CH 43 - #replacement
Riley
Song: “Lying with You” by Chase Wright
RACHEL WAS TAKING me back to our momma and daddy’s, driving down Main Street, when I saw Rhys walking down the sidewalk with a woman, talking and smiling.
“Did you just see…” I said, pointing out my window but looking at my sister.
“Yes, I did see.”
“Do you know who that is with Rhys, because I don’t recognize her?”
“Her name is Carrie Brooks. She’s a news reporter from Tyler.”
“Okay. Why is she with Rhys?”
“She’s talking to him about Cypress Hills.”
“What about it?”
“The Civil War and railroad history here, the bayou trade, the ghosts, the B&Bs, and all. She’s planning to do a report on our hometown.”
“Is today the first time she’s talked to Rhys?”
“No, the second. She came into town last weekend, too,” Rachel said, turning onto our parents’ street. “Did anything about her happen to stand out to you?”
“Yes, she looks like me.”
“Exactly like you. It freaked me out when I met her last weekend.”
“Where did you meet?”
“At Gallagher’s. Jackson and I were there when Rhys walked in with her.”
“So, they ate there?”
“Yes.”
“With you and Jackson? Or at a different table?”
“With Jackson and me.”
“I see. Did you not think I needed to know about Carrie Brooks from Tyler?”
“Nope. She’s just doing her job.”
“It looked like she was doing more than that back there,” I said, thumbing over my shoulder toward downtown. “The way she smiled at Rhys and then pushed him on the arm was pure flirting.”
“Look, Rhys isn’t interested in her. I know you’re worried about that, but don’t be.”
“Do you know why she chose to talk to Rhys about Cypress Hills?”
“Her parents stayed in one of the B&Bs a few weekends ago. Rhys is the one they spoke with about their booking. After their stay, which included taking the history and cemetery tours, eating at several restaurants, and shopping, they called Rhys and raved about their experience. They loved it here and told Carrie about it. It piqued her interest, and you know the rest.”
“Did she stay overnight last weekend?”
“Yes.”
“Let me guess. In the same B&B as her parents, right?”
Rachel nodded.
“And I’m sure that Rhys had it looking perfect,” I said, leaning my head back against my seat.
After my sister dropped me off, I told my momma and daddy about my visit with Janice and Rob. Then I went upstairs and lay in my bed to nap. I was mentally drained.
An hour later, Rachel texted me. She said Jackson was going coyote hunting with some friends tonight, and she wondered if I wanted to go to Gallagher’s and share some appetizers with her while listening to the singer, who was always there on Fridays and Saturdays.
Me:That sounds fun.
Rachel:I’ll pick you up at 7.
Me:What about Macie joining us?
Rachel:You can ask, but she’s probably with Noah.
Me:He can come too. He’s a lot of fun to be around.
Rachel:Then text Macie and see what she says.
My BFF and her handsome Aggie boyfriend arrived at Gallagher’s when my sister and I did. We shared a smorgasbord of appetizers, talked, and enjoyed the entertainment. But the entire time, Rhys was in the back of my mind. I wondered what he was doing tonight. I hoped it wasn’t Carrie Brooks.
Although my sister told me that Rhys wasn’t interested in her, I knew how he’d handled getting his heart broken by me the last time. He rebounded out of loneliness. Due to his emotional state, I could see him giving in to Miss TV Reporter from Tyler, just like he had with Trisha.
It was almost 9:00 p.m. when Macie suggested we all go to Cheers and Beers for a little while. Rachel bowed out, reminding us that she couldn’t drink.
“You could still have fun!” Macie said.
“That’s okay. Netflix sounds better.”
“Fine, party pooper.”
“What about you, Riley?” Noah asked. “Want to go with Macie and me?”
“You know what? I believe I do.”
“Well, ladies, I’m ready whenever you are.”
When we arrived, Cheers and Beers was packed. After worming our way to the bar, Noah ordered two glasses of sauvignon blanc for Macie and me and a Shiner Bock for himself.
A short while later, he told us about a German Shepherd he’d done surgery on earlier in the week. He loved the dog and said he would’ve adopted it if he could. That led to Macie asking him about getting a German Shepherd puppy they could raise together since she loved the dog breed.
As they continued talking about it, I smiled to myself. They were so much alike and seemed so happy. I wouldn’t have been surprised if they were married by this time next year.
