Then There Was You(46)

I’d spent the night before thinking about our backstage encounter and his amazing performance at the concert. It was exciting to see that Chris had finally fulfilled his dreams of becoming a musical sensation. I was curious to see how much time had changed him or how much stardom had transformed him.

So many people had misjudged him as teenager. Sure, he’d made some mistakes, but I’d never discredited his talent, his thirst for success, or his tenacious drive to reach his goals. There was just something about Chris that drew people to him… his spirited enthusiasm, maybe? Either way, I was as proud of him as I could possibly be and was about to get my chance to tell him so.

Wondering if his entourage of personal assistants and protection agents would be escorting him to the table, I checked and rechecked my phone to make sure he hadn’t cancelled on me. When he finally walked in alone, I barely recognized him in the coat and sunglasses, but there was definitely a distinguishable air about him. I recognized the familiar smile on his face as he walked toward me. When he removed his sunglasses, his eyes glinted in the candlelight of the restaurant.

I stood up to greet him with a quick hug. “So good to see you, Chris.”

“Likewise,” he said with a hasty peck of a kiss that didn’t quite make it to my cheek—a phantom of sensation hovered over my skin.

As he grasped the back of my chair like a perfect gentleman, I sat back down. He slid his jacket off and hung it on the back of his own chair, glancing at me with a nervous smile and settled into his seat.

Thankfully breaking the ice between us, he joked, “Wow, Mrs… I mean, Salem, I can’t believe I’m here with you again after all these years. Seems like only yesterday I was sitting in your office with you while you talked shit about me in your notebook.”

I smiled at him, playfully nudging his forearm that rested on the table. “You’re crazy. I never talked shit about you.”

Chris’s wide grin exposed the deep dimple on the side of his cheek. It was the same dimple I remembered from years ago, but with a little added stubble—further proof of just how many years had passed.

“I know,” he teased. “I just like giving you a hard time.”

Remembering when he and the guys used to give me a hard time about my girly free throw shots in the rec room, I chuckled, “Some things never change.”

“Haha,” he retorted. “Very funny.” He looked down, casually readjusting his silverware on the table. I wondered if he felt the same nervous excitement that I felt inside.

A tall, slender man approached our table. “Welcome to Acropolis Grill. I’ll be your server tonight. What can I get you folks to drink this evening?” The waiter looked at me expectantly.

“Just a sweet tea for me,” I replied. I glanced back at Chris who had his eyes on me, watching me with an indescribable gleam in his eye. I smiled bashfully.

Chris ripped his eyes away, turning his attention toward the waiter. I immediately noticed his face was defined by a sharp jaw line with a hint of stubble that ran across his cheeks and chin. “I’ll have a tall glass of whatever you have on tap,” he said, glancing toward the bar.

With a nod of his head, the waiter headed off get the drinks.

“So, Salem,” Chris asked, once again fixing his gaze on me, “what’s been going on with you over the years?”

Hmmm, where to start? “Well, let’s see… I stayed at Fairbanks until about five years ago when I took a position at the local pregnancy care center. I’ve really enjoyed working with the young mothers, but I miss my coworkers and the kids at Fairbanks, too. Oh, I don’t know if you’d heard or not, but Officer Blevins retired about three years ago.”

“No, I hadn’t heard,” Chris said. “I’m sure he’s thoroughly enjoying himself though.”

“Yeah, I hear he keeps the fish busy in the streams with his trout fishing buddies.”

“I’m sure he does. So, how about you? What do you like to do when you’re not at work?”

“Well, now that I’m a single mom, I’ve been super busy with Alexis, running her back and forth for sports and dance. I don’t have a lot of free time, but when I do, I love to read.”

Chris cocked an eyebrow. “Single mom?”

I considered my response. I mean, how much was too much? What were the chances I’d even see him again? I didn’t want to divulge too much information and later regret airing my dirty laundry.

I nodded. “Yeah, I’ve recently gone through a pretty rough divorce from Graham.”

“Sorry to hear that.” Chris said, shaking his head with genuine compassion.