Page 7 of A Second Chance

“What? Why?” his mom asked.

Jason eyed the stairs. “I can’t…”

“That’s fine. You can stay in the guest room at Ben and Brandon’s,” Autumn said.

He laughed. “You can’t offer someone else’s house.”

“Can and am,” she said, fishing her phone out of her bag. Autumn pressed a button, placing the phone to her ear. “Need a favor,” she said. “Can Jason stay in your guest room?” she paused for a second, “Perfect, you’re the best.” She looked up, “Not a problem.”

“Wha—?”

“Don’t think too hard about it. She and Brandon are insanely close,” Dan said.

“What’s so insane about it?” Autumn asked.

“Nothing, dear.” Dan grinned as Autumn smacked him on the shoulder.

Wow, his best friend and his sister were together, married, and had a baby. It was a weird dynamic to get used to seeing. A knock at the front door grabbed their attention and they turned and found Weasel. He waived and entered.

“Hey, Mr. and Mrs. Mac,” he said. Weasel came straight at him and clasped his hand and slapped him on the back. “I came by in case Autumn killed you.”

“You’d have been a little late to prevent my death.”

“Dude, I didn’t plan on stopping her. I’d help cover it up,” he grinned, putting his hands on his hips.

“Thanks, man.” That’s when Jason saw the silver ring on the third finger of his left hand. “Wait… you’re married? To who?”

Weasel grinned. “Rebecca.”

Jason needed to lie down. The last time he was there, Weasel had turned screwing random women into a sport and Rebecca was dating this other guy. And now they’d married and the man had the biggest smile on his face. “Wow, congrats. That’s quite a surprise.”

“I fell in love,” he shrugged.

This revelation was jarring. Weasel had grown up wild, and becoming an officer didn’t seem to diminish the crazy. But now he’d settled down, and with a hot wife to boot. And Jason wasn’t anywhere close to that kind of a relationship.

“Are you guys staying for lunch?” his mom asked, standing.

“Thanks, Mrs. Mac,” Weasel said, “but I need to go.” He shook Walter’s hand, slapped Dan’s back, and was out the door.

His mom moved to the kitchen, followed by his dad.

“How the hell did that happen?”

“It’s what happens when you’re gone for a long time,” Autumn said.

Life moves on, even in the sleepy little town of White Oak. “Weasel’s married. Doesn’t anyone else find that weird?”

“No, it’s a good thing. They’re both happy. Trust me, it took us a while to get them there.”

The revelation hit: he’s the only unmarried person in that group of friends. His hometown buddies had all gotten hitched over the last three years, including the guy that declared it a waste of time to sleep with same woman twice. That realization alone was the most depressing part.

Their mom called Autumn into the kitchen and they left Jason alone with Dan and his nephew. He watched Danny playing on the floor. He’d never seen the kid in person, another low for him. Autumn sent him pictures and tried to include him, because she was a good sister.

“I’m glad you’re back,” Dan said.

“Thanks. Me too.”

“I’m going to say one thing and leave it at that. If you ever take off again without telling anyone, I will hunt you down.”

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