Chapter 13

13

MARIGOLD

W hile Scarlett scrolled through the matches on the dating app she'd talked me into, Chance was glowering from his seat. He'd just told me in the truck that last night was a one-off, and there wasn't a future for us. But he was mad about me dating someone else?

"Let me see." I plucked the phone out of Scarlett's hands, scrolling down. "These two?"

"Aren't they hot? This one is the firefighter, and if you're more interested in a suit kind of guy, this one." She pointed at the two pictures.

The firefighter was shirtless in a gym working out, and the second man wore a suit at a bar with friends.

I quickly read through both profiles. "They are attractive. And they say they're looking to settle down."

"Perfect," Scarlett said with a smile.

Chance scoffed. "Like they're going to be honest that they're just looking for a hookup."

"I'm really good at weeding through the lies when I meet with them in person." My fingers hovered over the Match button. If I clicked it, they'd be allowed to contact me. I would be saying I was single. Right now, I felt very much attached to someone else.

"Is that safe?" Chance said with his jaw clenched.

"I know how to vet someone. I'll be fine." It wasn't like I hadn't dated before. None of them had been particularly exciting endeavors. But Chance had helped me see what was possible, and now I wanted that for myself. This time, I'd be more selective, looking for someone I shared chemistry with and who respected me. The only problem was, I didn't feel ready to say yes when my heart was longing for someone else who apparently didn't want me.

Pam walked into the room, wiping her hands on a towel. "Scarlett, can you help me with the potatoes?"

Scarlett rose. "Of course.

Eli walked with her. "I'm starving."

"It's not like she's going to let you eat," Scarlett's voice drifted off as they disappeared into the kitchen, Oakley trotting behind.

Chance leaned forward, resting his elbows on his thighs. "What do you think you're doing?"

"You're the one who said we had to pretend nothing happened. I'm just playing my part," I hissed.

He raised a brow. "A little too good if you ask me."

I jabbed a finger in the direction of his truck parked outside. "You were clear on what you wanted. You can't get upset when I move on."

His jaw tightened. "I don't like it."

"Then I guess you have a decision to make." I stood with the intention of following Scarlett, but Chance rose at the same time and snagged my wrist, pulling me close. "I want you."

I rolled my eyes, my heart thumping. "If only it were as simple as that. I'm not a toy you can dangle in the air and jerk around."

Chance bit off a curse word. "I'm not doing that."

"Aren't you?" I pulled my wrist from his hand and forced myself to walk away. Chance couldn't push me away, then act jealous when I moved on. If he only wanted me because someone else did too, I deserved better than that. Sure, I wanted Chance, but I wasn't going to play some game with him or be subjected to him changing his mind every five seconds.

Scarlett grinned at me when I entered the kitchen. "You can help peel the potatoes."

The kitchen was filled with sunlight, and holiday music played over a speaker. Bart and Eli stood near the counter, holding drinks.

"We'll get done twice as fast," Pam said as she cubed the potatoes, dropping them into a large bowl.

I grabbed a scraper and stood between the two women. I was happy to help out.

"You want to throw a football?" Eli asked when Chance walked in. "They won't let us eat."

Chance chuckled. "The funny thing is that you thought they would."

When Eli reached for a cookie on a platter on the counter, Pam slapped his hand. "We're making dinner. You don't need to snack all day."

"I don't know about the hospitality at your house," Eli said to Scarlett.

Scarlett pointed her peeler at him. "Please, you've been family since we were kids. No one gets special treatment around here."

"I love when you talk mean to me." Eli grinned, then kissed her.

Scarlett smiled as she watched them walk outside, ribbing each other about who was the better player on their football team.

"Take Oakley with you," I called after Chance.

"Good idea." He double-backed to grab the leash I'd left in the foyer, clipped it onto his collar, then led him outside.

Bart waved a hand outside. "I better make sure they don't get into any trouble."

"You do that," Pam said, probably happy he was out of the kitchen. When it was just us girls, she asked, "Are you dating anyone, dear? I overheard you talking about dating in the living room."

I cleared my throat, wishing I'd thought to grab some water. "Not at the moment." Was my voice high-pitched? I sounded guilty. Would she know I'd slept with her son? I'd never been in this position before, and it didn't feel good.

Scarlett smiled triumphantly. "Not to worry. I've got her on a dating app. She's going to meet the guy of her dreams."

What if I already had, and he didn't want me? My hand faltered on the peel; the blade slid off the skin.

Pam patted my hand. "Don't worry. There's someone out there for you."

There was always a reason why I didn't make the cut. Chance seemed to think a relationship would ruin my bond with his family. But I wasn’t so sure. It might make things awkward, but that was assuming we wouldn't work out.

Our chemistry last night was amazing. But if Chance didn't want to see if a relationship would work, then I didn't have a choice but to move on. There was no point in his family ever knowing about one lapse in judgment.

