Page 18 of The Second Dance
“Oh, Chad had one of those wandering eyes. He always did. Even when we were first dating. I should have seen it coming and ran the other way. But then I wouldn’t have my boys.” She pauses. “I tried living with it. Hell, I lived with it for over twenty years. But after Becca… Cheating with my best friend—that was the last straw.”
My stomach twists. “That sucks, Heather. You shouldn’t have had to make a decision like that. I’m sorry.”
She smiles grimly. “I’ll be fine. Don’t you worry about me. Chad took my best friend. My house. And my kids. But I got…”
“Your freedom.” I finish. Handing her another gorgeous dress. “You stood up for yourself. You did the right thing. The boys will come around.”
“You think so?”
I swallow. “You said Bo was a good guy, right?”
“He’s more than a good guy… he’s loyal and wise and kind.”
“Then he’ll come around.”
11.
Bo
The issue with that damn Warton eighty is that it’s right on the way to the home place. If I take the highway out of Silver Bend, I’ve got no choice but to drive past it.
That’s part of what makes it such a great location.
I used to study the trees. Watch the effect the season had on the ground.
Not anymore.
It hurts too much to look at something I can’t have.
Now, I’m going to have to look the other way.
And that’s exactly what I’d do, too, if it weren’t for the fact that there’s a familiar little silver car parked in the lane.
I slow down a bit in my truck, studying the car as I drive past.
Wheels spinning. Mud flying.
She’s not parked there. She’s stuck.
A surprised laugh escapes my lips and I turn the truck around.
She must see my truck when it pulls into the lane. I’m sure she notices when I get out, because she guns the damn engine just as I’m walking past.
Mud spatters my jeans.
She’s going to have to try harder than that if she wants to scare me off.
I stop by the driver's side. Leaning down, I knock on the window.
She’s staring ahead, eyes pressed shut in embarrassment.
Chuckling to myself, I reach down and open the door.
She sighs, glancing up at me.
“Help has arrived.” I drawl.
She tips her chin up. “Who said I needed help?”
