world to me.
“We’ll kick New York’s ass, babe,” he had said. But lately, it seemed like higher education was the last thing on his mind.
He was making good money already at the car lot – everyone in the county wanted to buy a car from the hero firefighter. I was more than a bit worried that he would forego the idea of school entirely, and then I didn’t know what would become of our budding second chance. If Chase stayed in Brancher, would he expect me to do the same?
My parents tried to be encouraging, but they thought NYU was a pipe dream and that I should do something sensible, like change my major to accounting and set up a little business and maybe also take over The Kitchen for them so they could open a second location. But numbers and spreadsheets weren’t exactly my forte, and I couldn’t picture myself behind a desk with a calculator and produce order forms.
Chase was obliviously caught up in an auto-restoration episode and didn’t notice the shift in my demeanor, so I let myself brood a bit. I couldn’t stay in Texas. I wouldn’t. I wanted more for myself and for Annabelle. School was the answer. Even if I ended up writing commercials for cat litter, it got me out of this town and away from the idea of settling. The Kent’s Kitchen chain was my parents’ dream, not mine. I would take my degrees and my ambition and pound the pavement until someone hired me. I might get a thousand no’s first, but I knew someday I’d get that yes.
And in the meantime, I’d wait tables, or park cars, or do whatever I had to do so Annabelle had whatever she needed. I hoped Chase wanted to be a part of that, but if he decided he didn’t, I would go ahead on my own.
Chapter 6
I spent the beginning of my diner shift distracted and feeling uneasy about my quick dismissal of Chase’s intentions the night before. He hadn't said he wasn’t going to college, and I needed to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Don’t create problems where there aren’t any, dummy , I reminded myself as I cleared plates and refilled iced teas.
The lunch rush was just slowing down when Fox came into the diner and took a seat at the counter. He grabbed a menu off the rack and flipped through it quickly. My watch told me I had about forty-five minutes before I had to pick up Annabelle, so I signaled to Joy that I’d take him and headed over.
“Hey,” I greeted him.
“Hello, Avery.” His dimple popped out immediately. The way he said my name sounded different than I’d ever heard it. I wasn’t sure why, I just knew I liked it.
Fox closed the menu and rested his elbows on the counter. His simple white T-shirt deepened his tan and made his green eyes stand out. Since he’d been in Brancher, his hair had gotten even longer, almost to the nape of his neck. I was used to seeing it tied back when he ran, but today he wore it loose, casually tucked behind his ears with a few strands in disarray. I’m not sure what was so appealing about this man, besides his obvious physical attractiveness. My usual style was the clean-cut type, and I honestly thought J.D. had soured me on all rough-around-the-edges, mysterious men forever. But maybe all those late-night Netflix binges were changing my mind, because there was no comparison to any man I’d ever met in real life. If Jax Teller and Tim Riggins had a brother, it would definitely be Beckett Fox.
“Can I get you something to drink?”
“Just coffee, thanks.” His dimple was extra deep today.
I smiled. “Black, right?” I turned to get a coffee mug and his voice stopped me.
“Is your father around?”
“Um, I think he’s in the back…” I trailed off, wondering where he was going with this. As far as I knew, he’d met my dad one time at Chase’s welcome home party.
“Could you please tell him I’m here? He’s expecting me.” Fox took the coffee cup I offered.
My dad was expecting him? This was news to me, but I tried to keep the surprise off my face when I
“We’ll kick New York’s ass, babe,” he had said. But lately, it seemed like higher education was the last thing on his mind.
He was making good money already at the car lot – everyone in the county wanted to buy a car from the hero firefighter. I was more than a bit worried that he would forego the idea of school entirely, and then I didn’t know what would become of our budding second chance. If Chase stayed in Brancher, would he expect me to do the same?
My parents tried to be encouraging, but they thought NYU was a pipe dream and that I should do something sensible, like change my major to accounting and set up a little business and maybe also take over The Kitchen for them so they could open a second location. But numbers and spreadsheets weren’t exactly my forte, and I couldn’t picture myself behind a desk with a calculator and produce order forms.
Chase was obliviously caught up in an auto-restoration episode and didn’t notice the shift in my demeanor, so I let myself brood a bit. I couldn’t stay in Texas. I wouldn’t. I wanted more for myself and for Annabelle. School was the answer. Even if I ended up writing commercials for cat litter, it got me out of this town and away from the idea of settling. The Kent’s Kitchen chain was my parents’ dream, not mine. I would take my degrees and my ambition and pound the pavement until someone hired me. I might get a thousand no’s first, but I knew someday I’d get that yes.
And in the meantime, I’d wait tables, or park cars, or do whatever I had to do so Annabelle had whatever she needed. I hoped Chase wanted to be a part of that, but if he decided he didn’t, I would go ahead on my own.
Chapter 6
I spent the beginning of my diner shift distracted and feeling uneasy about my quick dismissal of Chase’s intentions the night before. He hadn't said he wasn’t going to college, and I needed to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Don’t create problems where there aren’t any, dummy , I reminded myself as I cleared plates and refilled iced teas.
The lunch rush was just slowing down when Fox came into the diner and took a seat at the counter. He grabbed a menu off the rack and flipped through it quickly. My watch told me I had about forty-five minutes before I had to pick up Annabelle, so I signaled to Joy that I’d take him and headed over.
“Hey,” I greeted him.
“Hello, Avery.” His dimple popped out immediately. The way he said my name sounded different than I’d ever heard it. I wasn’t sure why, I just knew I liked it.
Fox closed the menu and rested his elbows on the counter. His simple white T-shirt deepened his tan and made his green eyes stand out. Since he’d been in Brancher, his hair had gotten even longer, almost to the nape of his neck. I was used to seeing it tied back when he ran, but today he wore it loose, casually tucked behind his ears with a few strands in disarray. I’m not sure what was so appealing about this man, besides his obvious physical attractiveness. My usual style was the clean-cut type, and I honestly thought J.D. had soured me on all rough-around-the-edges, mysterious men forever. But maybe all those late-night Netflix binges were changing my mind, because there was no comparison to any man I’d ever met in real life. If Jax Teller and Tim Riggins had a brother, it would definitely be Beckett Fox.
“Can I get you something to drink?”
“Just coffee, thanks.” His dimple was extra deep today.
I smiled. “Black, right?” I turned to get a coffee mug and his voice stopped me.
“Is your father around?”
“Um, I think he’s in the back…” I trailed off, wondering where he was going with this. As far as I knew, he’d met my dad one time at Chase’s welcome home party.
“Could you please tell him I’m here? He’s expecting me.” Fox took the coffee cup I offered.
My dad was expecting him? This was news to me, but I tried to keep the surprise off my face when I
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