"There's no rush, dear. You'll know when you meet him, and then everything will change."

I wondered if his mom knew that her relationship with his father was the reason he was reluctant to date.

Pam's expression sobered. "On the other hand, I'm worried that Chance won't settle down."

"Why is that?" I couldn't stop myself from asking, and I pointedly ignored Scarlett's raised brow.

"He doesn't seem to think anyone would want to put up with his long hours and the danger of his job. I told him he'd find the right person, but he just won't listen. He's always been stubborn."

His mother knew her son better than anyone. I shouldn't fall into the trap of thinking Chance would change.

"You never know," Scarlett added cryptically.

"You know something about Chance's love life?" Pam asked her, her voice hopeful. "Does he have a girl but wants to keep it a secret?"

"He keeps his personal life under wraps. I was just saying I never thought I'd come home and meet the love of my life." She shook her head. "Someone I went to high school with no less. You never know. There could be someone right under his nose that he's never considered."

There was a tick in my throat, and I started to cough uncontrollably.

"Oh, dear. Let's get you some water." Pam grabbed a glass and filled it with water while Scarlett pounded my back.

When I recovered, I gave Scarlett a disgruntled look. "My throat was dry. I wasn't choking."

"Just covering all my bases," Scarlett said with a grin.

At the sink, Pam handed me the glass, and I drank deeply. When it looked like I was fine, they returned to peeling and cubing potatoes. Outside, the boys were throwing the ball back and forth. Oakley was running between them like he was part of the game. I'd always enjoyed watching the boys play on the high-school team. But there was something about them throwing one in the yard. I could see a couple of kids out there with them.

Chance would make the best father. Why couldn't he see that?

"What are you so focused on?" Scarlett asked.

"The boys throwing a ball. Nothing interesting." I turned away and set the glass down.

"If you're feeling better, you could help us. These potatoes aren't going to peel themselves." Scarlett teased.

"Are you hanging out with the Wildes tonight?" Scarlett asked me when I resumed my spot.

"I don't know—" The Wildes were her family now. I'd feel like a third wheel since she was dating Eli.

Scarlett pursed her lips. "You're invited."

"Oakley got into chocolate last night, and I had to run him to the vet. I didn't sleep well. I kind of want to go to bed early."

Scarlett lowered her hands to the counter. "Is he okay?"

"He's fine now."

Pam shook her head. "He's a naughty boy for getting into chocolate."

"I put the food in higher cabinets until Chance is able to fix the cabinet door. It doesn't close all the way."

"Chance is a gentleman for offering to help you."

"I called him last night when it happened. I panicked, and he was the first person I thought would know what to do." Then my cheeks flamed because I was worried I'd admitted too much and shouldn't have said anything.

"Why not me?" Scarlett asked, offended.

"Do you know anything about dogs?" I asked, knowing she didn't. She'd spent the last few years traveling every few months, living out of motels and suitcases.

Scarlett pouted. "No. But I'm your best friend."

"I called because Chance is good in emergency situations, and I was panicking."

Pam patted my shoulder. "I'm glad he was there for you."

"He calmed me down and bought what we needed to induce vomiting. He even referred me to a vet that didn't mind seeing us the day before Thanksgiving."

Pam nodded. "My Chance is a good boy."

Scarlett rolled her eyes. "He's hardly a boy. You always said he was an angel when we were growing up."

Pam stilled. "I'm sorry if that bothered you. I shouldn't have said that. You're both my angels."

"You mean that?" Scarlett asked, her voice vulnerable.

I set aside the peeler and wiped my hands on a towel, feeling like I was intruding on a mother-daughter moment. Scarlett never thought her parents liked her. "I'm going to the bathroom. Be right back."

I took my time, then went to check on Oakley. Bart was sitting on the top step of the back porch. "Come sit by me. I haven't seen you in a while."

I sat next to him, and Oakley ran up to me, sniffing my fingers. "Are you being a good boy?"

"I'm glad to see you got a dog."

"Yeah, Chance convinced me." I stiffened. I was the worst at covering things up. I don't know why Chance thought I could pretend that nothing happened.

"Chance, huh? I could see him getting a dog too. But he said his hours are too long, and he doesn't have anyone who could help."

"That was my excuse too. I thought I would have met someone by now. That I'd have someone to help take a dog out, walk him."

Bart patted my knee. "You will yet, dear. You're young."

I smiled because I was sure I seemed young to him. But my biological clock was ticking, and I didn't want to be alone forever.

Bart shook his head. "I'm happy Scarlett's home and that she's in a relationship."

Pam and Bart had worried about Scarlett over the years. They never thought she'd move back home to live, much less fall in love with Eli. "You think Chance will be next?"

Bart shook his head. "He seems to think that the job isn't conducive to time for family."

"You did it." I pointed out.

