5/17/15

I GRAB MY tray with a soup and salad on it from the counter.

The local café is crazy busy at this lunch hour, but luckily Chase has already snagged us some seats on the patio. It's a beautiful afternoon with clear skies and a bright sun, and a perfect day to spend outdoors. I weave my way through the crowded lines and finally make my way to Chase and sit down with an exaggerated huff.

Chase smiles. "Mayhem breaking lose in there?" he asks with the tilt of a head.

I nod with wide eyes. "Just a little, and by little I mean straight hell." We both laugh at my words, and begin to dig into our food.

I wasn't lying or trying to get a rise out of Cale when I mentioned Chase and I having lunch together. Well I can't lie, a small part of me wanted to gain something out of it. But I still am only looking for a friendship with Chase, and from our interactions it seems the same goes for him. We texted all day yesterday and made the plans to meet up today for lunch. He was a little hesitant at first, but once I peeled back those layers he is the male version of Hayley in every way. And having someone to talk to, especially someone that reminds me of Hayley, might actually make this summer bearable.

I swallow a bite of my salad before asking, "So what is your major? I never asked."

He spins his fork in his pasta a few times. "Environmental engineering."

My face pulls in confusion. "So what does that mean? Like what do you want to do with that?" Besides Hayley's fashion classes, and my communication classes I have no idea what the rest of the school does.

He smiles. "I want to travel around the world, especially third world countries, and help with crops and make sure they have clean drinking water," he pauses to take a drink of his tea. "I've been given so much in life, and I just really want to help others."

I shake my head in amazement. "That's awesome Chase," I say honestly. "You could really make a difference, and having that opportunity to travel is invaluable."

He shrugs. "Tell that to my father. He thought me saying I wanted to go into environmental engineering, meant I was also going to attend law school after graduation. And then join him and my brothers at the family company. But that's not the path I want to follow." He sighs into his food.

"That's okay that you want to take your own path Chase. You have to be your own person," I admit.

He rolls his eyes. "Well my father would rather me be like my older brothers," he barks out a dark laugh. "Cale, Colt, and Clayton all went to college for engineering, and then either specified with law or public health or management. And all because that's what my father wanted."

Mr. Hasting is the founder and CEO of one of the largest construction and engineering companies in the country. His children are all set to be his successors, and all three brothers sit currently on the board of directors. That has to be a ton of pressure on Chase to follow his older brothers, but he doesn't need to.

"But you want a different path Chase. Your father has three sons to take care of his company after he no longer can. He can live with you traveling and doing better for this world." I smile at him, and then add, "And think of all the amazing publicity it would bring his company. Would make them look at philanthropic and shit." I add with a thumbs up.

Chase breathes out a laugh. "Philanthropic and shit," he quotes me. "My father would love that reasoning." 

"Well he's gonna have to, because you're meant for other things in this world Chase," I say. I smile as start to finish of my salad. I love how natural things are with Chase. Even with the mention of Cale, my body and heart barely responds. And I know this is because I have a friend. I was able to push all feelings and memories of Cale aside in college because I had Hayley to distract me. And Chase is that new friendship that is the perfect distraction for this summer.

Chase's face flushes slightly at my words. "Thanks Gray."

I wash down my food with a swig of my soda. "Anytime."

Chase and I continue to finish our lunch while he asks me more questions about Northwestern and the classes and the people in Illinois. The conversation flows easily and the café becomes less crowded the longer we talk.

"Gray...? Is that you?" a woman's voice questions from behind me.

I turn to my head to make eye contact with Kylie, my best friend from all those summers ago. She lived here year round, and we grew up exploring this small town together. She was even there when I fell head over heals for Cale. She was the only person who really knew about us, and she was the best friend a girl could have. And when I left Easton to never come back, I also left Kylie. 

"Kylie," I whisper. "Ohmygod it's you!" I cry out gaining attention from other patio tables.

Her eyes water slightly. "I never thought I would see you again, especially after Cale—"

My eyes widen at her admission in front of Chase. "I...no...umm..." I stutter, and turn my head to motion at Chase whose face is scrunched in confusion.

"Oh," Kylie gasps and slaps a hand over her mouth. "I'm sorry I didn't even see you there," she says to Chase.

Chase then stands. "What about Cale?" He asks me with narrowed eyes his gaze flickering between Kylie and myself.

I open my mouth to say something to turn the conversation away from all of this, but Kylie cuts me off.

"I'm sorry I mentioned him," she pauses and turns to me. "Is this your boyfriend?" she asks, worry painted deep onto her face.

I shake my head as my stomach drops at her words. "No, he is—"

I get cut off once again. "I'm Chase Hasting," he introduces himself while reaching out his hand to shake Kylie's.

Kylie's bright eyes meet mine. "Hasting?" she questions.

I lick my suddenly dry lips. "Yeah," I barely whisper aloud.

She raises her hand to motion between Chase and myself. " So how do you two..." she trails not even able to finish her sentence.

