Chapter 4
HAYES
“All right, guys, that was great. Run two cool-down poles and start putting up the equipment,” Hayes directed his baseball team. After playing in college and a few years in the minor leagues, Hayes had returned to his hometown to coach and teach at his alma mater.
“Guys look good, Coach Adams,” a voice said from behind him.
Hayes turned to see Landry Williams, his high school best friend. He smiled and jogged over to him. “What are you doing here?”
“Thanks for the warm welcome,” Landry laughed. “I’m here for a little while, actually. A work project.”
“Wow, I never thought I would see you back for more than a day or two,” Hayes replied as they walked over to the bleachers to sit down.
“Me neither, but my boss knew I was from this area, so that, along with my stellar record, made me the best man for the job,” Landry said.
“Always modest,” Hayes laughed.
“Why hide behind false humility?” Landry laughed with him. “I’m not sure how long I will be here, but I am hoping for a while. I think a change of scene will be good for me.”
“Are you growing tired of the ‘big city’ already?” Hayes teased.
“No, I love city life. There is always something to do, something going on. But it is nice to be home. To see my family and other people.”
“Aw, thanks, man, it’s good to see you too,” Hayes teased, pulling him into a side hug.
Landry laughed, “It is good to see you, but I was talking about other other people. I ran into Tessa a couple of days ago.”
Hayes froze, but quickly shook it off. “Oh, yeah,” he said, feigning nonchalance, “how was that?”
“Good. Great actually. She agreed to go out to dinner with me tomorrow night,” Landry smiled.
“Oh, wow,” Hayes replied, his insides dropping. “No offense, but I am kind of surprised that she agreed.”
“Well, we said we would remain friends, and I know we haven’t talked much in the past few years, but I think we’re okay.”
Hayes knew better. Tessa had shared some of her side of the story with him, but he didn’t let Landry know that. He knew Tessa didn’t want him to know.
“Well, have fun, I guess. Are you thinking about trying to get back together?”
“I don’t know,” Landry mused. “Maybe. We were so young when we dated before, but I have always cared about her.”
Hayes wasn’t quite sure how to answer. Tessa and Landry had always seemed like endgame, and everyone was shocked when they had broken up and never reconciled. But it had been eight years, Hayes thought that Landry was long over Tessa.
He wanted Tessa to be happy, but he was also regretting that he had been too chicken to speak up for eight years.
He had loved Tessa longer than Landry had; she just never knew it.
He tried to get over her. He had dated plenty.
He even had had one long-term girlfriend who he almost proposed to, but she had ended up leaving Hickory Falls for Atlanta, and they ended it.
“She’s been through a lot lately with Ruby passing away. It hit her really hard,” Hayes finally said.
“I know,” Landry acknowledged. “I don’t plan on hurting her.”
For Tessa’s sake, Hayes hoped that that plan worked out.