"I know it was hard on Pam. She shielded most of it from the kids. But Chance has always been a sensitive child. Maybe he saw what we went through, and that's why he's reluctant to be in a relationship now. If so, I feel responsible for that."

"You can't blame yourself. You were a great dad." Bart was nothing like my parents. "You were there, even if you weren't at every meal."

Bart patted my hand. "You're a part of our family too. Just like Eli will be."

Maybe Chance was right. The risks were too great for us to get involved. Last night needed to stay a one-night kind of thing. And I needed to go forward with my plan to date someone else.

Bart stood and brushed off his pants. "I'm going inside to get a snack."

"Good luck," I called after him.

He waved me off. "I can handle my wife."

A few seconds later, Scarlett slipped out and sat next to me. "Where'd you go?"

"I wanted to let you and your mom have a moment."

The boys were tossing a chew toy to Oakley.

Scarlett smiled. "It was nice."

"For what it's worth, I've always thought your mom was proud of you, whether you got good grades or participated in after school activities." I'd always envied her for having the ability to fight with her mom. My parents weren't present for me to have normal teenage moments.

I was usually so desperate for their attention; I never would have purposely acted out to get it. I thought if I was more organized, got better grades, studied what they wanted, they'd love me for me. But that never happened. I was never good enough.

Scarlett sighed. "Maybe. I don't know."

"I think it's hard for us to see our own family's clearly." I'd always been on the outside of Scarlett's, so I was familiar with the dynamic.

Scarlett pursed her lips, then looked over at me. "I think Chance is into someone."

"What?" I asked, my heart leaping into my throat.

"At the very least, he got laid. Notice how he's more relaxed today." She waved a hand in his direction.

"He wasn't relaxed when you were looking through the matches on my dating app."

"Chance thinks those things are dangerous. But everyone uses them. He's a worrywart."

"A worrywart?" I asked, amused by her depiction of her big, strong brother.

"Yeah, he's overprotective because of his job. Things can go wrong. But not as often as he thinks."

"It's nice to have someone worry about you." I'd always been a little envious of Scarlett and Chance's relationship.

"You have my family."

"Right." But not really. They didn't know I'd been spending the holidays alone. It took Chance to figure it out. He was the only one who really saw me.

"And you have the Wildes. You're invited tonight, you know?"

"I'm not sure if I'm up for it tonight." We hadn't discussed our plans beyond him bringing me to dinner.

Pam opened the door. "Dinner's ready. I need some help serving."

We got up and went inside to help Pam with the platters. Everything smelled amazing, and it was nice to spend the meal with such a tight-knit family.

At the table, we said what we were thankful for, and almost everyone mentioned Scarlett. Her being home this year was the icing on the cake. I should be content with my best friend settling down in our hometown. It was selfish to want more, to want what she had.

She and Eli sat next to each other, constantly touching and teasing each other.

Chance leaned in and said, "I can't believe we have to sit across from these two."

Scarlett narrowed her eyes on him. "I can't wait until you fall in love."

My face flushed, and I wanted to say it was from the wine, but I knew it wasn't. I felt like she could see right through us.

Chance rolled his shoulders back. "That's not going to happen for me."

I knew we were supposed to be putting on an act, pretending that nothing was going on. But it still hurt to hear him admit that out loud in front of his family and friends.

"You never know," Scarlett purred as she went back to her meal, and Eli muttered under his breath, "It'll happen when you're least expecting it."

Talk turned to the upcoming holidays and plans at the ski resort to expand with luxurious cabins. I loved skiing and the idea of renting a cabin, but with my salary, I didn't go often.

When we were cleaning up, my phone rang. I was surprised to see it was my parents. "Excuse me. I'll just be a minute."

"You can take it in my office," Bart said, and I hurried to the room and closed the glass-paned door before I hit Accept.

It was a video call, so I sat at the desk. "Mom. Dad. How are you?"

"Good," Mom said. "Just wanted to check in. I know you like to talk to us on the holidays."

I hated how she'd worded that. They called because I needed it. I decided to sidestep her comment. "I'm at the St. Claires' for dinner, and then we're going to the Wildes' Ski Resort for their celebration." For some reason, I needed them to see that I was busy and my life full. I wasn't sure why it mattered, because they never seemed to care what I was doing.

"It's nice to see you getting out, dear," Mom said.

Dad merely sat next to her with a small smile on his face. He was probably counting down the minutes until he could do whatever it was they were doing before Mom insisted they call me.

Then Mom continued. "I won't keep you."

Normally, I would have said they weren't bothering me, holding onto some ideal where parents called and spent time with you on holidays. But I was over that.

"I hope you have a good Thanksgiving."

"You as well," Mom said and then clicked off.

My shoulders slumped. I wasn't sure why we kept up the farce of a family. We'd never been there for each other, and it wasn't for my lack of trying. It was time for me to create my own family.