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That was the plan. She prayed he’d be available the night of her Christmas party. The thought of going alone again this year was too depressing to contemplate. “Yeah. We’re just so busy with work.”
“That’s good.” Rachel sat straighter, apparently forcing herself to look awake. “Whatever, don’t pay any attention to those two. With or without a serious boyfriend, I bet your life in New York is so exciting. Like an episode of Friends.”
Victoria smiled. “Sure, something like that.”
“I knew it,” Rachel said. “Ow…” She grimaced and gripped her side.
“Are you okay?” Victoria hoped her friend hadn’t chosen this moment to go into labor.
“It’s fine.” Rachel struggled to catch her breath. “Just a kick.”
Ava and Lisa exchanged knowing looks. “I miss that part,” Lisa said, her eyes filled with tears, and she laughed. “Look at me,” she said, wiping her eyes with a paper napkin.
“It really is the best feeling, having life growing inside you. Don’t worry.” Ava touched Victoria’s hand. “I’m sure you’ll experience it someday.”
Victoria’s cheeks flushed. “Um…excuse me for just a second.” She pushed her drink away and grabbed her cell phone. Sliding from the barstool she made her way to the bathroom. Inside, her phone beeped. Amazingly strong cell reception in the bathroom at the pool hall, of all places. Finding an empty stall, she closed the toilet seat and sat, dialing Heather’s cell number.
Her friend answered on the third ring. “Hello? Vic?”
“I’m going to kill you,” she hissed into the receiver.
“What? Why?”
“For telling my former friends to take me out on the town!” This night was turning
into an intervention. Somehow, Victoria suspected her mother had set the girls up to remind her of everything missing in her life. It was working.
The door to the washroom opened and she heard someone enter the stall next to her.
She lowered her voice. “Do you even know what a night on the town around here means?”
Heather laughed. “So, it’s not New York, it’s your hometown.”
“To say it’s not New York is the understatement of the year. I’m at the pool hall, which is also the bowling alley, and the movie theater. They have a disco-ball, dance floor and get this—arcade games. The place hasn’t changed at all since we came here in high school.” She closed her eyes and rested her head in her hand. The familiarity of the place and the memories here made her chest hurt.
Heather was still laughing on the other end, unable to speak.
“That’s not even the worst of it. I’m here with a pregnant woman, about to fall asleep at the table or give birth any minute—I don’t know—and two mommies who can’t talk about anything other than poop and vomit. And I can’t participate in the conversation because I don’t know anything about poop and vomit.”
“Vic…stop…” Heather said, struggling to catch her breath.
“I’m glad you find this amusing,” Victoria ground out.
“It can’t be that bad.”
“Oh, really?” Victoria rubbed her eyes. She had to get out of here. “I hate you for setting this up.” She stood and slumped against the bathroom wall. Her eyes fell to a set of initials inside a heart, drawn in black marker on the opposite wall: V.M. and L.D. Forever. She shrieked. They haven’t painted the walls in twelve years?
“What?” Heather sobered instantly. “What’s wrong?”
“The graffiti on the bathroom wall is taunting me,” she barked into the phone. “I’m seriously going to have a panic attack. Where are you anyway?” Her friend had also been assigned an acquisitions trip that week.
“You don’t want to know.”
“Heather.” Her tone was stern.
“San Diego. But it’s really not that great.”
“Liar. How do you always get the good trips?” In the past three months her friend had been to Miami and Phoenix. Victoria had been to Amarillo and Bridgeport.
“I’m dating the boss. It means I’ll never get promoted, but I get the good trips.”
Victoria shuddered. If that’s what it took, she’d rather be sent to Alaska.
“Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll start getting sent to better locations in the New Year.”
“Yeah, maybe.” She wasn’t so sure. “Okay, I have to get back out there.”
“I’m sorry, Vic. I thought it would be fun for you to catch up with your old friends.” Heather sounded disappointed. “You always talk about them and the fun you had in high school. Kind of makes me jealous. I was always the outsider at my school.”
