Page 9 of One Last Chance

“What’s this about a girls’ night?” Sophia asks as she gets up from the couch, throws down a magazine she’d been reading while I was getting my hair done.

Megan looks over to Sophia. “I was just telling Chloe she can’t leave before the weekend. We need to have a girls’ night for old-time’s sake.”

Smiling wide, Sophia claps her hands. “Oh, this is perfect. Chloe, you have to stay. Please. Prettyplease,” she begs, pouting her lips.

Feeling torn, and not wanting to let my friend down, I agree. I mean, it’s the least I can do after secretly sleeping with her ex.

Sophia jumps up and down, repeating, “Girls’ night, girls’ night.”

Laughing at their over-the-top enthusiasm, I say, “Okay, okay, girls’ night it is.”

“Chloe, your hair looks amazing.” She turns. “Great job, Megan.”

“Why, thank you, Soph. So, I’ll see you guys on Saturday night?”

“Sure will,” Sophia replies. “I’ll text you with the details.”

Paying for my hair, Sophia leads me outside, then faces me, and I ask, “So, where to?”

“Falls Café, of course.”

Smiling, we walk side by side for a block and stop in front of the café. Just before I’m about to enter, I catch a glimpse of a man exiting a red truck nearby. He’s wearing dark denim jeans, a black sweatshirt hugs his torso, and a blue-and-yellow cap with the Vixen Rapids’ mascot embroidered on it. I still, and can hear Sophia calling my name, but I’m rooted to the spot. The man walks around to the back of the truck then lets down the tailgate. He’s wearing dark boots, and he places thick gloves on his hands before starting to lift wood from the back of the tray. I recognize Domenic’s dad, Martin, as he comes around the back and also picks up pieces of wood. Then it only takes a few seconds for my body to register who it is he’s standing next to. As he turns around to walk into a store, he freezes as he spots us watching, and just stares in our direction.

Oh, Jesus, it’s Domenic.

Nerves take hold of me, and I stumble for balance. Holding on to a nearby sign, I steady myself and inhale, trying to catch my breath. You would think I’ve just run ten miles by the way my breath is coming out.

I can’t make out his face from here, but his body suddenly tenses, and his arms tighten around the pieces of wood he’s holding. The cap he’s wearing covers his eyes, so I can’t make out what he’s looking at, but instinct tells me it’s me. His jaw, however, I can clearly see, and as he clenches it tightly, I am sure he’s grinding his teeth.

Oh, crap! He’s recognized me, and he’s not happy.

Without thinking, I lift my hand and reluctantly wave. He doesn’t respond, though, just drops his head, shakes it, and ignores me as he walks toward a store called Logwood Falls.

“Chlo? Are you okay?” Sophia asks as she places her hand on my shoulder.

Tears pool in my eyes as I turn to her, and her face drops.

“That was Domenic, wasn’t it?” I ask as I sniffle.

Sophia looks up and follows my line of sight. “Yeah, it was. What’s going on, Chloe? Why are you so upset at seeing him?”

For some reason, I begin to cry, and Sophia wraps me in her arms, shushing me. “Chlo, it’s okay, but you have to tell me what’s going on? I’m still your friend. Yes, we’re not as close as we used to be, but you understand you can tell me anything, right?” She pushes me back after a few moments, forcing me to look into her eyes.

Nodding, I reply, “I know, it’s just hard for me to tell you.”

“Come into the café, it is cold out here, and you’re shivering.”

I let her link her arm in mine and lead me into the warm coffee shop.

“This is on me. Still like your latte extra sweet?”

“Yes, please,” I reply and wipe my tears away with my sleeve.

Finding an empty table, I take a seat in the vacant one against the window. Looking out, I notice Domenic returning to his truck. Girls are hovering around him, pushing pens and paper in his face, and he smiles while he scribbles something on each—probably his autograph. One girl, in particular, hugs him and clings a little too long onto his muscular torso. I feel my body tense but notice that his arms are not around her. Instead, they are wide open. He must say something to her because she drops her arms and pulls back. He smiles and finishes signing something for her.

Just before he gets into his truck, he must sense me watching him because he turns and catches a glimpse of me through the clear glass window of the café. He stills once again, but this time he removes his hat and runs his hand through his black hair, and his gaze bores into mine. The look he’s giving me is piercing, and I can’t seem to turn away. His hand runs through his hair again as though in frustration, and then rests behind his neck as he looks down at the ground.

What is he thinking?

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