Along with Laura, Becca Hartson was one of Maddie’s closest friends. She enjoyed Chairs as much as Maddie did, so her absence wasn’t a surprise. Maddie had never considered it could be because Gray was back in town.
The thought of him being here after all this time made her body feel light. She curled her hands around the metal tubing of her chair to stop herself from floating away.
“What will Ashleigh say?” Jessica asked, her voice loud enough to cut through Maddie’s thoughts. “Do you think Michael will be jealous?”
“Why would Michael be jealous?” Laura asked. “As
hleigh went out with Gray for a few years during high school. Big deal. It’s been more than ten years since then.” She grinned at Jessica. “Some of us have grown up in the past decade.”
Maddie leaned her chin on the palm of her hand and looked out toward the creek. The water was dark, and she could hear its movement rather than see it. On the far side, fireflies lit up the trees like thousands of tiny sparkling lamps.
Gray Hartson was back in town. It felt strange, knowing she was in the same town, watching the same sunset as he was. Once upon a time, she’d had a crush on him. One of those heart wrenchingly intense ones that only a preteen could have. She’d sit and watch him from her window as he brought Ashleigh home from a date, holding her breath as he’d wipe a strand of hair from her sister’s face, leaning in to press his lips against hers.
She’d felt a strange mixture of jealousy and wistfulness back then. Even at thirteen, she’d been mature enough to know he was out of her league. Too old, too talented, too good looking. But Ashleigh had been a match for him with her ice-blonde beauty and popularity at school. Together, they’d been the king and queen of senior year.
“You should probably tell Ashleigh before Jessica does,” Laura said, leaning in to whisper in Maddie’s ear as she walked past. “I know it’s been years, but nobody likes seeing their ex unaware. Give her a chance to get to the beauty salon and look like a million dollars.” Laura stood and winked at her. “I’m heading to fix me a drink. Anybody else want one?” she called out.
After Jessica’s revelation, Maddie felt the urge to drink something much stronger than sweet tea.
And it was all Gray Hartson’s fault.
Chapter Three
“Well your secret’s out,” Becca told Gray as they sat at the dinner table. “I just got a text from Laura Bayley. You’re the talk of Chairs. By the end of the night, everybody in town will know you’re here.”
“Sweetheart, you know the rules. No phones at the dinner table,” Aunt Gina chided. Becca grinned and slid her iPhone back into her pocket.
“Chairs?” Gray frowned. “You guys still do that?”
“This is Hartson’s Creek we’re talking about,” Tanner said, scooping a giant spoonful of mashed potatoes onto his plate. “It’s barely reached the twentieth century, let alone the twenty-first. What else is there to do except get drunk and gossip?”
“People don’t drink at Chairs,” Aunt Gina said, taking the bowl of mash from Tanner and passing it to Gray. “And we talk, not gossip.”
“Tomayto-tomahto.” Tanner grinned at her. “And we all know Rita Dennis spikes the iced tea. That’s how the gossip always starts.” He swallowed a mouthful of potato. “I tried to explain the concept of Chairs to my friends in New York. They looked at me as if I was crazy.”
“Grayson, can you make your father a plate of food?” Aunt Gina asked him, passing him an empty plate. “He should be awake by now. Maybe you could take it in and say hello.”
“I’ll probably ruin his appetite.” Gray took the plate anyway, and loaded it up.
“No gravy for him,” Becca said.
“I remember.” Gray nodded. “It ruins the taste of the meat.” Strange how Gray could recall his father stating that so clearly. He stood, leaving his own food half finished. He knew that Aunt Gina would warm it for him when he got back.
The way she always had.
“Gray?” his aunt said.
“Yeah?”
“Go easy on him, he’s still not well.” Her lips pressed together as her eyes met his.
“I wasn’t planning on doing anything else.”
“I know.” Aunt Gina’s smile was tight. “It’s just that you two… well, you always knew how to push each others buttons.”
“What she means is, don’t piss him off,” Tanner drawled. “Which is almost impossible in my experience.”
“Ignore him,” Becca said, raising her eyebrows at Tanner. “He’s just annoyed because nobody’s talking about him at Chairs.”