CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
Hayden
“Did you have a good night?”Janie asks as she passes in front of my teller station. “You’re standing there with your head resting on your palm and stars in your eyes. I remember having that look when I first met my husband.”
Leaning back, I sigh. “I went out with someone last night.”
“Someone?” She laughs. “The hottie you waited on the other day? Danny, I think is his name.”
I roll my eyes and clap my hands on the counter. “You know who it is. You saw me semi-flirting with him.”
“Semi? You were doing more than semi-flirting. Y'all could light up a blackout.”
After what we shared last night, I’m beginning to think she’s right. My mind seems to keep replaying being with him last night. It was the most erotic experience I’ve had to date. “He’s something, alright.”
“Something special?” She presses, trying to get the scoop.
If I were her, I would too, but it’s too new. I’m not sure where this is going to go with us. Not sure if we want to potentially piss off the Chief. “I don’t know yet, but I wanna keep seeing him. Who knows where we might end up.”
Janie grins. “It could be the one thing that changes the rest of your life.”
I’ve never been the type of person to believe there’s a great plan for us. Not when mom left us so young. Not when I’d gone to bed begging for another chance with her. Wanting nothing more than for her to be there. But she wasn’t and I’m left with the unanswered questions of how my life would’ve been different if she had been.
At times, I wondered if I’d caused it. Had her and my dad not been able to make it because I’d been born? I mean, they’d waited until after me to get divorced. It’s something that’s weighed on my mind for years.
Probably why my relationships haven’t been serious as of yet. But there’s something about Danny. A little spark in the back of my mind. A slight pinching of my gut. Maybe he’s different. But at the same time I don’t want to jinx it.
The bell on the door alerts us that someone has entered the bank. If I’m not mistaken, it’s Chance Caldera. I haven’t seen him in years. He graduated a few years before me and we weren’t close, but he knew my sister well.
He walks right up to my station and I smile brightly, welcoming him. “Can I help you?”
He smiles back and puts his hands on the counter. It’s a comfortable gesture. Glancing down at his left hand, I see he’s still wearing his wedding ring although his wife split a while ago. “Hey, Hayden. How’re you doing? Haven’t seen you since you left for college.”
“I’m good. Glad to be home. How are you?”
He winces and I worry that I’ve possibly brought up memories he doesn’t want to deal with.
“Things have been better, but I can’t complain. Guess you can’t either. Saw you and the Rookie last night.”
The comment is so off-handed, I don’t notice it, but it hits me, what he’s saying.
Surprise makes my voice high pitched and there’s a sinking in my stomach. I didn’t know anyone saw us. “You did?”
He grins, leaning in like we’re sharing a secret. “Heading up to Cupid’s Point. Saw y’all as you were leaving town.”
Softly, I confide. “Hopefully, you didn’t share that observation with my dad.”
“With Chief? Fuck no, I like my balls attached to my body. Rookie needs to worry about that too.” He laughs, seeming to have a good joke at Danny’s expense.
Breathing a little easier, I press forward. “So, what can I help you with today?”
He pulls a piece of paper out of his back pocket, holding it up. His big hand grabs the pen on the metal string before flipping the check over, signing it, and pushing it across the counter to me. “Just need to deposit this check. Feel like I’m in the dark ages, but my mom always gives me a check for my birthday.”
“That’s sweet, though.”
“Yeah.” His grin is soft. “I’m lucky to still have her.”
Typing in the account number, I ask the question that’s becoming second-nature to me. “Do you want to deposit or cash it?”