Chantelle’s hand carved through her hair, held it back for a moment, and then released her curls. “I never knew that.”
“So… you’ll go out with me?”
What would Lance think? Chantelle blinked as a knot in her stomach worsened. Lance was getting married. He wouldn’t care if she went out with Javier. Why should she hinder her chances? A date wasn’t a marriage proposal.
“Sure.” She agreed. “I can spare some free time while I’m here.”
Javier’s eyes gleamed as if she told him she found a pot of gold. “I’m… I… wow.”
“You didn’t think I would say yes.” She pointed at him. “Did you?”
He laughed. “No, I didn’t. I had this follow up speech in my mind of how you needed to give me a chance and how I would be a gentleman.”
She giggled. “I guess I can still surprise you, Javier.”
“Please do, Chantelle.” His voice turned serious. His chocolate eyes gazed into hers. “I can’t wait to see what’s next.”
Licking her lips, she reached for her frosty glass of pink lemonade. Her body temperature rose to new heights.
***
“You want to talk? What’s going on?” Elise asked.
Grateful her sister-in-law agreed to meet with her, Chantelle rested against the couch inside Elise and Grant’s living room.
“No.” Chantelle heard the sounds of the television in the background, but didn’t pay attention to the movie playing.
“Then why call to ask if I was home?” Elise wondered.
Chantelle covered her face with her hands. “I don’t know if I can do this.”
“Do what?”
“Work with Lance.”
“So you’ll give up this chance with your job? I can understand your reasons, but—”
“He brought up something the last time we talked. Not quite, but he hinted at it. Anyway, it was… hurtful. It was low, even for him. It seems we can’t talk without picking at old wounds.”
Elise bobbed her head. “I understand. I only hate that you feel you need to give up this opportunity.”
“Maybe it’s not meant to be. Perhaps I’m just another pretty face that no one will take seriously.” She hated when Edward’s words came back to her mind.
Elise narrowed her eyes at her. “You honestly think that?”
“That’s what got me in trouble at my last job. Everything blew up in my face and I had to change jobs.”
Elise didn’t respond. Only listened.
“I can’t seem to catch a break.”
“Grant didn’t give me details. He only said you and Lance dated in high school.”
Chantelle tugged at the throw blanket covering her legs. Dated in high school? It was more than that. So much more. “Yeah.”
“You must have cared about him a lot,” Elise said.
Chantelle nodded. “I guess I was the only one.”