Chapter Ten
CHAPTER TEN
Melanie
W hen he comes through the back door, he brings the cold in with him, both figuratively and literally. His eyes meet mine, and it sends shivers to my core. I'm constantly looking for things to be the same as it was before I left. When will it change? I'm not sure. I don't know if it ever can. Regardless of why I did what I did, I seem to have made a deeper dent in things than I meant to.
I'm super thankful that Kara is here right now.
"Hey!" She grins over at Weston. "What's going on?"
He rolls his shoulders, causing the flannel he's wearing to tighten, and I can't help but notice how he's filled out. When I left, he was still a teenager. His body was lanky, and he could barely grow a beard. But here he is, a fully developed man with tattoos and muscles I would like to map with my fingertips.
He pulls out his chair and has a seat. "Same shit, different day. What I would love is some of that meat I'm smelling cooking."
I push a bottle of beer toward him, and watch as he takes off the cap with his bare hands. Fuck, that was hot.
She scoffs. "Oh, I guess I could give you some. Just don't tell Abel."
He snorts. "Why would I tell Abel? Unless I was giving you the meat."
She's just taking a drink of her beer and spits it out, laughing. "Look at you with your jokes. Haven't heard them in a while."
Neither have I, but I don't say it because I'm not sure he wants to hear it. There will be a passive-aggressive comment about how I'm the one who left and how I can't make demands. And I don't really want to. More than anything, I want to be a part of his life. I want to know what Weston is like now. We've obviously both changed, but I would love to know what the teenager I knew grew into.
What type of man is he now? The only problem is I don't know how to ask. The two of them are comfortable with each other, judging by the way they're having a conversation, and I wish more than anything that Weston was this comfortable with me.
Instead of being jealous, I listen intently, hoping Weston reveals something about himself that I can use for when we're alone.
"So, how's everything with the food truck going?" Weston asks, his eyes genuinely curious. "I saw you were featured in the state of West Virginia magazine last month. Abel sent it to everyone in the group chat. That’s awesome."
Kara beams with pride, a wide smile stretching across her face. "It's going really well, actually. The magazine feature brought in a lot of new customers. Abel's been so supportive, he framed the article and hung it on the outside of the truck last week. You'll see it every time you walk up to make an order." Her eyes sparkle with affection as she speaks of her fiancé.
"That's really sweet," I say, giving her a smile. "He must be really proud of you."
"He is," Kara says, her voice filled with warmth. "And I find myself working harder, wanting to give us everything we're dreaming of."
God, she sounds so much like Weston and I when we got married. It gives me hope we can get it back, or at the very least build on what we have remaining.
Weston nods, his eyes skating over to mine. "Abel's a great partner."
Emphasis on the great. I take a drink, and situate myself in my chair, as he continues to speak.
"So, how's all the wedding planning going? Are you managing to juggle that with everything else? Abel doesn't talk much about it, but I can see the fear sometimes when he thinks no one is looking."
Kara laughs lightly, a hint of stress in her tone. "Oh, you know, just trying to keep my head above water. There’s so much to do. Venue, catering, dress fittings. But it's exciting, too. Abel's been amazing, he's handling a lot of the logistics with the venue. Still a secret from all of y'all though." She points at Weston, wrinkling her nose.
"Are you using the food truck?" I ask, tired of feeling like a third wheel.
Kara nods, the excitement evident in her voice. "And we're keeping the reception casual, with food from trucks, of course. Abel suggested incorporating some of my favorite trucks from around the area to make it special. It feels like us, you know? Relaxed, fun, centered around good food, family, and friends."
Weston chuckles, his eyebrows raising as he fumbles with the label on his beer bottle. "Y'all will probably inspire a couple owners of food trucks to fall in love. That'll be your next claim to fame." He set his cup down, his expression turning wistful. "You and Abel, you're the real deal. Your marriage will be strong."
I can't help but think he's comparing it to ours. How it didn't appear to be as strong as we once thought it was.
"Thanks, Weston," Kara said, her voice softening. "It means a lot to have your support. I still can't believe it sometimes, that it's all happening."
"It should," Weston replied warmly. "You’ve built something incredible, and now you’re about to build a life with someone who appreciates every bit of what you’ve done. It’s inspiring, really."
His gaze cuts over to mine. It rolls through my body, warming a piece of me that had previously been cold. Maybe he's thinking we might deserve a second chance. I can pray, right?