Chapter 34

 

 

Chloe

 

 

 

IT WAS ANOTHER twenty minutes before were able to get to a gas station. Thankfully, we learned from one of the attendants that we weren’t too far from the church.

“And you doubted me,” Graham said, as we started driving again.

“I never doubted your ability to find the church. I just doubted your driving skills,” I admitted.

“Ha. Funny,” he said dryly.

I looked at him. “Do you see me laughing?”

 

WHEN WE FINALLY reached the church, it was almost seven o’clock. Most of the lights were off and there were only a couple of cars in the parking lot, and they were almost buried in snow.

“This doesn’t look good,” Graham said, frowning. “Wait here. I’m going to see what’s going on.” He reached into the back, grabbing the Santa jacket, hat, and hair pieces again. “I’d better put on everything, in case one of the kids see me.”

“Good idea.”

He quickly got dressed and then left me in the truck. A few minutes later, he returned, looking even more aggravated.

“What’s wrong now?”

“They canceled the over-night,” he grumbled, slamming the door shut. “We wasted a trip out here.”

“Damn. I wonder if Tank tried calling you?”

“I have no idea, obviously. My phone is dead.” Graham ripped off the hat and hair pieces. “I seriously need a fucking drink after all of this.”

“You want to stop somewhere? I could go for something myself,” I admitted.

Not saying anything, he drove of the parking lot and began turned back from where we came. Instead of getting back onto the frontage road, however, he kept going.

“Where are we going?”

“You wanted a drink,” he said firmly. “We’re going to find a place to have one.”

“You wanted one, too,” I replied, not wanting him to think it was all my idea.

“I said I needed a drink. There’s a difference.”

Oh my God.

I wanted to smack him. He was so damn infuriating. Everything had to be an argument. As angry as I was, I didn’t take the bait. He was obviously looking for an argument.

About a mile up the road, we pulled into the parking lot of a shabby looking bar named “Dan’s Dive”.  Despite the weather conditions, there were a lot of vehicles in the lot.

“Have you ever been here before?”

“Yeah. I went to a wedding reception here once.”

“Wow. I can’t believe it’s so busy,” I said, shocked.

“It’s Friday night and there’s not much else to do in these parts,” he replied, pulling off his Santa cap. “But drink.”

“Apparently,” I replied.

He parked the SUV and then proceeded to take the top half of his costume off again, leaving only the jacket, pants, and boots.

We both got out and fortunately, a couple of men were snow-blowing the parking lot and sidewalks, so we had a clear path to the front door. When we stepped inside of the bar, there was a band playing country music in back.

“This is why it’s so busy,” Graham said, staring back there.

“I love live music,” I said, stomping the snow off of my boots.

“I’d say let’s sit at the bar, but it’s jam-packed,” he said, scanning the area with a perturbed look on his face.

“There’s a place over there,” I said, pointing near the stage. Two people were just walking away from a round, pub table with their coats on. “We’d better get it before someone else does.”

Graham took off toward it and I followed him through a crowd of people. Fortunately, we were able to claim the table right before another couple.

“What do you want?” he asked as I sat down on one of the stools. “I’ll go get us a couple of drinks.”

“Um, a Bloody Mary?”

“Spicy?”

“Yeah.”

“A chaser?”

“Sure.”

“You still like those, huh?” he asked.

“It’s my favorite drink,” I replied, thinking that he must have remembered Jessica making me one the time we’d met. I was surprised.

“I’ll be right back,” he said and walked away.

Sighing, I took off my jacket, sat back in the chair, and stared at the stage. Although I wasn’t much for country music, I had to admit the singer had a great voice. I wasn’t the only one who thought so too, because several women were dancing and staring at him like they wanted to take him home. Of course, it didn’t hurt that he was good looking.”

“No fucking way,” said a voice I recognized. One that gave me the chills. “As I live and breathe. Chloe, damn… it’s a small world.”

Turning to Brent, my ex-boyfriend – the very last person I wanted to run into ever - I forced a smile to my face. “Hi.”

Without even asking, he sat down in the empty stool across from me. “You’re looking as foxy as ever, save for the ugly Christmas sweater. What are you doing way out here, gorgeous?”

