Page 12 of Reckless Chances
“Freddie,” he shouted.
Freddie peeked around his load and smiled. “Chuck – you made it!”
“Did you leave any branches in the forest?” Charlie laughed and the two of them headed towards the music and chatter.
“The fire was going out,” Freddie grunted as he squeezed through the back gate, the branches scratching on the wooden fence.
“I could see it from Main Street.” Charlie pushed the gate open so Freddie and his branches could get through.
“There are coolers in the shed,” Freddie said as he staggered with his heavy load to the fire. Charlie’s flannel shirt felt like overkill as the heat from the fire warmed his cheeks even though he was only at the shed. As he shoved the bottles of his lavender brew into the ice cubes, someone clapped him on the back. He turned and saw Josh.
“You made it,” Josh smiled.
“So did half the town,” Charlie said. “I wouldn’t miss one of your barbecues – are there any ribs left or did Freddie finish them off?”
Josh laughed. “I think there are some left, but you might have to fight Charlotte for them. I think she’s already eaten her weight in ribs.”
“How’s the baby?” Charlie popped the cap off his beer with a lighter.
“Amazing – speaking of appetites, you’ll have to check out the ham hocks on that baby.” Josh took a sip of his beer. “Man, I’m rambling.”
“That’s alright,” Charlie smiled. “You love being a dad.”
“I do.” Josh shivered. “Let’s get you some grub.”
Charlie followed Josh to the fire pit and unsnapped the button on his jacket as he approached. He glanced around the campfire, taking in the faces of his friends and neighbors. He did a double-take when he saw the blonde hair glowing in the amber light, then those eyes, even though they were icy blue, burned heat into his chest. He smiled before averting his eyes, and she did too. His eyes only darted away for a second and then they were drawn back to her. She was laughing and talking to Serena. There was something ethereal about her. Serena was a gorgeous woman, but Emma seemed to glow like something larger than life, and sparkled in technicolor, next to her.
“Who’s the new girl?” Ethan flopped into one of the folding camp chairs next to Charlie, who had taken a seat on a log round.
“Who?” Charlie played dumb. Ethan was young and cocky, the best snowboarder on the mountain – by far. He was also a typical young dude.
Ethan flipped his blond hair out of his eyes with a whip of his head. “The one with Serena.”
Charlie felt an unfamiliar tightness in his chest. Was he jealous? He had no claim to Emma. He glanced over at her and caught her looking at him again. She drew her hand through her hair and then looked away, her fingers twirling the ends of her long hair. “That’s Emma,” Charlie said. “The new florist.”
“Florist. Like hardwood?”
Charlie rolled his eyes and couldn’t help but chuckle. Ethan was smart like a dump truck. He was lucky he was good looking and extremely athletic. “Like a flowers florist, you idiot,” he laughed.
“Ahhh, cool.”
Charlie watched Ethan’s eyes track up and down Emma’s body and his grip involuntarily tightened around his beer bottle. He wanted to smack the punk up the back of his head, although he completely understood. Charlie had been young and dumb once too – and would have tried to get Emma into bed as fast as humanly possible. “I heard that she’s married, or engaged, or something.” Charlie peeled the label off his bottle and stuck it to the side of the log. He didn’t know why he lied; it just came out.
“Meh,” Ethan shrugged and then leaned toward Charlie to whisper, “Hasn’t stopped me before.”
“Behave. She’s not a tourist.” Because Chance Rapids had such a seasonal crowd, skiers in the winter, and hikers or campers in the summer, it was easy for guys like Ethan to spend their entire summer with a temporary new girl every week.
“Good point,” Ethan said. Although Charlie wasn’t convinced. “I’m going to go talk to her anyway.” He sprang up from the chair and before Charlie could say another word, the young Brad Pitt, theThelma and Louiseversion, had made his way through the crowd and had inserted himself in between Serena and Emma. Even through the crowd, he could hear their giggles. Both of them were looking up at him and laughing.
Charlie pursed his lips and took a sip of his drink – stewing.
“I heard you were looking for these,” a voice said from behind him and then a paper plate heaped with ribs appeared over his shoulder. Charlotte took a seat in the recently vacated chair.
“Thanks.” Charlie took the plate from Charlotte. “I heard that I might have to fight you for them.”
“Who said that?” Charlotte laughed. “Let me guess, Freddie?”
“Actually, it was Josh.”
