“What the fuck?” He turns to look at me with wide eyes.
“Don’t point. It’s rude,” I play it off.
“Bullshit. And that is Knox Bentley.”
Before I can reply, Camden is walking toward Knox. I stay planted in place, only realizing what’s happening when he points back at me and then calls for me to join him.
“Easton,” Poppy gasps, her head swooshing around to look at Faith, who is avoiding my eyes.
“Hey,” I wave at all the curious eyes staring at me.
“Man, it’s been a long time,” Finn, Averly’s brother, says, shaking my hand.
“Yeah, quite a few years.” I nod, sticking my hands in my pockets. I don’t miss the way Poppy and Averly look between Faith and me.
“It’s like we said his name, and he appeared. I wonder if it works with others? Sam Hunt!” I chuckle at Poppy’s comment, meant to be discreet but loud enough for all of us to hear. I don’t miss the part where she said they were talking about me. I guess I’m not as foreign a thought as I believed, which makes me happy as hell.
“Nope,” she mumbles on a groan, and a man pulls her to his side, reaching his hand out to me.
“I’m Harris, Poppy’s fiancé, and disappointingly enough, not Sam Hunt,” Harris smiles. I shake his hand and introduce myself.
After meeting Harris and Ainsley, Knox’s wife, I catch up with the group.
“How’s Axel?” I ask Knox. Axel and I used to be friends. He’s only a couple years older than me, and we were on the football team together growing up.
“He’s great, just had a baby. You remember Lia Montgomery?” Knox asks.
“Don’t tell me they finally got together.” I raise my eyebrows.
“Yup. I think the whole town sighed in relief when that happened,” Knox chuckles.
“Good for them.” I nod with a smile. Those two were inseparable growing up.
“How are you? Still living in Virginia?” I’m grateful for Knox’s conversation so I can avoid the pairs of eyes that are glued to me. None belong to the woman I loved all those years ago.
“I actually just bought our ranch. It went up on the market, and I jumped on it before anyone could make an offer.”
“Good for you,” Finn says.
“Yeah, I’ve been eyeing it. So… You two?” I ask with raised eyebrows, pointing between Abbie and Finn.
“Getting married soon.” He smiles proudly.
“Wow, congrats.” That’s an unlikely pair, but they look happy.
“And you two?” I point at Averly and Eli. I know Eli from around town, but I don’t know him well enough. When I moved, Averly was dating Patrick in high school.
“Yup, the baby’s ours, too. No The Hangover moment where we stole a baby,” Averly says awkwardly on a chuckle.
I also chuckle. “Good to know,” I nod, amused. “Hey, how’s Gavin?” I ask Abbie about her cousin. “I’m gonna have to catch up with him. Are he and Hadley still…” I trail off when Abbie shakes her head firmly and frowns.
“Oh.”
“They got married but ended up getting divorced. He has a daughter, though, and recently got remarried to the sweetest girl,” Abbie smiles.
“Wow. I always thought…”
“Yeah, we all did, but he’s happy now. How are you?” Abbie asks.
I smile at the people I grew up with, remembering them as kids and teenagers, not able to ignore the fact that we all made lives after I moved.
“I’m good, honestly.” I smirk. “It’s crazy to be back here.” I look around Clarke’s. I remember coming here with my family for lunch and dinner some nights. It was always a treat.
My life changed when I moved to Virginia. At first, it was hard as hell. I wanted nothing more than to return to Everton. I even threatened my parents that I was going to jump on a plane and come back alone. I was known as the cowboy in the city, and although Charlottesville is not that big in comparison to other cities, it felt huge coming from a town with no more than 1200 people. But then I discovered the Blue Ridge Mountains and my talent for basketball, and my life got better.
“So, you’re back for good?” Finn raises his eyebrows.
“Yeah.”
“Excuse me,” Faith finally speaks up before running off to the bathroom.
We all stare at her retreating form. My heart pumps wildly as I watch her go.
“She’s in shock.” Poppy shrugs apologetically. “I’ll be right back.” She smiles at her fiancé before going after Faith, Averly and Abbie following closely behind.
“I’m missing something here,” Ainsley’s eyebrows pull together as she stares at me.
“Yeah, babe, you are.” Knox pulls her into his side and chuckles against her head.
“Faith and I used to date,” I tell her with a tight smile.
“Ooohhhhh…” She nods slowly. “That makes more sense.”
“No, shit. Is that the girl you’re always talking about?” Camden slaps my shoulder.
I glare at him, questioning why I thought it would be a good idea to let him come to Everton with me. Long drive, I remind myself.
“Sooo… You still talk about her?” Ainsley’s eyebrows move up and down on her forehead. I chuckle and shake my head before turning to look at the bathroom, wondering what is running through Faith’s mind. Is her reaction a tell-tale sign that she’s as affected by me as I still am by her? Is there a chance for us after all these years?
I figured I’d run into her, maybe have a chance to announce my move to her in a different way. Not in the middle of a crowded bar surrounded by her friends.
Like Camden said, she’s the woman I’ve always talked about. Always wondered what would have happened had I come back sooner. By the looks of it, she’s single. Either that or she’s dating someone who works Saturday evenings. I don’t like the idea of that, but it has been years since we’ve talked, let alone seen each other.
She’s gotten more beautiful and has matured from the girl she was back then. We both have. I expected her to make a life for herself without me in it.
Faith and I were only beginning our high school sweethearts love story, but it was cut short before either of us wanted it to end. My parents guaranteed me that I’d move on, and sure, I had other girlfriends, but none made me feel the way Faith did. Maybe I can chalk it up to innocence or first love, but I never got the opportunity to figure that out.
“I’m gonna go,” I look at the group of people in front of me. “Got a lot to do tomorrow.”
“If you need any help with the ranch, let me know,” Finn offers. “I’m sure Gavin will be happy to help, too.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it. I do want to see Gavin.” I wave and walk out of Clarke’s, despite Camden’s argument about staying out for another drink.
“That’s Faith, huh?” His cocky smirk annoys me.
“Yeah,” I bite out.
“The number one reason you bought that ranch and are giving up your dream job to move back here…” He looks around the center of town where Clarke’s sits.
“It’s not my dream job anymore,” I say through clenched teeth.