“I realize you meant well, but I just don’t know these women anymore. We certainly don’t have anything in common. I feel like my life is meaningless to them. My accomplishments mean nothing because I haven’t done them with a baby on my hip.” She let out a deep sigh and rubbed her forehead. She had to call it a night. The free Wi-Fi just wasn’t worth it.
“Don’t let them get to you. We will celebrate our lack of knowledge of poop and vomit at the Richardson the night you get back. First round of drinks and the cab are on me.”
She doubted that another girls’ night out would so easily put to rest the idea triggered by her old friends that life was passing her by, but she just said, “Okay. Talk to you soon.” Disconnecting the call, Victoria freed herself from the bathroom stall. She readjusted her pink cashmere sweater, relieved she didn’t know the other person at the sink. She washed her hands and smoothed her wavy, blond hair before walking out.
“I’m not sure she’s having a good time.” Lisa was saying as she approached the table. “I don’t think she finds our domestic life very interesting.”
“Well, I don’t see anything spectacular about being attached to a laptop and BlackBerry, either,” Ava said. “And she’s never going to get married and have kids if she can’t even find time to go on a date.”
“Remember who you’re talking about. Victoria’s never wanted those things. It’s not like she didn’t have the opportunity—she chose something different, that’s all,” Rachel said.
“Well, I still think she’s crazy for leaving Luke,” Ava replied.
“Speak of the devil, look who just walked in… Now this should be interesting.” Lisa blushed, noticing Victoria behind them.
She followed the other woman’s gaze toward the pool hall entrance and her heart sank. Couldn’t she get through one disaster today without him playing a role in it?
Luke stood in the entrance, scanning the almost-empty pool hall.
Lisa held up a hand in greeting.
Ava swatted her arm down, with a quick glance in Victoria’s direction. “Stop that,” she said in exasperation as Luke approached their table. “Great. He’s on his way over. Sorry, Victoria.”
“It’s nothing I can’t handle.” Victoria took a sip of her drink and fought to keep her hand steady. After all this time, despite her success in New York, her friends still thought she’d made the wrong decision. Well, she didn’t expect them to understand her motivations and ambitions. They never had. At least she could count on Rachel to defend her. Just get through this evening.
“Hey, ladies. Glad to see you three finally got an evening out. Ava, I see Darren over at the pool tables. Who’s with the kids?” Luke asked.
“They’re spending the night at Grandma and Grandpa’s.” She pumped her fist in the air, which made them all laugh.
“Rachel,” he said, “you look beautiful as usual. Quite the pregnancy glow you have working for you.”
“Thanks, Luke.” Rachel turned a deep shade of crimson, but it was obvious the compliment had made her evening.
Traitors. All of them. Victoria watched in amusement as the three women chatted up her ex-fiancé. Squinting in the dim lighting, she took in his strong jawline and blue eyes reflecting the glow of the Christmas lights hanging from the ceiling.
“Hey, Luke. Quit flirting and get over here.” Jim Bishop waved from the pool table and held up a beer.
Luke nodded as he moved around the table. “Excuse me, ladies. I have some money to win.” He paused by Victoria’s chair and lowered his voice to say, “I thought you were tired. Does your mother know that you lie to her?”
Victoria stared at the glass in her hand. “I don’t know, Luke. Does your mother know you had dinner at our house?”
Luke cleared his throat as he unzipped his leather jacket. “Well, our mothers don’t need to know everything, now, do they?”
“Enjoy your pool game,” she said, dismissing him.
He glanced at her computer on the table in front of her. “You brought your laptop on a girls’ night?” he asked. “Real party girl. Enjoy your evening, ladies.” He raised a hand and sauntered off.
Victoria resisted the urge to turn and stick her tongue out to his back. “I think we need another round,” she said, draining the contents of her glass. She stood and had to grip the edge of the tall bar table for support against a dizzy spell.
“Not me. I just texted Nathan to let him know I’m on my way. Sorry, Victoria, I’m beat.” Rachel slipped into her coat.
