Page 71 of Rip Ryder's Second Chance

He placed his order, returned the menu, and when he had a steaming mug in his hand, he took a long sip, squinting as it burned its way down his esophagus. Just the way he liked it. Strong and hot.

Spinning on the stool, he checked out the nod to the 50’s décor with holiday lights and decorations thrown in here and there just for good measure. Over the last few years, the place had changed hands twice and Channing guessed business wasn’t what it used to be. A couple of downtown restaurants had popped up as competition, and Corby Qs always was a favorite among townsfolk.

The fact was a shame really. A modern renovation, a new healthier menu choice, and a more attention getting sign out front could turn things around for the diner owner. What Channing knew of Ollie though, the man didn’t seem motivated to pour too much effort, or money, into the joint.

May set Channing’s filled plate down on the counter in front of him, along with a small tray of jelly and jams. He went straight for the apple butter and used a knife to smother the goodness between his piping hot biscuits. Chomping down, he relished the sweet, buttery taste. His ma didn’t even make biscuits this good, but because he valued his life, he kept that fact to himself.

“How does it taste, handsome?” May topped off his coffee. Her dangly bell earringsjingled.

“Delicious, as always.” At least the biscuits were, but by the time he packed in half the Canadian bacon, sausage links, and eggs, he’d developed heartburn. He stuck with the biscuits and a second cup of coffee. Last year he’d been diagnosed with a heart arrhythmia, and although he was still as healthy as a horse, Maya had given him a lecture on eating healthier. If she saw his plate this morning, she’d have pulled out all the stops and gave him a stern talking to.

“You going to want anything else, Channing?” May asked.

“Just the check.”

She laid the bill on the counter. “No hurry.”

Although he could sit there and enjoy another cup, time was ticking. These days it seemed like he never could stay caught up on work.

“Fancy meeting you here,” came a heavily accented Texas twang behind him. His friend, Keef Payne came strolling over, jutting his chin toward Channing’s half-empty plate. “Heart attack on a plate.”

He couldn’t argue. When did everything become so greasy? Or was his palette changing? His heart condition didn’t scare him, but he wasn’t getting any younger either. “Ma and Maya keep telling me to change my diet.”

“You’re lucky they look out for you.” Keef pounded Channing on the back. “You heading out?”

“I have a few minutes to spare. Pull up a seat.” He and Keef hadn’t had a chance to catch up in weeks. Keef, Channing and his brothers, usually got together every Monday for a friendly game of basketball, but here lately no one had the time. They used to play baseball, but because it caused an uproar of competition, they decided they were better indulging in something none of them were entirely good at playing. “Long time no see.”

“Been a busy man. I’ve been up at Rodman’s Fort for a month visiting a friend.” The cowboy settled on the stool and, after placing his order, he continued, “It’s good to be back home though. Looks like just in time too for the holiday festivities.”

“Did this friend you referred to happen to be of the female variety?” Channing knew Keef pretty damn well, and he always had a new interest of the month. He had the same views on relationships that Channing had, however, there were also big differences between the two men.

Channing had never crossed the lines of friendship with any woman before and now here he was, balls deep, literally, in what could be a mess if he wasn’t careful. Looking back, he hadn’t even hesitated when he found himself partially naked on her massage table, enjoying a deep tissue, when he randomly asked if she liked whiskey. One thing led to another, and they drove out to Lake Mist to fish and sip on a bottle of Johnnie Walker that he’d saved for a rainy day. One minute they were laughing and talking, and the next they were practically ripping each other’s clothes off in the bed of his Dodge.

To be honest, he’d enjoyed that night so damn much that he saw her three times a week and he didn’t have any desire to end things. He really liked that she didn’t have any expectations for him outside of pleasure.

Until she asked for a favor…

He sure hoped she didn’t want him dressing up in some elf costume.

He hadn’t always been so anti-commitment, but something changed when Cade passed away. Channing had a sense of concern that he couldn’t quite shake. A tough cowboy never liked to admit to his weakness, but he’d decided to see a bereavement counselor who told Channing, “Your fear isn’t stemming from commitment issues, but instead you have a fear of losing someone you love again”. That about summed it up. Loving someone meant risking losing them.

“Raina.”

“Huh?” Channing blinked, pulling himself back to the present.

“My friend. Raina. The lady I was visiting.” Keef bit into his biscuit.

“Is she theone?”

“The one for now. We just don’t have much in common.”

To Keef’s advantage, he was a Brad Pitt lookalike, and when it came to his extracurricular activities, he didn’t hide his wandering ways from anyone. In fact, he’d been known to brag about the notches in his bedpost a time or two.

“Just checking.” Channing drained his cup and May quickly filled it to the brim.

“Hell, most women like it simple too these days.”

Channing couldn’t judge anyone’s circumstances, considering he liked the arrangement with Sadie. She understood his need for freedom, and they got along well. They didn’t do a lot of chatting, but over the course of the last few months he’d learned a few new things about her. For instance, she liked pineapple and pickled red onion on her pizza and never rode on an elevator because her claustrophobia would kick in. As a kid she had a habit of sucking her thumb, so her mother put hot sesame oil under her thumbnail at night, which made Sadie despise anything spicy even today. She also had her heart broken in the past, but she didn’t like to talk about the circumstances, and he didn’t probe.

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