I needed to use the restroom, so I handed Macie my glass. “Gotta pee. I’ll be back in a few minutes,” I said.
Standing in the line, I scrolled through Instagram on my cellphone. Then, I checked again to see if Rhys had opened an account. He hadn’t. He was still old-fashioned, through and through.
I glanced up and did a double take, quietly gasping. Rhys was walking toward me, coming back from the men’s restroom. Just like at his parents’ house earlier, his eyes locked with mine, and he slowed his pace. Then he took a deep breath as I’d just done and continued coming in my direction.
He stared hard at me until he passed by. I looked over my shoulder at him, wanting so much to touch him. God, this hurt.
When I returned to the bar, Macie asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Who said anything is wrong?”
“And who are you talking to? Would it happen to be your best friend who knows you inside and out? Hmmm. Yes, it is. Now tell me what’s up.”
I shook my head. “I saw Rhys while I was standing in line.”
Macie glanced around. “I didn’t know he was here.”
“Well, the place is packed to the hilt.”
“Do you want to leave?” Noah asked me.
“No, but I would like some more wine.”
I downed what was left in my glass and waved at the bartender. When I tried to pay for my drink, Noah stopped me and took care of it.
“Thank you. You are a gentleman,” I said.
Macie hugged me, and then I looked toward the dance floor. Countless couples were two-stepping, reminding me of when Rhys and I had on that Friday night in June. We melted into each other so quickly and easily.
“Noah, go dance with Riley,” Macie said. “It’ll do her some good.”
He looked at me and shrugged. “You want to?”
“Why the hell not?”
We’d been dancing for a few minutes when another two-step song came on.
“Want to keep going?” he asked.
I was about to say no and that he should dance with Macie when I glanced over his shoulder and saw Rhys. He had Carrie Brooks in his arms.
“Yes, let’s keep going.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
As Chase Wright’s song “Lying with You” played, I kept my eyes on Rhys and Carrie as best as I could. Then Rhys saw me looking at them. Another hard stare came from him, and he focused back on Carrie, smiling at her and his dimples popping. I wanted to die.
When the song ended, Noah and I rejoined Macie next to the bar, and she frowned at me. “You look like you could strangle someone,” she said.
“I could. I just saw Rhys dancing with a woman.”
“Who?”
“Carrie Brooks. She’s a news reporter from Tyler who’s been gathering info on Cypress Hills to do a piece on. Did you know about her being in town and talking to Rhys?”
“No. I would’ve told you if I had.”
“Rachel knew about her and didn’t say anything to me.”
Macie sighed. “I’m sorry.”
“I saw Rhys with Carrie in town earlier. They were walking down the sidewalk on Main Street, and it was easy to see they were into each other just like a minute ago.”
“And Rhys is walking this way with her. Holy shit, she looks just like you.”
“I know.”
“Hey, Macie. Noah,” Rhys said, holding his hand out to shake his.
“How are you doing, man?”
“I’m good. Thanks. This is my friend, Carrie. Carrie, this is Noah, Macie—and my ex-fiancé, Riley.” He motioned toward me, staring hard again.
“It’s nice to meet y’all,” she said, smiling.
Noah and Macie returned her politeness, but I didn’t. She focused back on me, recognizing how much we resembled, although she said nothing about it. She didn’t have to. The expression on her face said it all. She was blown away.
Macie cleared her throat, and I looked over at her. She was shooting arrows at Rhys with her eyes. Then she went into full best-friend mode.
“Carrie, please excuse me for what I’m about to say. It’s no reflection on you, darlin’.” Macie focused on Rhys again. “What in the hell kind of fucked up deal is this? You got a clone of Riley?”
“Macie, really?”
“Yes, really. And another thing… I understand Carrie is in Cypress Hills to gather facts about its history for a TV report, so why are you dancing with her at a bar?”
Rhys shook his head angrily and then looked at Carrie standing beside him. “I’m sorry, but we need to leave.”
“She does, for sure!” Macie continued, pointing at Carrie. “Rhys, you’re such a stubborn ass. Deep down, you know Riley didn’t do you wrong by Chad, so stop this nonsense!”
“Bye.”
He took Carrie by the hand and led her to the exit. I turned around and laid my head on the bar, fighting back tears.
“BFF, I’m sorry, but I could not just stand here and not say something to Rhys. He deserved everything he got from me,” Macie said.
I took a deep breath and looked up at her. “Please take me back to my momma and daddy’s.”