Discern (7 page)

“Hey there!” he exclaimed.

“Hey,” I smiled. “Where are the guys?” I asked, searching the place for familiar faces.

“Shooting pool.” He pointed in the direction of the tables.

My eyes darted in that direction, before returning back to Ryan. “What are you drinking?” I asked looking down at his glass.

“Rum and coke,” he said, taking a sip.

“What would you like to drink, ma’am?” A female voice interrupted.

“I’ll take a soda,” I smiled.

“Are you sure, dear?” she smiled deviously.

“Yes, just a coke will do,” I smiled back. She wouldn’t have carded me, but I wasn’t big on drinking, especially if I was driving. And I would just end up acting foolishly. Something I was sure Ryan and his friends would thoroughly enjoy.

“Haley Helms, right here before our very eyes!” A loud voice echoed.

“Hey guys,” I said, clutching my purse. “Maybe this was a mistake,” I whispered to Ryan.

He placed his hand over mine. “Just give them a chance. They’ve missed you,” he assured.

“Okay,” I sighed.

“I heard you lost two hundred pounds,” John Bowman laughed.

I wasn’t catching on to the joke. “Oh, really,” I said flatly.

“He’s talking about Braden,” Aaron answered.

“I get it, now,” I pouted.

“Sorry, they’ve been drinking since three,” Mike Carroll chimed in.

“Hey there, Mike, how’ve you been?” I asked, trying to smile.

“Pretty good, loving
Arizona
,” he said.

“Are you going to school there?”

“Yeah, I graduate this year,” he said smugly.

“Good for you.”

“So are you going to school around here?” he asked politely.

“Yeah, for this year, then I’m going back to
California
.”

“Mike, get your ass over here!” John exclaimed.

Mike excused himself and went back over to the pool tables.

“That wasn’t so bad,” Ryan said.

“Sure.”

“Haley, no one is upset with you. You had a rough few years and everyone understands,” he smiled.

“There are a few who would love to rub my latest tragedy in my face though, I’m sure,” I sighed.

“But they don’t matter.”

“I guess.”

“Ryan!” John shouted across the bar. “Time to shoot!”

Ryan shot a quick glance in their direction. “I’ll be right back. I’ve never been good at pool.”

“Okay.” Making my way to the restroom at the back of the bar, I noticed Andrew sitting at a table with three men in dark suits—casually standing up and leaving his table. They exited the bar. My eyes met Andrew’s, and he flashed a wide smile.

“Good evening, Miss Helms.” The words flowed off his tongue smoothly, as I passed by his table.

A smile swept across my face. “Hi,” was all I could manage to say.

“Enjoying your night?” he grinned.

“I guess.”

“Not your usual hang out?”

“Not really, but it’s better than sitting at home alone.”

“I see,” he smiled. “Would you like to have a seat at my table?” he asked.

I nervously took a seat. The dim lights flashed, as they always did when he and I were close. The waitress noticed my table change and headed our way. “Would you like another, sweetie?”

 
“Yes.”

“I’ll have another, too,” Andrew said, keeping his focus on me. “I didn’t think you were twenty-one yet,” he mentioned casually.

“I’m not.”

“How are you being served?”

“I’m not drinking alcohol, just a soda,” I smiled.

“You don’t seem like the type to break the law.”

“You’re right. I’m too afraid of the consequences,” I admitted, sounding apologetic for my lack of a wild side.

“That’s admirable.”

“So, is this where you spend your Friday nights?” I asked. Hard to believe this place was his type of venue. He looked more like a fitness instructor than a professor, and this was definitely not a place for either.

“No, just met a few guys here to discuss business.”

“It doesn’t seem like your kind of place,” I smiled.

“It doesn’t seem like yours, either.”

“You’re right again,” I grinned.

“A nice coincidence then,” he smiled. “So have you finally adjusted to being back?”

“I’ve gotten used to it again, but I still miss California.”

“It isn’t that bad. At least you have a teacher that lets you out early and whose class is ridiculously easy,” he winked.

“Yeah, that’s a plus.”

“So when do you turn twenty-one?”

“April eighteenth.”

“Still have a while.”

“Yes. I’m in no hurry to grow up, so it suits me just fine.”

“Yes, growing older is never fun.”

“How old are you?” I asked.

“Twenty-six.”

“You’re really young for a professor, but I think I’ve mentioned that a couple of times before,” I blushed.

“I appreciate your observation, but I feel much older than twenty-six. I’ve lived quite a life.” His eyes met mine. My heart fluttered ever so slightly.

“So are you enjoying your fan club?” I asked teasing.

“I’m not sure what you’re speaking of.”

I flashed a disbelieving look. He couldn’t possibly be that blind. “All your admirers in class. You can’t tell me you haven’t noticed!”

“Oh, I don’t really pay much attention.”

“You don’t expect me to believe that?”

“Haley, I really don’t pay attention to any of the other women in my class.”

Immediately, I noticed the word ‘other’. “You never know what you’re missing out on,” I teased.

“I doubt much,” he grinned. “I think your friend is coming back to claim you.” He nodded toward the bar.

I turned just in time to see Ryan headed our way. I rolled my eyes. “This should be interesting,“ I mumbled.

“Yes, it should,” Andrew agreed. I was surprised he had heard my last comment. The bar was unusually loud with talking and music.

“Haley, we’re going to roll out of here. You ready to go get something to eat?” he asked glaring in Andrew’s direction.

“I’m not really hungry,” I said nervously, worried about Ryan’s reaction.

