A Hope and a Chance(51)
Author: Jennifer Foor

We made it out of the neighborhood before either of us said anything else. Hope was on edge and I felt like if I spoke I would say the wrong thing. Finally I decided to change the subject. “So have you decided what you want to do once the summer is over?”

She glanced over at me before looking back to the road. “What do you mean? With us?” She asked.

“No, with your future. Have you thought about going to college?”

Hope shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know. I hate school work, so I never really wanted to attend college. I guess with everything that’s happened, I haven’t been thinking too much about it.”

I put my arm over her head rest. “College is important. You should give it a try. It can be hard at times, but it’s very different than high school.”

“You sound like my father, Chance.”

“Sorry.” I rubbed the back of her neck. “I just think since you graduated early, with honors, that you would want to look into all of your options. Virginia has great colleges. I also got offered a spot at Virginia Tech before staying home in Pennsylvania to attend school. Now that I look back, I wonder if I should have just left the state back then.”

“If I tell you I’ll look into school will you leave me alone about it?” She asked.

“You hate it that much?”

“Yes, I do,” she confirmed.

We pulled up to the bar, and my motorcycle was the only thing in the parking lot. “Well, at least it didn’t get stolen.”

I started to get out of the car, but Hope pulled me by my arm back inside. “Chance, wait. My dad will probably be home when we get back. In case I can’t talk to you, I want you to think about this.” She leaned forward and kissed me, starting out slow, but soon her whole tongue was sliding over mine. I could feel the growth between my legs, and backed away before I had the urge to take her right in the car.

I kissed her on the forehead. “See you later, baby.” I said before I headed toward my bike.

Hope waited for me to get on and get it started before she drove off. If Mark decided to stay home this afternoon I would have to go back to taking a cold shower.

30

When I arrived home the first thing I noticed is that my father wasn’t there yet. I ran into the house so that it would seem like I had been there for a while. Then Buffy came walking into the living room to greet me.

“Hey, did you guys get his bike?” She asked.

“Yes, listen I’m sorry about everything. I wanted to tell you, but I was so scared that you’d tell dad. I don’t know what I’d do if Chance had to move away.” I don’t think I was telling her something she didn’t already know, but it was more to the point of having her on my side in case something bad happened.

“Chance is my brother, he’s my blood, and there is no way I would betray his trust. Hope, I know him better than he knows himself. It wasn’t hard to figure out that you were the reason he was being so secretive,” she explained.

“I feel bad about it.”

“Your father is almost twenty years older than me. I’m in no position to judge either one of you.”

We heard the door open, and at first I wanted to rush into Chance’s arms, but that wasn’t who walked in the door. It was actually my father and he wasn’t alone.

“Buffy, honey, can you set three extra plates on the patio tonight?” He asked as he strode in.

I was speechless. Behind him was someone from my past; someone I hoped I never saw again. “Hope, I think you already know Greg Thomas and his sons Trevor and Michael.”

“Yeah, I know them Dad. Why are they in our house?” I wanted to know why my ex boyfriend was standing in front of me in my house.

“Hope! Have some manners. Mr. Greg and I are working on a project together in town. I invited him and his boys here to discuss business over an early dinner.” My father explained.

Trevor had made several attempts to get back with me ever since I dumped his ass. He was standing behind his father looking me up and down. He was the last person that I wanted to be around, and I certainly didn’t appreciate the way he was staring at me. I rolled my eyes. “Excuse me, I need to go change.”

I started walking up the stairs when I heard my father again. “Hope, we’ll be out at the pool. Why don’t you get your bathing suit on, and come out to join us. I’m sure your friends would like to catch up.”

I wanted to scream, but I knew I had to remain calm. I didn’t want to piss off my dad. “Buffy, can you come here a second?”

Buffy met me in my room. I felt like I was already starting to hyperventilate. “What’s wrong, Hope? How do you know those guys?”

Tears fell down my cheeks as I gently sobbed in my hands. “Trevor is my ex-boyfriend. He’s an asshole and I hate him. How could my father think that it would be okay? Did you know about this?” I asked.

“Of course not! I would have warned you.” She gave me a hug. “What do you need me to do?”

“I need you to tell Chance what’s going on. I don’t want him getting the wrong idea. Please, Buffy.” I was being irrational. Just because they were here didn’t mean I had to get back together with him. I just wanted to be able to ignore him until they left.

Buffy agreed to let Chance know what was bothering me, so that he didn’t worry. In the meantime, my father had his own agenda. I changed into the ugliest bathing suit I had, and finished the ensemble off with a giant cover up. He met me when I was coming down the steps.

“Hope, honey I need you to be extra nice to Trevor tonight. His father is a potential investor in one of my largest projects. I can’t have him walking away because my daughter pissed off one of his kids,” he explained.

“Dad, please. I broke up with Trevor a long time ago, and I really don’t like him anymore. Can’t I go somewhere for the night?” I begged. “Can I just say I had something else to do?”

“No, Hope! I need you to do this for me. Just entertain them.” My father started to raise his voice and I knew there was no getting him to change his mind.

I headed downstairs and stayed close to Buffy while she started preparing the food for the grill. My father had already made his way out to the patio, and I saw all three of the guys had beer bottles in their hands.

When I spotted Chance, I got butterflies in my stomach. He was so gorgeous. That man could be making millions modeling underwear. His body was so perfectly chiseled that it was almost a sin to look at.