Page 18 of A Second Chance

He turned back to Weasel. “You’ve never met your mother-in-law?”

Weasel shook his head. “It was a mess. Rebecca’s mom didn’t want her stay in White Oak, and I offered to go with Rebecca, but she chose to stay here. And still her mom blames me for Rebecca not moving back to Chicago.”

“You would move with her?” Jason asked.

“It was an easy decision. I’d have gone anywhere… still would, if that what’s she wanted.”

“That’s so sweet,” Gwen cooed.

Weasel shrugged. “But it doesn’t matter with her mom.”

“Is she staying with you guys?” Gwen asked.

“No, and I’m honestly not at all upset. I don’t want her in our space.”

“I’m sure it’ll be fine,” Hannah said.

“Yeah, she’ll get to know you like we do…” Dan chimed in, smiling.

“That can never happen. She needs to think I’m a good man.”

“You are,” Hannah said.

“No one in this town needs that information.” Weasel smiled, then turned up his beer.

Jason watched Gwen’s drink dwindle. “Do you want another?” he asked.

“Oh, no. I’m a total lightweight. This is plenty,” she said, leaning back in the booth seat, her body no longer holding tension like when she arrived.

“So, Jason, we never solved your woman problems,” Hannah said.

“Well, I don’t wanna talk about that,” he replied.

Gwen sputtered and laughed. She covered her mouth and looked away.

“Something funny?” Jason asked.

“Nothing. I just choked.”

“On what? Your own snide comment?”

“Don’t you get snippy with me.”

“I think I have the right. I’ve been nothing but nice to you—”

“Thistime around.”

“What’s going on with you two?” Hannah asked.

“Nothing,” Gwen barked. “Get up and let me out of this booth, ya big lug.”

The phrase “this time around” bounced around Jason’s head. “What?”

“Get up.”

He slid from the booth and Gwen shot up and across the bar; he followed. Bartender Barry called out for him, but he’d settle his tab later, he had to find out what the hell Gwen was talking about.

“Gwen,” he called out catching up to her outside her car. “What did you mean by that?” The tears in her eyes stopped him cold.

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