole in the wall mom and pop shop, and it had been around long before coffee houses were trendy.
Mainly it just served regular old coffee and some bakery items. It didn't have any of those fancy coffee drinks you get in the city. Nobody in Black Oak seemed inclined to spend five bucks, or more, on some fancy coffee drink that had too much milk and not enough actual coffee in it.
At least, that's what my mom always told me when I asked her.
She said people in Black Oak were more practical and less about the frills than that. And now that I was an adult, I had to agree with her. The coffee in that little hole in the wall actually was superior to anything I ever got at Starbucks back in Los Angeles.
Jenn was sitting across from me, sipping on a chai tea, and cradling Marty in her arms. He slept peacefully, his eyes closed as he nestled against his mother's bosom. He seemed so peaceful, so serene. I found myself wishing I could feel half as peaceful as that child.
“So, I have a dilemma,” I said, biting my lip. “What if all three of the brothers wanted to date me?”
Jenn laughed, a loud raucous sound that filled the coffee house, but surprisingly, didn't wake up the sleeping baby.
“You're serious?” she asked, her mouth agape. “All three of them? Wow, you really have worked some magic since getting back into town, haven't you?”
“Apparently,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Quinn asked me out first – when we were at the bonfire. He knew I was uncomfortable there, so he took me out for milkshakes. But then Cason and Bennett showed up, and things just got kind of – awkward. I mean, it was like they were all trying to outdo each other for my attention.”
“Oh, tell me more,” Jenn said, a salacious grin on her face. “Because if you don't tell me, someone else will, and I'd rather get the juicy gossip straight from you, if you don't mind.”
“Well, it was strange, honestly,” I said. I stirred my coffee with my spoon, watching the cream mix with the dark roast I'd ordered. “Maybe I'm imagining it, I dunno. Maybe it’s just wishful thinking.”
“They were always a competitive bunch, so it wouldn't surprise me if they were fighting it out for your attention,” Jenn said with a chuckle. “Lucky girl. So, how'd everything end? Did you pick one to go home with?”
“No!” I laughed, feeling almost scandalized. “I'm not that kind of a girl.”
“Pity,” she said, a wry grin on her face. “Those are the details I'd really like.”
“You're incorrigible,” I replied. “It ended when I left them at the diner. By myself. I just told them I had to get home.”
“And why would you do that?” she asked. “Why not let them fight it out a little longer? You can't tell me that wasn't an insane ego boost.”
“I'm not saying it wasn't,” I grinned. “But, it all just felt weird. All that attention, all those questions – all at once. I guess I'm just not ready for all that right now.”
Jenn studied my face for a long moment as she fidgeted with the spoon in her coffee mug. I had an idea what was going through her mind. Even though she was married, I could tell that she had a thing for the McCormick brothers – unanswered questions, perhaps. And I had a feeling she was hoping to live through me vicariously.
“So what are you going to do?” she finally asked.
“What do you mean?”
“Are you going to date any of them? If so, which one?” She was smiling wide, clearly enjoying this.
I don't know,” I said. “None of them actually asked, so maybe I was imagining things after all. Probably so. I'm just terrible when it comes to reading men. You know that.”
“Or maybe not,” Jenn said, her tone light and teasing. “Look at you, coming back into town, looking all gorgeous, and getting all the good men. Leaving none for anyone else.”
“You tramp,” I said and laughed. “You're married.”
“I'm not talking about me – for the most part,” she said. “I'm talking about all the other poor girls who are forever stuck in Black Oak. Now, they have three less guys to choose from because they're all in love with you.”
She giggled and stuck her tongue out at me. I just rolled my eyes and shook my head. It felt so good to be back with Jenn again, laughing and talking the way we used to. I didn't realize until that moment just how much I'd missed her.
“In love with me? Now you're going way too far,” I said, shaking my head, but trying hard no
t to laugh. “It's not even like that. Besides, I told you I'm probably misreading the situation. But, even if I wasn't, I'm not really ready to date again. Not yet.”
That got a raised eyebrow and a curious look from Jenn. I hadn't talked about my ex back in California. I hadn't told her much – only, that I was seeing someone and now I wasn't. I wanted to keep it that way too. In my mind, the less I talked about it, the less real it became. And the less real it was, the less I had to deal with it.
