Page 31 of Mine Forever
Not that I want it or need it.
“Tell little Lucy I’ll be over to kiss her belly when the storm’s over.”
I might be gawking at this point.
Charley chuckles. “Sure thing. See y’all later.”
We say our goodbyes, and when they’re out of earshot I say, “Since when did you go around kissing baby bellies?”
He shrugs and stares hard at a can of refried beans, not meeting my stare. “Lucy’s adorable. It’s hard not to want to give her belly kisses.” Clearing his throat, he pulls at the cart. “Come on, let’s finish up.”
My mind and heart are scrambled as we pick up the rest of the dinner items before making our way to the front of the store, which takes longer with all the people stopping to say hello to Chase.
Watching him interact with the people of the town, I think about how Charley told me he works with the school. Judging by the number of people talking to him, he’s a popular guy in town.
Oddly, none of them treat him like a legendary, celebrity baseball player.
The truth is I don’t know much about the man Chase Hanover is now. But it doesn’t seem to align with the man I once knew.
At the register, the cashier chats like there isn’t an odd spring hurricane about to hit, and when it comes time to pay, I hand over my card.
“No way, Mitchell.” Chase pushes my hand out of the cashier’s reach.
“It’s the least I can do.” I push back, trying to reach around him and hand the girl my card.
“Put it on my account, please.” Chase smiles at the girl, who nods and blushes.
“Yes, Mr. Hanover.” She pushes a couple of buttons on the computerized screen, and I swear she has hearts in her eyes.
I roll mine and stuff my card back into my wallet. “You don’t play fair, Chase.”
“We can agree on that, at least,” he replies, putting the bags into the shopping cart.
As we load groceries into the back seat of Chase’s truck, Charley and Nate walk by.
“It was nice to meet you, Eden,” she calls out. “Maybe once the storm blows over, you can come over for dinner or drinks.”
“It was nice to meet you as well. But I’m headed back to New York as soon as they open the bridge.”
She nods, but her smile drops a fraction. “Okay, well, maybe next time. Be safe.”
As she starts to walk away, I think of something. “Hey, Charley.”
She stops and looks back. “Yeah?”
“Do you ever miss home?”
Her smile is wistful. “I miss my mom and siblings. But home is wherever Nate and Lucy are now.”
I don’t know what to say to that, but tears spring to my eyes, making me blink hard.
Her smile grows. “Life’s funny, Eden. You just never know where you’re going to end up.”
NINE
chase
As we drivedown the road, Eden talks a mile a minute.
