Meant To Be (Coming Home To The Grove 2)

I hold my hand over my left ear and press the phone closer to my right. “What? Carrie’s on the side of the road?” I ask, alarmed.

“No. She’s at the Roadside Diner… dancing.” He waits a second and tries again. “She’s at the bar.”

Carrie’s at the bar? My first thought she’s on a date and I should leave her alone, but in the same instant I know there’s no way I’m going to miss this chance of seeing her out in public. Her away from her job and me away from mine. “Thanks, Mack,” I tell him before quickly grabbing my keys and heading out the door. Things are looking up.

Now I just have to figure out what I am going to do if she is there on a date.11CarrieI’m determined to erase the embarrassment my mom caused in the bakery with some strong drinks. The girls are great to catch up with, and they’ve kept me laughing.

“Where’s Rose? I thought you invited her,” I ask Lacy.

“She’s home with her parents, but nothing I could say would convince her to come out tonight.”

I look at her worriedly. Rose just graduated college, and she’s been following her husband around to ball games. He’s a professional baseball player. “Is everything okay?” I ask.

Lacy nods her head, but I can tell she’s worried too. “Drink up, Carrie. We’re about to go dance some more.”

It’s so great being with good friends that will let you have a good time, but also not let you drink so much and make a full out of yourself.

I’m enjoying a nice buzz when I recognize Scott sitting at the bar. He’s looking right at me, and it gives me a jolt of warmth that spreads through my body. I try to convince myself it’s the alcohol, but I’m not stupid. I get the same feeling every other time I’ve seen Scott. I think I blamed it on the ovens then.

Seeing him reminds me of the embarrassment my mom caused earlier, and I go to order another drink. But I don’t have to go far. The waitress sets down a tray at our table. “These are from the guys at the bar,” she says with a nod of her head towards the three men that have been hooting and whistling at us since we came in.

I know I’m benefitting from sitting with my beautiful friends, but I need a drink, so I accept the drinks on behalf of the table. Holding the drink up, I tilt my glass to the guys as a thanks before I drink the shot in one gulp. I’m not sure what it is, but I’m hoping it’s enough to keep me from letting my night out be ruined with more bad memories thanks to my mom.

Chrissy and Lacy both laugh. “You’re so bad,” Lacy says. “They are going to think they have a chance with one of us now.”

“Not me. I’m over men,” Chrissy says. She’s recently divorced from her husband, and from what I understand it didn’t end well.

“C’mon, Chrissy. They’re not all bad. Trent’s brothers are both single. Of course, Jason just left for the army, but Derrick is available. How about it?”

“Thanks, but no thanks,” she says while scrunching up her nose.

Lacy turns to me, and I’m already backing away. “Not me. I’m good,” I tell her. Honestly, I remember Derrick, and he’s a good guy. But dating doesn’t really interest me. Unless of course it’s with the sheriff.

But just thinking about him causes me to be embarrassed again. “Let’s dance,” I tell them and lead the way to the dance floor.ScottAt first, I was pleased to see Carrie happy and having a good time. I was trying to think of something to say when I approach her, but then Carrie saw me and didn’t wave. I’m unsure if she wants to see me or not, so I park myself at the bar and sip on a beer.

When the guys down from me send over a round of drinks, talking about how they’re going to nail Carrie and her friends, I get up and walk over to them. I make sure to show them my badge that’s clipped onto my belt. “It would probably be in your best interest to get the hell out of town before I impound your car.”

I don’t know which car is theirs, but I do know that I’m not going to sit there and listen to them disrespect Carrie. She’s had enough of that today, and I won’t stand by again. For anybody.

They all three stand, and for an instant I think they’re going to do something stupid. In the end, they make the right decision. They get up, and with only a shove into my shoulder they walk out the door.

My eyes go to the table where Carrie was sitting, but now she’s out on the dance floor. She’s dancing with a guy that works at the garage. I used to like him; he always does good work when I have to take my car in to be tuned up. But right now, I hate him. He’s obviously taking advantage of Carrie being drunk and holding her too intimately.