Moving On (Rolling Thunder #7) - P.J. Fiala Page 0,84

I know I’ll never forget what you did. But, you did your time, and as Joci keeps telling me life’s too short to hold on to bitterness. So, I’m damn close to forgiving you. Give me a few more months.” He smiled at LuAnn, and her eyes began to fill up, not for her but Chase. Joci’s and Chase’s eyes sparkled with the tears that threatened to fall.

“You work on getting there all the way, Dog” Chase said.

“Will do, Chase.”

Dog said, “We also want to wish you well on your new journey in life. I simply couldn’t stomach the ugly feelings left among all of us. I hope we’ve cleared the air or are really close if it weren’t for some obstinate bastard.” Everyone laughed easing the tensions about the serious things they’d been discussing.

“We’re going to miss you so fucking much, Chase.” Dog stammered. His eyes were glistening with moisture and he swallowed a few times to calm himself.

“I’m going to miss all of you, too. This is a great opportunity for me.” He turned and smiled at her. “For us.”

“I have to agree with you. I called Gil and chewed him out for stealing you, then I thanked him for seeing the creativity in you. I know he’ll treat you good. I’ve threatened to come and kick his ass if he doesn’t.”

That got them all laughing a bit and further lightened the mood. They all rose and headed toward the street.

Joci said, “Thank you for the lemonade and for working on the obstinate bastard to totally leaving the past behind.” Everyone laughed again with Dog the loudest.

Chase stepped back and took her hand, kissed her knuckles, then looked back at Dog and Joci. “Honestly, if you’re out in Colorado, please look us up. Our house is on Waverly Lake and it’s so peaceful and beautiful out there you’ll be impressed.”

Joci smiled at Chase, then looked into her eyes. “We’ll do that for a fact. We’d love to stay in touch.” Dog nodded.

LuAnn found her voice. “We’d love that. Truly.”

Another motorcycle pulled up and Greg hopped off his bike and walked toward them all.

Dog leaned forward and shook Chase’s hand. “We’ll take off, you’ll be saying goodbye for days here. Take care you two and stay in touch.” He nodded to her, Joci waved and they walked toward Greg, shook his hand then continued on and hopped on their motorcycle and left with another wave.

LuAnn inhaled deeply and released the tension held in her shoulders and back. They needed that.

Greg walked up and hugged Chase, then hugged her and she felt those darned tears spring to her eyes once again.

“Greg, I want to thank you for your counselling which helped me to find peace, which helped me to find myself.”

Greg smiled, “All I did was help you find God. You did the rest.”

She sniffed quietly, she should have stuck a tissue in her pocket, dang it.

Chase lightened the moment, “Come on into our mess, Greg.”

She turned and entered the house, the men behind her and she quickly excused herself to grab a tissue in the bathroom.

When she walked back out to the kitchen, Greg and Chase both stood leaning against the counter waiting for her to come out, a beer in each of their hands.

“Lu, wait till you hear Greg’s news.”

Chase’s smile was huge, his eyes dancing with delight.

Greg’s cheeks tinted pink, and he cleared his throat. “Well, I mean, it’s not news really, it’s just, well, while you both were out in Colorado I met someone. We’ve seen each other a few times now and I really like her. So, we’re, I guess…dating.”

It was cute how embarrassed he was. Chase elbowed him lightly. “Tell her all of it.”

Greg cleared his throat again. “Well, I’m dating Olivia, the owner of Lickety Split.”

LuAnn’s brows rose, a smile creased her face. She looked at Chase, who smiled back at her, then he winked.

“That’s fantastic, Greg.“

“Yes.” His cheeks were now a bright red as were the tips of his ears.

Chase laughed. “When things are supposed to work out, they work out. Right, Lu?”

“Right.” They shared a friendly laugh together.

They visited until the beer was gone, then Greg bid each of them farewell, he had a date tonight, so he needed to be on his way.

They stood in the living room window, waving goodbye to their friend and confidant, and as his bike traveled out of sight Chase whispered. “That’s a great match right there. I’m sorry I didn’t think of it and