“No problem. Get some rest.” It was almost eleven. In New York, the night would just be getting started. In Brookhollow’s local hot spot, only a few quiet tables remained other than the boys shooting pool. She should call it a night, as well. She had the perfect excuse now with Rachel leaving. Turning toward the pool tables, her eyes met Luke’s. She’d stay for one more drink with the girls. She had been a little rude.
“Okay. Be sure to stop by this week and we’ll catch up some more.” Rachel got up from the table, adjusting her purse strap on her shoulder.
Ava stood. “I’ll walk you to your car.”
“Another glass of wine?” Victoria raised an eyebrow.
Lisa and Ava hesitated. No doubt the gap between their lifestyles was perfectly clear to each of them.
“I’d love to see pictures of your children if you have them.” She really was interested in their lives; she just hated that it stirred an unprecedented yearning in her.
The other two agreed.
“Okay then, I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll save our table.” Lisa was already digging around in her purse for pictures.
“Sure,” Victoria said. As if that would be necessary. The place was dead.
Approaching the bar, she ignored the cat calls from the pool tables. “Hi, Melody. Can we get another round?”
“Sure, Vic. How’ve you been?” The bartender, Melody Myers, was another old high school acquaintance. With a yawn, she poured vodka into a shot glass and dumped the contents into a short glass, before reaching for a can of energy drink.
She looked older than her thirty-two years. The lines around her eyes and forehead were deep and she appeared to have aged more than the rest. With her thinning face and even a few streaks of gray in her light brown hair, it was hard to believe they were the same age and from the same graduating class. Having lost her husband in a car accident the year before, she was raising her twin seven-year-olds on her own.
“I’ve been good. Busy…”
“Yeah, I noticed the laptop.”
Victoria ignored the hint of judgment she thought she detected in the woman’s voice. “How about you?” she asked gently.
“Taking it day by day,” Melody answered honestly as she shook a shaker and poured Lisa’s fruity cocktail, then grabbed the bottle of house white wine to pour a glass for Ava. She placed the drinks on the bar.
Victoria nodded as she reached into her wallet. Melody’s incredible voice had once kept her very busy at weddings and funerals. Victoria had always assumed she’d take it further. It saddened her to think that Mel’ody’s life hadn’t turned out exactly how she’d planned. She hesitated before asking, “Do you still sing?”
Melody wiped down the bar and deposited the cash in the register. She tossed the change into the tip jar after Victoria refused to take it. “Well, I’m still a star at the church and with my kids every night. That’s enough for me.” But there was a note of longing in her voice.
Victoria noticed the pictures of the young boys behind her on the bar mirror. Cute kids.
Melody caught her staring and smiled. The effect softened her hardened features. “David and Joshua—twins. Must be something in the water around here. Be careful,” she warned, nodding toward Luke.
Victoria’s cheeks heated. “Thanks for the warning—” she indicated her drink “—I’ll be sure to stick to this.” And as far away from Luke Dawson as possible, which would be a challenge given the reason for her visit.
Luke lined up a shot for the eight ball. He lowered his gaze to sight down the pool stick. Beyond the green felt, he saw Victoria saunter back toward their table, drinks in hand. Dress pants and a formal sweater for the local watering hole. He suspected she hadn’t packed a single set of casual clothes in her no-doubt designer suitcase. But no matter how much he wanted to, he couldn’t fault her—she seemed to be living the life she’d always desired and he respected that. Drawing back, he let the pool cue slide between his fingers. The white ball spun toward its target, directing the other ball straight into the left-hand, corner pocket. “And that’s how it’s done.” He stood and grinned, as the other men booed.
Jim counted out the twenties in his hand. “Who invited you here tonight anyway?” he mumbled and turned to the group. “Come on, guys. One of us has to be able to take him.”
Darren shrugged. “He’s on fire tonight,” he said. “And I’ve already lost more to him than I’m going to tell my wife.” He drained his beer and stood.
