Tomorrows Yesterday

Chase

     Sitting at the bar next to her and Darren on the other side tending to costumers I look over at Freya. She's actually staring at me. Hard. It's a bit disconcerting. "What? Something wrong?"

     "No not really. I'm just wondering how long you plan on being in town. Where your staying. That kind of thing." Shes not smiling.

     I grab my mug of beer and realize it's empty. I push it in and look at Darren. He refills it then moves down the bar towards The woman. "I'm staying at my Pops place. Well I guess it's my place now, since he left it to me. As far as how long I'm here for, I'm not sure yet. Is this just friendly conversation, or Sheriff conversation? Cause I'm not up to breaking any laws Freya." I give her a cocky grin.

     "Friendly. For now." She still doesn't smile. She looks me up and down slowly. Stares down at my hands, then back up to my eyes. "Darren tell you I was married? Have a daughter?'

     "He mentioned it." I look down in my beer. "I'm sorry about your husband. He says he was killed in action."

     "Yes he was. He was a good man. My best friend, after you." I look into her blue eyes at that. "I know you always thought I was a pest growing up, following you and Darren around, but I considered you my best friend too. More so after we spent that time together five years ago. We were both at a crossroads in our lives. Only you chose to ghost me. I tried to call you. Several times. The day after you climbed out of my bed, up until I went to Afghanistan. You never answered or returned my calls. Makes me wonder why?" She narrowed her eyes at me.

     I swallowed the lump in my throat. I wondered if she remembered. Apparently she did. "Yeah." I didn't really have an answer for her.

     She spun around on her stool and stood up. "Guess You meant more to me than I ever did to you right Chase?" She leaned in and said into my ear. "You were my first, but you knew that. Guess I was just a notch. It's okay, I'm over it. Just know, I'm not so friendly towards you these days. I won't be following you around like a puppy anymore." Then she waved at her brother and walked out. I sat there with my mouth hanging open. Just watching that beautiful ass sway away from me.

     Darren moved back in front of me. A chuckle coming from him. "She let you have it for taking her virginity and then falling off the face of the earth?" He was drying a mug with a towel, but staring right into my eyes.

     "You know?" I croaked.

     "Sure! She's my sister. She tells me everything. Oh she didn't say nothing right away. She didn't say anything till she got home, but she finally did. I'll admit, at first I wanted to hunt you down and smash your face in. But she grew up without you holding her back. Turned into a right strong woman. The Marine corps made a good person out of her. She has a future that I don't think she would have had if she had stayed around waiting on you. But I am curious, Why did you ghost her?' 

     How do I answer that? I was so in love with her it scared the s**t out of me? I was at a point in my life where I didn't know what I was doing and could think of dragging her into my crazy life? I shook my head.

     "I made a lot of mistakes when I left here. Even got married myself for like two months! I...well I thought I was doing the right thing. I hooked up with someone who told me I was going to be a father. So I married her. Turns out there was no baby, and she was sleeping with my business partner. I hurried up and got an annulment. The next week Pop died. My life was falling apart around my ears! I had nothing. I was starting over in every way. I came home here for Pop's funeral, and she was here for Christmas. We ran into each other and for one night, I had no pain. No regrets. It was Freya. My Freya. Then I woke up and realized how selfish I had been and I got out of town fast! She had things going on. She had just graduated College. I really didn't know she had been waiting for me, until that weekend. Until I...well I took her virginity. That surprised the hell out of me! She didn't tell me until the deed was done. That pretty much made the guilt worse." I watched him closely. I couldn't blame him if he wanted to punch my lights out.

     He just grinned. "You do realize she's real close to hating you right?"

     "I didn't until tonight. I had hoped that enough time had passed that we could meet again. Only she's still the most beautiful woman I've ever known." I shook my head again. "I'm hoping to get another chance."

     Darren just gave me a belly laugh. "You can get in line!" He said. "You remember Hawkins? Jebidiah Hawkins?" I nodded. "Well he's always been sweet on Freya. He came back to town about six months ago. Rich and sure of himself. Seems he got into real estate or some s**t. Has condos on the coast line. Anyway he has it in his head Freya was meant for him. Been pouring it on pretty thick lately. Flowers, dinner. Gifts, for her and April. Told me he intends to make an honest woman out of her. Not that she's ever been dishonest. If you want my sister, then you better turn up the heat bro!"

     "I remember Jeb. I also remember what an ass he was to her in school too. He was the one who teased her the most."

     "He claims it's cause he always had  thing for her."

     Not if I could help it. Freya wasn't getting away from me this time. I don't care how hard I have to work to get her. That woman is still the only one I want.