Chance Of Rain (5 page)

Blake got to my house ten minutes early. I purposely made it a point to be ready ahead of schedule, to avoid having to invite him in.

“You look nice,” he said with a wide smile as I got into his car.

I actually thought I did look pretty nice, but it wasn’t for him. I could tell that in his mind this was like a date. I didn’t act flattered. Instead I pretended like I didn’t know what he was talking about. “Thanks, I guess. Oh, and thanks for the ride.”

“My pleasure.” He slowly leaned across me and locked the door. “The electric locks are broken. I wouldn’t want you falling out.”
Puke!

I looked out the window and listened to Blake rattle on and on about nothing in particular. Every now and then, I shook my head and said, “Uh-huh.”
How could you do this to me, Bri?

When we got to the theater, Blake rushed to get the car door for me, but I was too quick.

As we walked to the entrance, I got a wolf whistle from someone driving by. I guess I’d put a little more effort into getting ready than I’d thought. I laughed to myself when I noticed Blake’s chest puff up with pride a little, as if he were saying, “Yeah. She’s with me.”

Before clocking in, I went to the restroom. As I washed my hands, I looked at myself in the mirror. My hair was swooped up in a loose bun; a few long ringlets escaped here and there. I was wearing a strand of pearls and a crisp, long-sleeve white shirt that was cinched at the waist. I had it neatly tucked into a fitted black skirt that stopped just above my knees. I decided to wear my shoes a little higher tonight and my eyeliner a little darker.
Maybe I’ll get some good tips
, I thought with a chuckle.

I made my way to the Star-Lite Café, a tiny coffee shop in the theater lobby. Patrons could grab a bite while waiting for their movie to start. My job was pretty easy; I handled the cash and was the hostess. I greeted everyone who came in and seated them with menus. When it got crazy, I took an order or two to help out, which was OK with me, because that was when I make my tips.

“Dang. Lookin’ good, Devoe.” I looked up from the hostess podium to see Danny, who helped in the kitchen. He had shaggy blond hair and reminded me of a surfer. I
used
to have a little crush on him. It figured he’d notice me now.

Before I knew it, I was swamped with customers and wishing just a little that I’d worn my shorter heels.

Every time my phone vibrated, I got excited, hoping it was Bri with a juicy detail about her date. It was always my mom, though, checking up on me. Guess she found her charger.

I looked at the time and saw that it was almost ten.
Closing time! Yes!
That was the great thing about being busy—the night flew by.

“Excuse me, miss.”

What now?

“Can I get a cup of coffee?”

I quickly finished stacking the menus and looked up to see
him
leaning over my podium, smiling at me. My entire face smiled. I couldn’t help it; I was so happy to see him.

“Trent!”

“Hard at work, I see,” he said with a grin.

“Yeah.”

Crooked nose, crooked grin. Who was I kidding? I was attracted to him. I felt a strong urge to reach out and run my fingers through his disheveled hair. He had on jeans and a T-shirt, but he was also wearing a dark jacket that made him seen bulkier through his shoulders.

“I’m afraid you’ll have to get your coffee to go.” I pouted. “We’re about to close.”

“Ash,
we
need to get ready to go
now
,” Blake said, glaring at Trent.

I jumped. Blake had a way of sneaking up and startling me sometimes. My smile vanished. I’d forgotten I’d gotten a ride with him.

“Hey, Blake,” I said, trying to sound as friendly as I could. “This is Trent. Trent this is my
friend
, Blake.” They shook hands but didn’t smile. I felt the testosterone in the air.

“Let me grab him a coffee first,” I told Blake. Then I turned to Trent. “Blake’s my ride home. My friend Bri, who usually gives me a ride, is off tonight,” I said almost apologetically. I tried to smile. “I’ll just be a second.” I turned to Blake. “Then we can go.” I headed toward the kitchen.

“Hold up, Ashley,” Trent said. “I’ll take you home, and we can get a coffee somewhere else.”

Yes!
I didn’t want to hurt Blake’s feelings, but I wanted to go with Trent so much that it hurt.

“Oh, thanks, Trent. That would be great,” I tried to say coolly. “Now Blake won’t have to go out of his way.” I attempted to play it off like Trent was doing Blake a huge favor. “I’ll see you Monday at school then, Blake. Thanks again.”

Blake seethed as he looked at Trent. Then he turned to me with hurt in his eyes. “Are you sure?” I nodded, and he turned and walked to the kitchen. I felt horrible, and I’m sure it showed.

“What’s the matter?” Trent asked.

“Blake drives me
crazy
, but he’s my friend. I don’t feel right about doing this.”

He looked at me quietly for a moment, and I felt nervous. I thought he was annoyed with me. Then he said, “She’s beautiful on the inside as well as on the outside,” and then he winked.

My heart stuttered, and relief washed over me.

“I would’ve had to pass on the coffee anyway,” I confessed sadly. “I have a ten-thirty curfew on Saturday. I have church in the morning.”

“You’re sweet,” he said with a smile. He gave a slight wave of his hand and turned to go.