“I heard that. I am just sitting over here,” Ava called from where she sat with Victoria and Lisa.
Darren grimaced. “Sorry, honey.” Joining their table, he wrapped an arm around his wife. “How about we head home and I’ll make it up to you?” he said, placing a kiss on her cheek.
Ava shot him a look. “Seriously? You just lost a lot of money and you’ve been drinking and you think you’re going to be romantic tonight?” She placed a hand over his face and pushed his puckered lips away, hiding her smile.
Luke joined them at the table. “How about it, Ava? Want to try winning back some of this guy’s money for him?”
Ava grunted. “Luke, do you remember the last time I played pool?”
“I do,” Melody called from the bar. “By the way, it’s going to cost three hundred dollars to fix that hole in the wall from the cue ball.” She pointed a finger.
“Shh…” Darren held a finger to his lips. “I can’t believe you reminded her.”
Ava glared at him.
“I hadn’t forgotten.” Melody shook her head and resumed filling the dishwasher with the dirty beer mugs and glasses. “And guys, this is last call.”
“At eleven-thirty?” Jim sat on the edge of Lisa’s stool. She shuffled over to make more room for her cousin.
“You usually close at one,” Darren said.
“Josh and David have a dentist appointment in the city first thing tomorrow morning, so I’m kicking you out early.”
“Okay, Mel. No problem. I guess I’m the winner here tonight.” Luke shrugged and folded the bills.
“Not so fast.” Victoria stood. “How much you got there?”
Luke’s face lit up with amusement. “You? You think you can tear yourself away from your laptop long enough?”
“I asked how much you’ve got there.”
Luke flipped through the bills. “Two hundred and eighty,” he said, studying her face as she bit a thumbnail.
She dropped her hand. “Double or nothing.”
He smirked. “You’re serious? You think you can beat me?”
“Without a doubt,” Victoria said confidently, moving closer to stand just inches from him. Defiantly, she stared him down.
She was even feistier than he remembered. Well, he had no problem taking her money, too. “You’re on.” He picked up her glass and drained it, then began choking and sputtering. “That’s disgusting. What was that? Cough syrup and vodka?”
“Red Bull and vodka.” Victoria grabbed the pool stick out of his hand and sauntered toward the table in the corner.
“You do know that stuff can kill you, right?” Luke said, taking the empty energy drink can from where Melody had left it on the bar and following her.
The others followed.
Jim grinned. “This is going to be good.”
Darren nodded.
“It actually says right on the label—Do Not Mix with Alcohol.” Luke held the can in front of Victoria and pointed to the fine-print metallic ink.
Victoria squinted. “It does not.” She pushed the can aside.
Luke was relentless. “It does.”
“Are we playing pool or not?”
Luke set the can down. Had she been fine-tuning her eight ball skills in New York all this time? Pulling the rack out from under the table, he flipped it and tossed it to her. “Rack ’em.”
Victoria caught it with one hand and busied herself collecting the faded, chipped, stray balls from the pockets. She leaned forward and arranged them inside the triangle. Her wavy blond hair fell over her shoulder and glistened in the light of the pool table. His gaze fell to her lips.
When she moved back, a dangling object above her head caught his eye. “Hey, Vic, look up,” he said. Mistletoe was quickly becoming his favorite Christmas tradition.
Victoria paused and glanced toward the pool table light overhead and the thin, very old and worn piece of mistletoe hanging from the edge of the lampshade. She reached up and yanked it free, crumbling the brittle leaves as Luke approached. “Oh, no. You’re not getting me that way again.” She straightened and pointed a finger at him as he moved closer.
He lowered his head, enjoying the panic in her green eyes. “Don’t even think about it, Luke.” The words were strained and he heard her breath catch deep in her chest.
Luke moved his lips to the side of her face, against her flushed cheeks. Placing a hand on her waist, he drew her closer. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to kiss you,” he whispered in her ear.
Her eyes widened. “You’re not… I mean, good,” she said, evidently flustered.
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