Page 30 of Starting Our Chance

“Coming right up.” I disappeared into the house and took the chance to make a quick phone call. When Marcus picked up, I told him I needed to talk to Felicity. His tone instantly changed. He said she was busy, talking on the phone with her brothers. It could be completely unconnected—but I knew that Felicity’s family resided in New York, and I didn’t believe in coincidences. I told him that I was coming over later tonight, and swiftly hung up on Marcus’ protests.

I gathered two plates, forks, a pie server, and knife, and even remembered to grab napkins. Lore had said she didn’t want any, but if I coaxed her to stay a heartbeat longer, that would be amazing. Either way, I wanted Lore to see that I was a little more sophisticated than the boy who ate pie with his fingers—the boy who was so hungry that he would eat a whole pie in one sitting, because he wasn’t sure when he’d eat again. That was a memory I didn’t want to bring up, and I hoped like hell Lore had forgotten all about it.

After arranging the tray of materials, I dipped into the newly remodeled formal dining room for the decanter and another tumbler. As I quickly poured the bottle of bourbon into the crystal decanter, that to this point was formerly just for decoration, I felt my chest swell with a touch of pride.

Ice, I reminded myself. As I dug through the fridge, my phone chimed, and I looked at it.

Marcus: Don’t pester Felicity. She’s all worked up about something, and I can’t get two words out of her in English.

I rolled my eyes. Too fucking bad. She knew something I didn’t, and if it concerned the woman on my porch, I needed to know. So, I shot back a message saying that I would bring pie as I had a feeling that might appease the pregnant woman.

But right now, I was going to go sit, spend some quality time with a beautiful woman, and try to show her how good it was to be my girl.

All my hopes came shattering down when I left the house and realized that I was alone on the porch. I set the tray down with little care, the crystal clinking and chiming. I didn’t care, I was only concerned with sending off a message to Lore.

Me: Gorgeous? Just disappear and leave me hanging?

I stood around, hoping like hell she had only left the porch. But a few minutes later, she responded.

Loretta: Sorry to leave so suddenly. Mama called, and I had to go. Rain check on the drink?

Disappointment washed over me. I sat down hard onto one of the porch chairs, my head falling back against the wall of the house. I had everything I’d dreamed of. And I’d thought my life was good. Of course, I knew it wasn’t perfect, but I had been content . . . until that hurricane had shown up next door. Now, she was wrecking my heart, and nothing else but her mattered. I was beginning to understand Tyler’s ludicrous behavior around Nikki, as I now felt a little insane myself.

I’m not giving up. I didn’t get this far because I quit when it got tough. So, after allowing myself one more moment to wallow, I stood up and grabbed the pie. I paused, then after a moment’s thought, I also reached down and grabbed the decanter of bourbon. Then, I walked to my truck where the keys were already waiting in the cup holder. I was going to the Bowers’ house and I was getting some goddamned answers.

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