I stood there and watched him walk away until he was completely out of sight.

Blake was still willing to take me home. And as I figured he would, he took a jab at Trent the first chance he got. I barely had time to buckle my seat belt.

“So what happened to Romeo? Did he back out and leave you stranded?”

Anger sparked inside me.
Don’t talk about my Trent like that!
I decided it was time to get a few things straight. I tried to choose my words carefully. Blake was my friend, and I really didn’t want to hurt him.

“Look, Blake—I don’t know Trent very well,
but I would like
to.” I waited for his response. He didn’t seem bothered.
Good! That wasn’t so bad
.

“You go right on and get to know your new friend. No one’s stopping you.” He gave me a self-assured grin. The dude wasn’t lacking confidence; that was for sure. I couldn’t help smile. “You know, Ash,” he said, “you shouldn’t be taking rides from strangers anyway.”

I cut my eyes at him. “Uh…OK, Mom.”

As he laughed, his face lit up from the headlights of a passing car. “You just met the guy. I’m only trying to look out for you.”

“Mm-hmm,” I said, not believing my safety was his true motive.

He grinned. “I’m just saying.”

A few minutes later, he had me home. “Thanks again for the ride, Blake.”

“Anytime. Anytime.”

My mom was relieved when she heard me come in. I told her I was exhausted and headed to my room. I got ready for bed, but once I lay down, I couldn’t sleep.

I wondered how things had gone for Cole and Bri tonight. I wondered what school was going to be like, and most of all, I wondered if my dad ever wondered how my mom and I were doing. Then I thought about Trent and wondered when I would see him again.

V

35 %

I
woke up early for church. I was ready before my mom, so I made the coffee.

When she came into the kitchen, I could tell she was feeling down by the way she carried herself. Her shoulders were slumped, and her eyes appeared far away. Sundays always made her sad.

I decided right then that Bri and I would have to do some checking up on my dad again. I needed him to talk to me—and not just surface talk. I had to get him and my mom back together. It was killing her whether or not she wanted to admit it. And I knew my dad still loved her too.

I drove so my mom could enjoy her cup of Black Silk. I knew it would help put her in a better mood. I needed to do something more, though, to cheer her up. Then it came to me. “I’m thinking maybe I will start looking for a car.” I said it in the spur of the moment, but I realized I really did want a car of my own. I guess it was one of those subconscious things.

I felt her eyes bore a hole straight through me. “What brought this on? What happened to the schnoz fund?”

I shrugged. “Change of plans. I mean, I can’t always expect Bri to chauffeur me around, right?”

“True.”

“I thought you’d be happier. You know…that I’m ditching the whole nose thing?”

“Oh, believe me, I am. I guess I just got used to the idea of Bri or me driving you around. It’s nice to know you’re never alone.”

“Yeah, well, you forgot Chase and now Blake. I’m tired of having to depend on everyone.”

We rode in silence for a while. I wanted to get her smile back.

While sitting at a traffic light, I saw her dab at the corner of her eye. She was looking at the Waffle House where we always used to eat with my dad after church.

It’s worse than I thought. Here goes nothing
. “I met someone. A guy.” She turned to look at me. “Trent. His name is Trent.”

That’s all it took. I had her distracted, even if it was only for a little while.

I tried my best to pay attention to the pastor, but I was still worried about my mom.

My mind drifted back to shortly after my dad had left.

Bri and I had followed him from work one evening when he first moved out. I hadn’t been to his new place yet. Following him was how I’d found out where it was. We watched him come and go every day for about a week. I didn’t think he’d left my mom for someone else, but I wanted to make sure. We didn’t notice anything unusual or suspicious. I reported our findings to my mom.

I thought it would make her happy to be reassured that my dad wasn’t seeing anyone. She wasn’t happy at all, though. In fact she was furious with me for following him. She said, “He has a dangerous job. Stop dragging Brianne into all of this. I don’t want either of you getting hurt!”

I didn’t stop, and I needed Bri to drive me. I wish I had stopped, though. Not long after this, I saw a woman hanging around my dad. Bri assured me it was probably work related. I wanted to believe her, so I never asked my dad, and I never told my mom.

Before leaving church I said an extra-special prayer for my mom and one for my dad too.

I spent most of the day with my mom. It was nice; we hadn’t done this in a while. We avoided the Waffle House for breakfast and opted for China Garden for lunch.

That evening Bri picked me up so we could get one last workout in before school. “Tell me about your date with Cole,” I said. “I’ve been dying to hear all about it!”

“We went to La Maria for dinner. He paid! He’s amazing and so hilarious. I think I’m in love!”

I told her about my bumping into Trent at work.

“No way? Is he stalking you?” she said with a laugh.

“I wish. He wanted a coffee. We were about to close, so he asked if I wanted to go get coffee with him!”

“You’re kidding! Then what?”

I explained about Blake.

She rolled her eyes. “What’s wrong with that boy? If he messes things up for you one more time, I’m going to go postal on him!”

I smiled. “No doubt.”

“That boy has it
bad
for you, but he needs to back off.”