AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I bet it’s really pretty down.”
She felt her whole face flush at the inappropriate compliment. “Thank you,” she mumbled. She was so not good at talking to people sometimes.
And for the life of her, she didn’t know why they were having this conversation in the first place.
She eased his leg back down to the mat, thankful time was up. “That’s all for today. Be sure to make your next appointment at the desk. Practice the stretches. Alternate ice and heat if you’re sore later.”
He rolled up to a sitting position next to her and draped his arms over his upright knees. “Are you off now? Maybe we could get a smoothie next door.”
“Um...” She never dated clients. She never dated anyone, because no one ever really asked her out. Partly because she never gave them a chance. “I... Thank you, but I have to pick up my daughter at the sitter.”
He stood and shifted his weight to ease the pain he was still experiencing. “Well, I did get you to smile at me. Maybe next time you’ll take me up on the offer.” He walked toward the front desk, not giving her a chance to respond in any way.
Not that she could form words right now.
She didn’t know what to make of him asking her out. She played out the scenario like she always did when someone wanted to get to know her better. They’d go out, chat about work, life, and eventually they’d ask about her family, where she came from, and that meant saying something about being raised by her grandparents. Then they’d question why, and that led to questions about her parents. If the person had been in town long enough to know the infamous story, they put the pieces together and looked at her most often with pity and sadness, and she didn’t like it. Not one bit.
They wanted to hear all the sordid details. Then she didn’t know if they were interested in being her friend or just getting the scoop.
That’s part of why her grandparents had kept her close to home, never allowing her to just be a kid without what happened hanging over her head. She’d known from a very young age that something about her made people whisper and look at her funny. She’d spent most of her young life believing people simply didn’t like her.
Of course, having a mother with severe PTSD and mental health issues also explained a lot about why people looked at her strangely. And after her mom committed suicide, people said things like, “Maybe it was for the best,” to her grandparents. They nodded like that made perfect sense and that her mother dying so young was a good thing. It just reinforced everyone’s belief that in order to erase the past, you needed to get rid of all the evidence it ever happened.
But Shelby was still here.
She often thought of leaving this small town, where everyone knew her business. But would it really be any different for her anywhere else? People would ask about her, her life, where she came from. She didn’t want to lie. She didn’t want to hide parts of herself just to feel like she wasn’t damaged by her past and how she was raised. People could see it in her.
Besides, she’d never been anywhere but here, and leaving everything she’d ever known—even if it wasn’t always healthy—scared her. She’d hesitated again and again.
And then she met Chase in the bar and had that amazing night with him, and Eliza came along, and she’d stayed right here—waiting like a lovesick fool for him to return, despite knowing he’d never pick her.
Once Chase was well again and had his head on straight, he’d find someone who matched him in every way.
Not every ugly duckling gets to grow up to be a swan.
Sometimes, you’re just an ugly duck.
Chase would see that now that he was back, clean, and thinking with a clear head again.
He didn’t seem to know about her past, but that wouldn’t last long. His father, or any number of people in town, would remind him of the story that never died in this town because it was just good gossip, filled with intrigue, the downfall of a beautiful young woman, and the evil that took over a favored son, who had everything and destroyed it all.
Laura sidled up to her. “Please tell me you’re kicking yourself for not accepting that invitation and you’re just working up the courage to go over there and say yes.”
“Um. No.” She let out a nervous laugh.
“Why the hell not? He’s cute. He’s got a job.” Laura eyed him. “He’s got a great ass.”
Shelby laughed again. “He’s a client.”
“He won’t always be one. You should let him know you’re interested.”
“I’m not.” He was really good-looking and seemed nice, but...
Laura side-eyed her. “Chase is back, isn’t he?”
“Yes. But that doesn’t have anything to do with me not accepting a date from a client.”
“Uh-huh. Right.” The knowing grin on Laura’s face made Shelby blush.
