Page 22 of Unearthed Dreams (Sable Point #3)
Chapter Nineteen
CHARLIE
The bell above the door to Rosie’s chimed as Chase held it open, gesturing for me to enter with an exaggerated flourish. The blast of air conditioning hit me like a wall, a brief respite from the July heat that had turned Main Street into a shimmering mirage.
“After you, dear sister.”
I shouldered past him without responding, my flip flops slapping against the linoleum with more force than necessary.
The familiar scent of coffee and grilled onions wrapped around me as I made my way to our usual booth—the one by the window where Mom used to sit us when we were kids, close enough to watch the occasional tourist wander past.
The vinyl seats were sticky from the summer heat, squeaking in protest as I slid across.
I yanked a handful of napkins from the dispenser, wiping ineffectively at the sweat-dampened skin on the backs of my thighs.
The ancient ceiling fan spun lazily overhead, each blade casting slow-moving shadows across the worn tabletop .
“Coffee?” Rosie called from behind the counter, already reaching for two mugs.
I grunted in response while Chase offered a cheerful, “Please!”
Michelle, the new waitress, appeared with water glasses and a handful of straws. She set them down, though her smile lingered a bit longer on Chase than necessary. He didn’t seem to notice, too busy watching me stab my straw into my glass with enough force to splash water onto the table.
“Someone’s grumpy today.” Chase smirked over his menu, though we both knew exactly what we’d order. Same thing we always got—turkey club for him, grilled cheese and tomato soup for me.
There was something different about him today.
His usual charm felt... steadier somehow.
More genuine. Not the slightly manic energy I was used to, or the artificial cheerfulness that sometimes bordered on too much.
His hands weren’t fidgeting with the sugar packets, and his eyes seemed clearer, more focused.
“What’s with you?” I asked, wadding up my straw wrapper and flicking it at him. It bounced off his forehead and landed in his water.
He fished out the paper, his movements deliberate and calm. Again, so unlike his usual restless energy. “What do you mean?”
“You’re...” I waved my hand in his direction, struggling to put it into words. “Different. Like, actually pleasant instead of your normal over-the-top act.”
“Maybe I’m just having a good day.” He leaned back against the vinyl booth, one arm stretched across the back. The pose was familiar, but the steady way he held himself wasn’t. “Unlike someone at this table.”
“I’m not—” I started, but Rosie appeared at our table, cutting off my protest. The usual warmth in her face seemed dimmed somehow, her movements less energetic than normal as she refilled our water glasses.
“You kids hear about Billy?” she asked softly.
My stomach clenched, but I forced my expression to remain neutral. “No, what about him?”
“He’s gone, honey.” Rosie’s voice was gentle. “Early this morning, up at McLaren.”
Chase set down his menu, his earlier pleasant demeanor dimming. “Damn. That’s... that’s rough.” He shook his head. “Haven’t seen him much since he went into Pineview. Hard to visit when he didn’t even know who I was anymore.”
“Kai was with him,” Rosie said, her eyes darting meaningfully to me. “Stayed right by his side this past week. That boy’s got a good heart, despite what some folks might think.”
My fingers twisted in my napkin, avoiding both their gazes. The last week had been akin to torture. I’d gotten into my car probably a dozen different times, ready to make the drive to McLaren and sit in the parking lot, if that’s all the farther Kai would let me go.
I’d made it as far as the stop sign at the end of Main Street one morning. It was Rosie who’d tapped on my driver’s side window, motioning for me to roll it down. Tears had spilled down my cheeks as I’d told her what happened.
“Kai?” Chase’s voice took on an edge I didn’t quite understand. “Since when does he care about anything besides that bar?”
“You’d be surprised what that man cares about,” Rosie said quietly, giving me one last knowing look before moving to check on her other customers.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Chase asked, but there was no real heat in his voice.
He stirred his coffee absently, a small smile playing at his lips.
“Though I guess I owe him more than a few favors. Lost count of how many times he’s let me sleep it off in the back room instead of calling Mom and Dad. ”
I took a long sip of water, trying to keep my expression neutral. The ice clinked against my teeth, buying me precious seconds to steady my voice. “He’s a good guy.”
“Yeah.” Chase’s earlier calm seemed to slip a bit, something sad creeping into his expression. “Billy saw that right away. Wouldn’t shut up about how Kai was ‘exactly what the bar needed’ even after his mind started...” He trailed off, shaking his head. “Guess he was right.”
I set my glass down, gentler this time. “You don’t sound surprised. About Kai staying with him.”
“Nah.” Chase’s mouth quirked up at one corner. “That’s just who he is. Grumpy bastard likes to pretend he doesn’t care about anything but...” He paused, giving me an odd look. “Speaking of Kai... I saw how he was watching you at the festival.”
My heart stuttered. “What?”
“When you were with Trevor and your friends. Man nearly crushed a plastic cup watching Trevor put his hand on your back.”
Heat crept up my neck. “I don’t?— ”
“Look, Charlie.” Chase leaned forward, his coffee forgotten, all traces of his earlier calm vanishing. “Kai’s a good guy when it comes to letting me crash at the bar, but that doesn’t mean I want him anywhere near my baby sister. He’s got to be what, fifteen years older than you?”
I stared at my water glass, watching condensation drip down the sides. “You’re being ridiculous.”
“Am I?” His voice had an edge now. “Because the way he was looking at you...” He shook his head. “Just stay away from him, Charlie. I mean it.”
The arrival of our food saved me from having to respond. But as I watched Chase attack his turkey club with unusual focus, I knew this conversation was far from over.