And in that moment, I wanted nothing more than to not deal with it; to just pretend it had all never happened.
“Still hurting after your breakup, huh?” Jenn asked, obviously trying to get more of the story out of me in what she thought was a subtle way.
“No,” I scoffed. “Not in the least. I left him, remember?”
“Still doesn't mean you don't have a broken heart,” she said.
“I don't. Trust me,” I said.
My hands started shaking as unwanted memories of my time with Leo flooded my mind. The picture of his face, rising unbidden in my mind, filled me with a dark anger and an even darker feeling of dread. I gritted my teeth and squeezed my eyes shut, doing everything in my power to block everything out until I was able to calm myself down.
Jenn, sensing that something wasn't right, reached out and took my hands in hers, giving them a reassuring squeeze. I was so caught up in my own head that when I felt her hands on mine, I jumped, knocking my coffee all over the table and myself. Thankfully it wasn't scalding hot, but it was warm and wet – and my jeans were now soaked as I jumped up from the chair.
“Jesus Christ, Hailey, what's going on with you?” Jenn asked me, her eyes wide with surprise.
I stared back at my best friend, and felt my cheeks flush when I saw the expression of concern on her face. We both reached for the napkins on the table at the same time, our hands getting tangled up with one another.
“I'm so sor –”
I started to speak and then cut myself off when I caught sight of a familiar face coming through the front the door of the coffee house. Great. Just what I needed when I was as flustered and frustrated as I felt in that moment.
“Crap,” I groaned. “It's Cason.”
“Where?” she asked, dropping her napkins and turning to look at the door. When she spotted the tall, good looking man coming in, an approving grin spread across her face.
“Ah, so it is,” she said and then started waving at him like a loon. “Hey, Cason!”
I slapped her hand down as she waved at him and tried to shush her, not wanting to draw attention to the coffee soaked table – or my pants, which were also drenched. But it was too late, Cason saw us, smiled, waved, and headed our way. I quickly sat down, hiding my legs underneath the table as I wiped up my mess, trying to avoid eye contact with him. My jeans were wet and clung to me uncomfortably. I took a shallow breath and realized that I smelled like a coffee pot. “Hailey, Jenn, how's it going?” he asked.
“Good, good,” Jenn said, talking as if they were old friends. “Care to join us?”
I was still busying myself, avoiding Cason's eyes by wiping down the table as best I could with the dinky little napkins the coffee house provided. But when she spoke, I sat straight up, a jolt of adrenaline shooting through me. With my heart pounding so hard I was sure they could both hear it, I shot Jenn a warning look.
“I'm sure he's gotta head into work –” I started to say.
“Actually, I'm off today,” Cason said, pulling up a chair and sitting down beside me. “It's totally rare, but it happens now and then.”
Jenn, with a gleam in her eye, gave me a mischievous look before turning back to Cason with a big smile on her face. I had no idea what she was up to, but the knots in my stomach told me that it probably wasn't going to be good.
“Speaking of which,” she said, “you guys left pretty quickly after the bonfire last night. I didn't even see you there.”
“What can I say? We were beat,” he said.
I noticed he was staring right at me. His golden-brown eyes were solely on me, as if there was nobody else in the room, even though he was speaking to Jenn. And as our eyes met, the look he gave me made the swarm of butterflies in my stomach start to batter my insides. I scolded myself, mentally, for even feeling that way. I wasn't ready to think that way about anyone, no matter how handsome he was. “So Hailey, what are you doing this evening?” Cason asked.
“Well, I think Jenn and I might be –”
“No, I can't,” Jenn said before I could finish.
I looked at her with eyes wide and my mouth hanging open. I couldn't believe she was hanging me out to dry like that. She just shrugged and gave me an “aw shucks” kind of smile.
“Sorry,” she said and rolled her eyes dramatically like she was a total airhead or something. “I totally forgot that Martin has a business dinner with some clients, and I have to stay home with the kids. I was going to tell you”
“I'll help,” I said. “I know you have your hands full.”
