Page 44 of Falling for Forever

“Who was Dash? I don’t remember him,” Chet murmured.

“No, I don’t suppose you would. He was an up-and-comer when you were beating most of the people in your field.”

Lydia had never named the rodeo cowboy who broke her heart, but based on her reaction alone, Dash was it. “What else do you know? Was he a good guy?”

Jordan rubbed at his hair and glanced among their friends. “I mean, as good as any of us. He was really into your girl for a while there, but when he started getting popular, they broke things off. And after that, I didn’t see him with the same girl more than a few times.”

The other guys nodded solemnly.

Stacey cocked her head. “I went out with his friend once. And they’re right. He didn’t seem to want anyone holding him back. He wanted to travel. You know, visit all the big arenas. Not sure where he is now, so I guess he didn’t make it that big.”

“Not yet,” Beth murmured. “You never know where someone will end up.”

“True.”

Chet dragged a hand down his face. He’d noticed her tight smile when he arrived, but he’d hoped meeting his friends would help her relax. Now he couldn’t remember whether she’d said a word before Jordan recognized her. How long had she been sitting within earshot of their table?

He glanced toward the door, then back at the table they’d chosen for dinner. He needed to find out what she’d heard.

“I’m going to head back to our table. You guys have a good night.”

He shook hands with the guys and nodded toward the girls. Then he returned to the table Lacey had set for them. While he waited, their waitress showed up.

“Can I get you guys something to drink?” She glanced to the empty seat. “Or would you like me to come back?”

“We’ll both take a Coke. Thanks.” His knee bounced beneath the table as he waited for Lydia to return. He’d tell her he’d retired from the circuit. He could point to the business, the horses, the home he’d bought. Everything he’d done since coming here showed how much he wanted to stay. Surely that’d land once he explained.

The second she came back across the restaurant, he stood up. She didn’t look at him right away. At first, she glanced at where his friends were wrapping up their meal. Then she pointedly looked anywhere but at him.

It was only when she pulled out her chair and took her seat that she met his gaze. Everything in him sank. She’d been crying.

“Lydia—”

“I’m fine.”

His brows furrowed. Her eyes were red, and she kept smoothing the edge of her menu. They were only now finding their way back to each other. He wanted to reach across the table, but she’d tucked both hands beneath the menu. He sat down.

He dropped his eyes to his own menu. If he could get through the first few minutes without making it worse, perhaps she’d tell him what had happened. He’d always been able to talk to Lydia. He held on to that thought while the menu in front of him blurred.

“I’m going to get the brisket,” she murmured.

“Good choice,” he said, hollow.

“What about you?”

He stared unseeing at the menu. His appetite was gone. He was worried about her, and she wanted his dinner order? It was wrong. “I don’t know.”

“You usually get the ribeye.”

“Yeah.”

Neither spoke. Stolen glances came from his friends, and Lydia caught them, too. Each time someone at the other table laughed, her fingers stilled. He lifted his head. “Lydia, I know something is wrong.”

She kept her eyes on her menu. Her thumb flicked its edge, making a soft ticking sound. “I heard them talking before you got here.”

His shoulders tightened. “About the rodeo?”

She nodded, then looked toward the other table.