4. Stacey

Chapter Four

STACEY

I finish off my final drink for the evening as Ethan, Cam, Reese, Peyton, and I continue to chat and hang out. Lee called it a night an hour or so ago, as he had to go pick his wife up from the airport, who was returning from a work trip.

"Well, I think I'm going to head out," Reese says to everyone as she slips her phone into her clutch.

"Thanks for coming out with us tonight!" I say, standing to give her a hug.

"Anytime," she replies. "Are we still on for Monday?"

"Absolutely. I'll see you at the studio," I tell her before she says goodbye to everyone else at our table and makes her way out of the bar.

"Did I understand correctly that she's engaged to a hockey player?" Peyton asks.

"Yep, Austin Jones. He plays for the Indianapolis Eagles. They are just the cutest couple ever! He proposed to her on stage at one of her concerts earlier this year. Totally surprised her! It was epic."

"Sounds like it. Reese appeared to be a pretty cool chick. Laid-back and wasn't offended that I didn't know who she was or what she sang."

"She's one of the most laid-back people you'll ever meet. She's down-to-earth and hasn't let the celebrity status go to her head. We met years ago, when she was first starting out, after she'd won the singing competition TV show she was on, and she's pretty much the same exact way now. Just a little stronger of a backbone, after all she's been through."

"I think we're going to take off, as well," Cam says as both she and Ethan stand.

"Thanks for coming out tonight, man. It was great to catch up," Peyton tells Ethan as they pull each other into another man hug.

"Absolutely. Maybe we'll have time before you head back to base to get together for a barbecue or something."

"Definitely! That, and I'd love to get in with you and work on a new piece I've been thinking about for the last few months."

"You know how to find me. I can work you in at some point before you leave, I'm sure of it."

"Sounds good, man," he says to Ethan, then pulls Cam in for a side hug. "And it was good to see you again, Cam. Congratulations on getting this guy to settle down."

"Good night, guys!" Cam tells both of us.

"Night, I'll see you next week for that eval," I call to Cam's retreating back.

I sink back down on the barstool and grab one of the glasses of water a server dropped off to us a little bit ago. I've only had a couple drinks over the past few hours, but I still feel like I should drink some water before I go. I don't live far, so I took an Uber over. I didn't want to have to worry about driving after enjoying my time tonight.

"Does your dad live far from here?" I ask Peyton, remembering he said earlier that he stays with his dad when he comes to town.

"About ten minutes away or so, depending on traffic. How about you, are you far?"

"Nope, about a five-minute drive."

"How are you getting home tonight?" he asks.

"Uber. I didn't know how much I'd drink and wanted to be safe."

"I can drop you off, if you'd like. I've only had the one beer, as I knew I'd be driving."

"Sure, that'd be fine," I say with a smile.

"You ready to go now?"

"If you are."

"I'm actually starving. Would you want to go hit up a diner somewhere and grab a bite to eat? I'm not sure what my dad's got in the fridge, so it's probably best if I grab something before heading back."

"I could go for some late-night greasy food."

"Then let's get out of here, I know just the place," Peyton tells me as he sets down his glass of water. I follow his lead, grabbing my purse and lightweight jacket I brought along, not knowing how the weather was going to be once the sun went down this evening.

"Where are you taking me?" I ask as we settle into his truck.

"The Diner."

"Yum. I haven't been there in a long time."

"One of my favorite places to go when I come to town, that's open late."

We make it to The Diner and grab a table up on their sixth floor. This restaurant is like no other place I've ever been to. All six levels boast a different dining experience. The first floor is a coffee shop that has lots of pastries and to-go items, while the second floor is an upscale restaurant. The third, fourth, and fifth floors are main dining rooms, all offering different types of food. The sixth floor is a seafood bar and, late at night, offers greasy diner food as they cater to the late-night bar crowd. The floor has breathtaking views of Downtown Nashville, so it tends to be a popular place.

We put in our orders with the waitress after she brings us each a glass of water.

"So, we've already discussed the basics, where we're from and what we do for a living. I want to know more about you," I say, reaching for my glass.

"What do you want to know?"

"Everything," I say on a little laugh. "Tell me…" I think of what I want to know. Peyton has intrigued me all evening and I feel like I could talk to him forever. "What do you like to do for fun?"

He rubs his hand along the back of his neck as he thinks over my question, before running his fingers through his hair and dropping his hand down into his lap. He blows out a breath before answering me. "Damn, I haven't really thought about what I like doing. I guess, when I have downtime, I enjoy hanging out with friends. I'm pretty handy and enjoy helping out with remodels. I've been known to hit up a batting cage to hit some baseballs around.

"I also love going fishing. I don't really care what for, I just enjoy being out in nature. So much of my job requires me to be one thousand percent focused that I like the peacefulness that comes with sitting out on a lake or river, and just basking in the quietness that's around me. What about you, what do you like to do for fun?"

"Lately, work. But I enjoy going out and dancing, and with all the country bars at my disposal here, I'm in the perfect place for that. I also love FaceTiming with my niece. My brother, Connor, and his wife, Julie, live back in North Carolina. My niece, Sadie, is three, and the cutest little ball of energy."

"Sounds like a cutie. Do you want kids?"

"Eventually I'd like to have some, but I kinda have to find someone to have them with first."

"Not a big dater?" he questions.

"Not really. I'm usually a homebody. Except when I'm in the mood to go out dancing, which really isn't all that often, if I'm being honest. I also don't think the guys that are out at bars trolling for women are really looking for the long-term. They're almost as bad as the guys on Tinder, and that's just not my scene. What about you, got a girlfriend back on base?"

"Nope," he says, popping the P, before he takes a drink of his water and then sets the glass back down on the table. "I tried the relationship thing once and it backfired on me big time. Nothing but drama, lying, and cheating—and not from my end. I'm not into drama or high maintenance women, and I've yet to meet a woman who isn't one or both of those things. I'm also not interested in going through what my dad went through when my mom cheated on him and walked out on the two of us, never to look back."

"I understand that. I don't like drama, either; high school was enough. There's no need to repeat it." I get the vibe from his statement he's been hurt by that one past relationship, and his mom walking out on him and his dad when he was a kid. It's no wonder he doesn't have a good perception of women.

We fall into easy conversation while we wait for our food to arrive, which continues while we eat. Before we know it, an hour and a half has passed.

"I should probably get you home so I can get back and check on my dad," Peyton says finally.

"I can take an Uber if it's out of your way," I offer up again.

"It's no problem to take you home, Stacey," he assures me.

"Okay."

After the bill is paid, we make our way out of the restaurant and to his truck.

"Do you have plans while you're in town?" I ask, as he drives us through the city toward my neighborhood.

"Not really. Just came to decompress, see my dad and a few friends." He clears his throat. "Any chance you'd want to go out with me again?"

"Like on a date?" I question, a little surprised.

"Yeah, like a date," he confirms. A small smirk graces his lips, the same ones I've had to force myself not to stare at all night.

"Sure, I'd love that."

"Here, put your number in, so I have it." He hands me his phone. "What night works best for you?"

"I'm free most evenings. Do you have a day in mind?"

"How about tomorrow?"

"That would work," I tell him as he pulls into my condo's parking lot, then point to the end of the building where my unit is located. "I'm on the end down there."