“I think I can handle my kids on my own,” she laughed. “I've managed it for this long. But thanks for the offer.”
“Great. Sounds like you're free then,” Cason said as he pulled his phone from his pocket. “There's a new restaurant over in Shoreview I've been dying to try out. I was thinking that maybe we could check it out together tonight?”
“Uhh –”
I racked my brain and was having trouble coming up with an excuse on the fly. Given that Jenn had just thrown me under the bus, I had to try and to come up with something that sounded plausible and not rude. Jenn sat back in her seat, a little grin upon her lips as she stared at me while I fluttered and flailed, trying to come up with something.
Finally, with both of them looking at me, I knew I had to say something – unless I wanted to sit there, my mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water, looking like a complete moron.
“Sure. Sounds good,” I said, trying to smile but cringing inside as the words fell out of my mouth.
“Awesome, what's your number?” he asked.
Jenn answered for me, speaking quickly and reciting my number ready before I could even remember what it was. He somehow managed to keep up with her, punching it into his phone as she spoke. And a moment later, my phone buzzed with a new text message – a smiling emoji.
“Got it,” I said, forcing an awkward smile onto my face as I held up my phone. “Must be from you.”
“Actually, it wasn't,” Cason said, leaning closer to look at it, a perplexed expression on his face. “I was just going to send you a message, but looks like someone beat me to it.”
As we stared at my phone, another message popped up.
“Yeah, I thought I recognized my brother's number,” he groaned, rolling his eyes and shaking his head.
“Ah yeah, Quinn,” I muttered, putting my phone away.
I'd forgotten all about giving him my number when he'd asked before we got to the diner. He said we should catch up, maybe talk about writing, and it sounded like fun at the time. As we headed for the diner, things were going well, the conversation was flowing, and it just happened.
And now, I had two out of three McCormick brothers' numbers in my phone.
I looked at Cason and half expected that to be a deal breaker, but his smile remained intact. There was a sparkle in his eye and Cason raised his chin in defiance. He looked as if he were accepting a challenge. I could only imagine the conversation at the McCormick house when he got home.
“See you tonight, Hailey,” he said. “I'll be at your parent's place around six. Really looking forward to it.”
“Yeah, ummm – me too.”
He stood up from the table, and gave me a long look. It seemed like he wanted to say something more, but though better of it and remained silent. Instead, he turned and walked toward the door. I had no idea what came over me, but as he walked out, I couldn't help but watch him go – and noticed that his tight ass was a nice sight too. I mental
ly kicked myself for staring, although it was totally reflexive.
“Huh,” I said.
“Huh what?” Jenn asked.
“Didn't you notice that he didn't even order anything?” I asked.
“Probably didn't come here for the coffee then. Guess he was in the mood for something else,” Jenn said, giving me a flirty little wink.
I looked out the window and saw Cason climb into his pickup truck. He waved at me, clearly seeing me through the large window to the street.
“Yeah, I guess maybe you're right.” I laughed. “But now what am I going to do?”
“What do you mean?”
“I have Quinn and Cason both reaching out to me, and I'm not ready to date anyone,” I said. “Much less brothers. Do you have any idea how complicated that will get?”
Jenn shrugged. “Go out on your date with Cason, have fun,” she said. “Tell them you're not looking for anything serious and see where it goes. There's nothing wrong with dating around before getting serious. You are allowed to go out and have a little fun, you know. There's nothing wrong with it.”
“But – brothers?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “That just seems a little strange. A lot strange, actually.”
“Hey, at least you don't have Ben after you too,” she teased. “Well at least not yet. You have, after all, only been in town a few days, and –”
“Hush,” I said, finding it hard not to laugh at my bizarre situation.
Back in high school, I would have killed to have had either of them – Cason or Quinn – notice me. Back then, neither one of them even seemed to really know I even existed. Now, I had both of them after me. Then reality intruded, and all of those bad memories came flooding back. Everything I'd been trying to escape from. Everything I'd left back in California. I needed to work on me at that moment. I needed to find a way to leave the past in the past and focus on myself in the here and now. I didn't need to get involved with one of the McCormick brothers – let alone two, or maybe even all three of them.