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Macie and my sister again affirmed that theirs made sense to them. Macie had applied for a different job and was due to hear back from the employer next week. Then Rachel surprised Macie and me by telling us that she and Jackson planned to start trying for a baby. I was so excited at the thought of becoming an aunt.
As for my tea leaf reading? I still didn’t know what it meant, just like Ms. Lenora’s vision of the gemstones in my hands. I wasn’t worried about it, though. My future was set to become Mrs. Chad Nolan on the first day of autumn and I couldn’t have been happier.
CH 5 - #lastdance
Rhys
Songs: “You Proof” by Morgan Wallen and
“In Case You Didn’t Know” by Brett Young
“HERE COMES TROUBLE,” Jackson said, peering over my shoulder.
I did a double take when I turned around to see who he was talking about. It was Macie, Rachel…and Riley. They had just walked into Cheers and Beers.
I looked back at my brother and held up my glass of whiskey. “I’m going to need something stronger than this. Think they got anything back there that’ll help me drown out my memories of Riley?” I asked, nodding behind the bar.
“I don’t think anyone has anything that’s Riley-proof.”
I turned my attention to the trio of girls again. They were walking toward my brother and me.
“Good evening, pretty thangs,” he said when they’d nearly reached us.
They all smiled, and I waved at them.
“Having fun, husband?” Rachel asked Jackson.
“I will now that you’re here.”
“You know it!”
After giving each other a quick kiss, Jackson asked Rachel, Macie, and Riley if they wanted a glass of wine. All three did. Sauvignon blanc. Once my brother gave the bartender their order, Rachel excused herself to use the restroom. She took Riley with her.
“Rhys, are you okay?” Macie asked, putting her hand on my chest. “You have a deer-in-the-headlight look going on.”
“I wasn’t expecting to see Riley again, but I’m okay.”
“She, Rachel, and I weren’t ready to call it a night after seeing Ms. Lenora and decided to come here. When did you guys get here?”
“About thirty minutes ago.”
“Are you going stay for a while?”
“I am,” Jackson interjected. “What about you, brother?”
“Yeah, I’ll stay.”
“Take a deep breath, man. You and Riley are doing a new kind of dance now.”
“That’s one way to put it.”
“She’s struggling with all this just like you are,” Macie said.
“She seems to be doing fine.”
“FYI, she’s still in love with you. But for the life of me, I can’t get her to admit to it.”
I shook my head. “She’s not in love with me. I know she still cares about me. I care about her, too, and always will. I want the best for her.”