Chase stuffs his hands into his front pockets. "Her sister is engaged to my brother," he answers as if it's the simplest thing in the world. The awkwardness just seeps deeper into my bones. Worlds are colliding and I hate it. Oh wow, I hate everything about this.

Kylie's head tilts in question. "Which brother?" her question directed at Chase, but her eyes never leaving mine.

My skin prickles with the heat of embarrassment from the words that I know will leave Chase's mouth next. How did things go from so good to so bad so fast? I was having such a great day with Chase, but my past and present are now meeting, and life isn't so simple as it once was.

"Cale," he answers as if his brother's name meant nothing. But little did he know that Cale is the only name that will always haunt me.

Kylie's eyebrows raise. "Wow," she breathes in complete and utter shock.

I close my eyes and shake my head, refusing the feelings that want to crawl into my heart and build a little nest. "Yeah," I sigh. "Maybe we should all sit down and talk."

Kylie nods, Chase is obviously still confused, and I just sit in defeat of this whole situation.

* * * * *

Lunch lasts a little longer than I thought, but also went better than I could have ever imagined. I explained to Chase that Cale and I had a past, but didn't divulge too many details. I described us as more of a fling that broke up along the way. Not the real version where I fell for him heart first for him only to tear out my heart, and jump up and down on it.

I can see Kylie eyeing me along the way, but she never once jumps in and says anything to reveal my white lies.

After a long conversation about what Cale and I never were, we are finally able to move past what was and focus on us.

Kylie still lives in Easton, and student teaches at the local elementary school. She even still does freelance photography on the side. Kylie with a camera was just as dangerous as any weapon. She could capture the true emotion behind any individual. And when anyone looked at her pictures they couldn't deny the truth. Just like I couldn't deny the summer I fell in love with Cale. It was partially because of her and her photography that I truly had to admit to my feelings for Cale. I may hate him, but I could never hate Kylie for showing me something only she could see.

The three of us got along crazy well, and I have a feeling that the three of us will be seeing a lot of each other this summer.

After the chatter dies down Chase stands up from his chair at the table. "Well I've got to get going, but it was great to meet you Kylie," he says with a smile. I quickly stand also and Chase wraps his arms around me. "Don't worry I won't say a thing about Cale to anyone Gray," he mumbles into my hair. I smile at his words and give a small nod in appreciation.

He pushes in his chair, and with a final wave he leaves.

I sit back down and look over at Kylie. She places a hand on top of mine with a small squeeze. "I really missed you after you left," she says.

I squeeze my hand against hers in return before pulling away. "I know I missed you so much."

A sigh escapes Kylie's lips. "I was mad at you for so long when you didn't come back—"

"I didn't mean to hurt you Kylie, I was just hurting so much, and so angry for so long it clouded a lot of my judgment back then," I say cutting her off.

She wets her lips. "I know. I know," she mumbles. "It took a while for me to understand, but once I had my heart broken I started to understand where you were coming from." Hurt coats her face, and it pains me to watch.

"I'm so sorry Kylie, what happened?" I question hoping I'm not crossing any boundaries. We were once best friends, but so many years have passed it's hard to know where we stand.

She shrugs. "It was my first year in college, he was a senior. Thought I loved him, and he cheated on me with my slutty roommate." She rolls her eyes at her words. "It was awful, and I hated everything and everyone, and I suddenly knew why you never came back."

I nod. "I just couldn't risk seeing him again Kylie...even the thought of seeing him again hurt too much."

"I get it now Gray," she tilts her head as she really looks at me. "Are you okay?" she asks.

I pretend to not know what she's talking about. "Why wouldn't I be?" I say as I take a sip of my drink.

"Gray," she chides. "Come on, Cale is marrying your sister. That has to suck."

I let out a husky chuckle. "Yeah it sucks," I breathe. "But I have to move on, Cale has this hold on me even after all these years...and it's time I get closure," I say.

Kylie's lips press into a smile. "You deserve a great man Gray."

I push my blonde hair behind my ear. "I know I'm awesome," I laugh.

Kylie shakes her head. "You are awesome, and so am I, and we deserve better than these dumb Easton boys," she responds with a raised eyebrow.

"If I had alcohol I'd drink to that right now," I smirk.

"We need to get wine drunk together, and soon at that. I need a fun night," Kylie says with a lopsided grin.

A sit up straight as an idea forms in my head. "My birthday is this Friday we should go out!"

"Wait?" she pauses, her face pulling in confusion. "I thought your birthday was in the fall."

"It is," I agree. "But my family wasn't with me so they wanted to celebrate my half birthday with me. So we are doing a dinner together, but after I'm free to go out with you!"

"Really?" Kylie asks sounding hopeful.

I nod excitingly. "Yes! I was just gonna hang with my parents, keep it chill, but no! You, me, and maybe Chase should all go out and just have a night out," I say with a big fat grin on my face.

Kylie leans over and hugs me tight. "I'm so happy you're back," she whispers.

And for the first time since I've stepped foot into Easton, so am I.