“I’m here with a friend.”

His grinned widened. “Kai?”

“No. Someone else.”

Graham appeared at the table. He set my Bloody Mary down in front of me, along with the chaser.

“Thank you,” I said.

“You’re welcome,” he said.

Brent looked up at him with scorn. “Well, look who we have here? Santa Claus. Or, are you one of his little elves?”

Graham smiled down at him coolly. “Little? Now, that’s one thing I’ve never been called by a chick before. What did you say your name was, darlin’?”

“Darlin’?” Brent’s entire face turned red as the rage kicked in. “You think you’re funny?” He stood up and to my amusement, the top of his head only came to Graham’s nose. “You’re just a rude asshole trying to impress Chloe here.”

Graham’s eyes twitched. “I don’t have to impress anyone. If I did, you’d already be on the floor crying for your mama.”

Before I could try and defuse the situation, another man showed up at the table.

“Graham Dodge? Is that you?” the stranger asked, giving him a friendly smile.

Graham’s entire face changed. He grinned warmly at the other guy and held out his hand. “Matt Davis. Holy shit. I haven’t seen you since high school. What are you doing here?”

“Just enjoying the music,” he replied, shaking it.

“You always did like country,” Graham said, as Brent slipped away, still glaring at him.

“And you don’t, which is why I wouldn’t have thought to see you here. Speaking of which, what was happening with that douchebag? You two looked like you were going to get into a fight there for a second,” he answered.

“I don’t know. He was just being a dick. Short-man syndrome, you know?” Graham said, taking a swig of his beer.

Matt looked at me. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your girl?”

“This is Chloe,” Graham said. “And… she’s not my girl.”

“Hi,” I said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. The way Graham had introduced me was borderline cruel. Even Tim looked a little surprised.

“Hi. Nice to meet you.”

“You, too,” I said.

He looked back at Graham. “So, you married yet or have any kids?”

“No.”

“That’s cool. Nothing wrong with that. Anyway, we should get together and have a beer soon. I’m with my wife right now and she’s going to kill me if I don’t get back soon. It’s our anniversary.  I just had to see if it was really you.”

“Happy anniversary. Here,” Graham pulled out his wallet and took out a business card. “Call me. I’d love to hook up.”

“Master Electrician. Good to know,” Matt said, putting the card in his shirt pocket. “I’m thinking of buying a cabin and might need some advice on a few things.”

“I’ll be happy to help,” Graham replied.

“Sweet.” Matt nodded at me. “Have a good night, Chloe.”

“You, too,” I replied.

After Matt walked away, Graham sat down across from me. “What was that dickhead saying to you before I arrived?”

“Brent?”

His eyebrow arched. “Oh, you know him?”

“He’s an ex-boyfriend. A real asshole, by the way. I’m glad you got rid of him,” I replied, noticing that Brent was watching me from another table. He was with two other guys, obviously talking about what had transpired. I recognized one of them and remembered him being a trouble maker.

“How long ago did you date him?”

“It’s been almost two years,” I replied.

“He’s obviously still interested in you,” Graham said, taking another drink of his beer.

“I hope not. Anyway, maybe we should drink up quickly and get out of here,” I said, noticing that Brent’s friends looked almost like they were sizing Graham up. “I don’t want anything to happen.”

“You afraid of him?”

I looked at Graham and nodded. “He’s the kind of guy who’ll wait for you out in the parking lot and get you from behind.”

“Is that right?” he replied and looked at Brent. “So, you’re saying I shouldn’t have pissed him off?”

“Probably not,” I replied. “He’s angrier than hell now. You made him look like a fool.”

“He did that too himself,” Graham replied.

I began drinking my Bloody Mary faster. I really wanted to get out of there. I knew something was going to happen if we didn’t leave.

“Hey, take your time. We’re not in a hurry and I’m certainly not going to let him bother us.”

I forced myself to relax. At least Graham was being nicer to me. That was a plus. “Okay.”

The song ended and a new one began. It was slow and steady. Several couples got onto the dance floor.

“You want to dance?” Graham asked, shocking the hell out of me.