Chapter 23
23
L ila pushed open the bar door, instantly enveloped by the comforting scent of wood smoke and grilling hamburgers. The dim lighting cast a cozy glow over the room as she scanned the tables for her friends. It didn’t take long to spot them, waving her over from their corner table.
“Hey, Lila!” Reva motioned her over from where she sat, flanked by Capri and Charlie Grace.
Lila approached, noting the odd expressions etched on her friends’ faces. Capri wouldn’t meet her gaze. Instead, she focused on her long-neck bottle.
Trying to mask her concern, Lila slid into the empty chair, placing her purse under the varnished wooden table. “Why the urgency to meet?”
Before they could answer, the bar owner placed a mug of beer in front of her.
“Hey, Annie,” Lila said.
Annie stopped her from reaching for her wallet with a hand on her shoulder. “It’s on the house,” she said with a sympathetic smile.
“Thanks,” she said, a bit puzzled.
Annie nodded toward the bar. “If you girls need anything else, just holler.” She patted Lila’s shoulder before returning to the bar, her black Lab, Bartender, trailing at her feet.
Lila slipped her purse from her shoulder, taking in the familiar surroundings—walls adorned with western-themed paintings and photographs of cowboys and horses. A George Strait song played from the old-fashioned jukebox in the corner.
“Sorry I’m late,” she explained. “I got here as fast as I could. I think Camille is coming down with something. I had to make a run to the store for some Pepto.”
Reva coughed, clearing her throat. She nervously glanced between the other two.
Lila looked around the table, noting her friends’ pained expressions. “Did someone die…or what?”
When no one immediately responded, she nervously added, “Okay, now you’re making me scared.”
Reva leaned in, her voice loud enough to be heard over the music. “No one died. But, honey, we have something we need to tell you.”
Capri nodded. “Yeah, about Whit Calloway.”
Lila leaned forward, her heart pounding. “What about Whit?”
Capri’s hands tightened on her beer bottle. “His girlfriend showed up in town today.”
Lila’s breath hitched. “Girlfriend? What do you mean, girlfriend?”
“Her name’s Candy Faye Hutchison,” Capri said, looking pained. “She’s got short, snappy reddish-brown hair with blonde highlights, tight jeans, and let’s just say she’s got a lot filling her top.”
Charlie Grace reached for Lila’s hand. “Capri said she walked into the bookstore asking for directions to the clinic, claiming to be Whit’s girlfriend.”
Lila felt like the floor had dropped out from under her. Her voice grew tight. “But…he never mentioned any girlfriend. Not once.”
Reva picked at her napkin. “I looked her up on social media. She’s from a well-to-do Texas family. There are lots of pictures of her and Whit together.”
Lila’s head spun. The bar’s warm, comforting atmosphere felt suddenly oppressive.
“Why didn’t he tell me?” Lila’s voice was barely a whisper. “I’ve been making baby steps toward. . .something with him. How could he not mention he had a girlfriend?”
Capri reached for Lila’s other hand. “We were just as shocked, Lila.”
Lila pulled her hands away, a mix of anger and hurt swelling inside her. “How could he do this? Why would he act interested if he had a girlfriend? He almost kissed me! If Camille hadn’t walked in—” She put a hand to her stomach. “How am I going to work with him? How will I act like nothing happened between us?” She was aware her voice was getting louder. She didn’t care.
Annie glanced over from the bar but didn’t approach. Her black Lab, Bartender, laying by her feet, perked up as if he too sensed the unease.
Lila took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. “I knew I shouldn’t trust him. The first time I met him at the rodeo, I knew?—”
“Maybe there’s an explanation, Lila,” Reva suggested, leaning close, her voice gentle. “Maybe it’s not what it seems.”
Lila shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. He should’ve told me. I deserved the truth.”
Capri nodded, squeezing her hand. “You’re right, Lila. We’re here for you.”
Lila managed a weak smile, grateful for her friends despite the turmoil swirling inside her. “Thanks, guys. I just…I need some time to process this.”
Annie approached, this time with a tray of nachos. “On the house,” she said softly, setting the tray down. “And if you need anything, anything at all, just let me know.”
Lila nodded, her eyes welling up. “Thanks, Annie.”
As her friends dug into the nachos, Lila sat back, the reality of Whit’s betrayal sinking in.
Whit had a girlfriend?
She thought they’d been getting to know each other, and the whole time he’d been hiding a very big secret.
Nothing made sense anymore.