“Well, we’re leaving. I can walk you to your car if you like?” Ryan asked, continuing to glare.

“I can walk Haley to her car,” Andrew offered.

“Haley, I don’t feel comfortable leaving you here,” Ryan said, softly touching my arm.

“I’m fine,” I insisted.

“She’ll be fine,” Andrew asserted.

Ryan’s face was hurt as his eyes met mine. “Well I’m not leaving until you do,” he said firmly.

My eyes met Andrew’s “Perhaps I should go. Maybe some other time.” I really wanted to stay, but the hurt look upon Ryan’s face was enough for me to end the intense showdown between the two.

“Another time,” Andrew smiled.

“See you Monday.” I slid down from the stool.

Ryan quickly followed behind me. We reached the front door without a word. He was definitely upset. I could feel the gravel rocks below my feet as we walked along the parking lot.

“Did you really want to stay with him?” His voice cracked.

“We were having a nice conversation.”

“Do you like him?”

“No,” I said, shaking my head. “But I could always use another friend,” I smiled, nudging Ryan’s arm.

“Friend,” he repeated.

“Yes, all I can give is friendship right now. I’m not ready for anything else.”

“I know. But I don’t really trust that guy for some reason, and I’d hate for him to misunderstand your conversation for anything more than what you’re offering.”

“I appreciate your concern, but I’m a big girl and can take care of myself,” I smiled.

“I remember just a month ago, you ran from him, so it’ll take me awhile to adjust to the new independent Haley,” he smiled back.

We reached my car, and Ryan opened the door. “Call me, if you want to go do something without the rest of the gang.”

Loud cackling and shouting rang out.

“I will, but I think they need you right now,” I laughed, pointing over at all three of Ryan’s friends bouncing around in the back of his truck.

“Oh, god, it’s like babysitting,” he said.

“Have fun,” I said.

After starting up the car, I couldn’t help but wonder how the evening would have differed if I had stayed with Andrew.

4

Sparks

After several minutes of nonstop yelling, I decided to go investigate. My father’s infuriated voice was deafening as I traipsed down the stairs. He was irately thrashing his arms around, pacing around the kitchen. His phone call abruptly ended as soon as I hit the last step.

“Dad!” I hissed, holding my throbbing head. Cigarette smoke and loud music always supplied a nice sized headache the next morning.

“Did I wake you?” he asked, setting his phone aside, continuing to fume to himself.

It was almost noon. I had been awake for quite awhile daydreaming about Andrew, but from all appearances, it did look like I had just woken up. I had managed to keep the annoying pounding in my head from interrupting the heated thoughts that were swirling around in my head about my professor. In a way, I was relieved that my father had disrupted my fantasies—Andrew was way out of my league.

“No,” I grumbled, making my way over to the slender kitchen cabinet that housed a large bottle of aspirin.

After several attempts, I finally managed to remove the cap and pour three pills out. The sound of rushing water from the faucet only increased the now fierce throbbing in my head. I washed the pills down with a glass of water.

“Late night?” he asked, watching me carefully.

“Not really. Why all the yelling?” I asked, unintentionally slamming the glass down on the counter.

“Just a miscommunication on Fred’s part, he ordered an extra shipment of cars, and I don’t have the room on my lot. This is the second time this year he has done this. He might be getting too old for the job.” He shook his head.

“Dad, don’t be too hard on him. He only has a few years left before he can retire. He wouldn’t be able to find work elsewhere,” I pleaded quietly, as the pills hadn’t had enough time to kick in yet.

“I know, sweetie.”

“Maybe I can talk to Mike down at the plant and get him to take them back,” I offered.

“I’d appreciate that. You do have a way with Mike,” he laughed uneasily.

“I’m glad he lives five hundred miles away.”

“Me, too.”

I moseyed my way over to the opposite side of the kitchen. Opening the pantry door, I searched for something appetizing. Eating would definitely help with my headache, even though I wasn’t really hungry. I reluctantly grabbed a box of toaster pastries and dropped one into the toaster.

“What did you do last night, if you don’t mind me asking?” he pried.

“Not much, just hung out at a local eatery,” I mentioned casually, refusing to give to any details. I wasn’t lying, Woody’s did serve food, but my father loathed those types of places, so the less I revealed the better.

“Good, not too much fun, right?” He flashed a worried look.

“Dad, I was with some old high school friends,” I said, rolling my eyes.

“I didn’t figure you would do anything crazy, but just checking.”

“I’ve never been a crazy one,” I smiled.

“Nope, the perfect daughter,” he smiled. “So I’ll see you in an hour?”

“More like two,” I smiled. Showing up anywhere around this town without primping properly was out of the question. People would assume I was still crushed from the breakup with Braden, which a few weeks ago, would have been true. Not now though—not with Andrew consuming my thoughts.

“Thanks, sweetie, I’ll see you then.” He kissed my forehead and left.

Not exactly the ideal way to spend a Saturday afternoon. The time at my father’s dealership seemed to drag until I finally got a hold of Mike and successfully worked out a deal for him to take the shipment of cars back. I hated the thought of Fred losing his job, so it was well worth the time.

I trotted upstairs to my dad’s office to share the good news with him. Peeking into the room, I heard him giggling on the phone like a girl in middle school.

“Dad!” I shouted, bursting into his office.

“Let me call you back,” he said, slamming down the phone.

“Guess what I did?”

“Did you get Mike to take back those cars?” he asked smiling.

“Yes, all sixteen cars will be gone by Monday morning and your account will be credited.”