Page 100 of Chubs

“We knew you’d be okay and would return when you could. Still hard waiting, though. How’s Lucy doing? She starting to thaw yet?” Lola asks.

“I’m not sure, but I refuse to be anything but hopeful. I can’t imagine having to face the future without her in it,” I answer.

“She’ll come around. She’s a smart girl and knows a good thing when she sees one,” Lola responds.

“She won’t be able to resist your charms forever. She loves you too much. She just needs to work it out in her brain,” Lottie states knowingly.

“I know you two risked a lot for me, and I’m very grateful to you both,” I say as I pull an envelope from the inside pocket of my cut. “Here’s money for the extra things you left in the car for me. It helped a lot.”

“Put your money away. We did what we did because we wanted to. Because we believed in what you were doing and wanted to help,” Lola says in a no-nonsense tone.

“I don’t want your money, but a thanks would be nice,” a voice from the living room doorway says.

Spinning around, I spot Bella leaning against the doorway, smiling at me.

“Damn. Forgot she was still here,” Lottie mutters before reaching for another plate.

“You knew?” I ask in a loud, shocked voice.

“Yeah. I guess Craig’s rubbing off on me because I overheard a conversation when you were talking on the phone with Lottie. I asked her about it, and she admitted their part in your plan. They filled the cooler with food and drinks while I came up with the duffle bag of items I thought might help.”

“There was cash in that bag. I insist you take this,” I state, holding the envelope out to her.

“Take it, Bella, and put it toward the bike you want,” Lola orders as she sets a platter of pork chops on the table.

Bella hugs me first, then reluctantly takes the envelope before shooing the Aunts toward their chairs. Bella places the rest of the food on the table, then takes the seat across from me.

“Tell me about the bike you’re buying,” I request, and start filling my plate.

I knock on the door of Lisa’s condo and enter when Lisa opens the door. She looks me over from head to toe and nods approvingly. I’m wearing new jeans, a dark wine-colored button-up shirt that I left untucked, my cut, and un-scuffed boots. The most notable thing I’ve done since she last saw me is that I dyed my hair and eyebrows back to a shade close to my real color. I’m letting my hair grow back out again, and my curls are now making an appearance, and I have a face of scruff. I feel like my old self again.

“Take a seat while Lucy finishes up getting ready. She just got home, so she’s running a little late,” Lisa says.

I do as I’m told, then notice a dog kennel in the corner.

“You got a dog? The one you had at the clubhouse?”

“Greer, and yes, I kind of got a dog. Lucy thinks he’s hers, but I disagree and will be filing custody papers in the morning,” Lisa says with a smirk.

“So, Lucy got a dog?” I ask, somewhat confused by Lisa’s words.

“So she says. She also bought a house.”

Shocked, I raise my eyes to meet Lisa’s.

“She was moving on, Chubs. She honestly believed you made the choices you did because she wasn’t important to you anymore. My little sister picked herself up and started making plans for her future. A pet, a new home, looking for a new job. Anything she could think of to continue living a life, even if it was going to be a hollow one.”

I nod, knowing I did that to her and that she had every right to think the way she did.

“I want to fill that life with children, make that house a home, and spend each day grateful that I got to spend another one with her,” I answer truthfully.

“Let’s just have dinner and a movie, and then we’ll see where that takes us. Thank you for the flowers. They’re beautiful,” Lucy says as she enters the room.

“Oh yeah, I forgot to thank you for mine too. I love getting flowers, but it won’t save you the ass-kicking I’ve been planning for you,” Lisa states with a wicked grin.

“I look forward to it, Lisa. We might want to be on our way before she decides tonight’s the night for that,” I mutter to Lucy.

“Actually, instead of a movie, I have somewhere to be tonight. We’re going to a dance recital instead. You okay with that?” Lucy asks as we walk out the door.

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