Page 42 of Falling for Forever

As they were passing a large table, Chet’s name reached her. Pausing, she glanced over her shoulder. There were at least six people at the table. Maybe seven. One by one, she took them in. They were all strangers to her. Not one of them was familiar.

Lacey motioned to a table near enough that most of the other table’s conversation carried. Normally, that wouldn’t be a problem. But now that they’d mentioned someone named Chet, she wanted to find out if they were speaking about her boyfriend.

Lydia nodded her thanks to Lacey and accepted the menus. Then she stared down at the menu and told herself it wasn’t polite to eavesdrop on others’ conversations.

“I haven’t seen him in forever.”

“I know, right?”

She peeked over at the table. Two women were speaking to each other while the four men hadn’t joined in on that particular conversation.

“Do you know what he’s been up to?”

“No. It’s like he’s just dropped off the face of the earth.”

Lydia frowned. If they meant her Chet, they must have known him before he settled in Rocky Ridge. She glanced toward the door, hoping to see him coming in. She could introduce herself and let him fill in the gaps. When he didn’t come, she lowered her eyes to the menu again.

“Are you talking about Chet? I miss that dude.”

“Me, too! He was always so much fun.”

Now that sounded like the Chet she knew. Unless he was really stressed out, Chet was always up for a joke. He could roll with the punches and take on her sarcasm like no one’s business. It was one of those traits that she liked about him. Not many could handle her spunky attitude or the ways she teased them.

“Don’t forget all the girls he brought to the parties.”

She went cold.

Her fingers tightened around the menu. In all the time she’d known Chet, he’d never brought another woman to the barn or family dinner. Of course he’d had a life before Rocky Ridge. But the easy laughter from the other table made it hard to reconcile their stories with the man who’d stood on his side of a stall door while she told him what she needed.

“Yeah, no one went through women like he did.” One of the guys laughed.

“It was such a shame, because I would’ve totally dated him,” a girl added.

The first guy’s face morphed into a smug grin. “Good luck with that. Chet was all about having fun. Every town we went to, he had a different girl to hang with. Sometimes more than one. I don’t think the man is capable of settling down. There’s a reason rodeo cowboys get a name for themselves.”

“Yeah, it’s the stereotype,” another guy agreed.

Rodeo cowboys. Lydia stared at the menu without taking it in. She’d told Chet what that part of her life had cost her. He’d listened. He’d asked about what she’d been willing to leave behind. If these people meant the same man, that world was his far more than she’d guessed.

She set the menu down and pressed her palms against her knees beneath the table.

They could still be talking about someone else. She needed Chet’s side before she settled what any of this meant.

Tonight, she’d wanted to ask him about the life he was building. Now she sat within earshot of strangers describing a whole part of his life that was news to her. Her eyes went to the empty chair across from her.

She’d given him a chance to tell her at the barn. Asked him directly if there was anything he wanted her to know.

He’d asked for her support and love. She remembered the warmth of his hand beneath hers when she’d accepted that answer.

She flattened a crease in the paper sleeve around her silverware, then let it go. Chet would be here soon. She could ask him herself.

“Wait, is that him?”

Her head snapped up and her eyes darted toward the restaurant door.

“It is! Oh my gosh!” A girl stood and waved. “Hey, Chet! It’s been forever!”

Chet’s eyes had been locked on Lydia up until his name had been called. A quick glance in that direction, and his face lit up. He beamed at the people and waved. But then it changed. One second, he was excited at the sight of them and the next he looked worried.