A Hope and a Chance(66)
Author: Jennifer Foor

Just thinking about that night made me so angry.

“What’s wrong, Hope? I thought you were okay?”

I shook my head while I continued looking for a parking spot. “This is where I lost my virginity. I hate this place.”

I suddenly thought back to when I knew I was truly ready to have sex; the moment when I knew that I wanted a guy without any doubt. I was confident with my body, and knew exactly how I wanted to feel. It had been my first night with Chance. After that night nothing with Trevor seemed to matter anymore. It was that night that made me see the difference. It showed me that I never loved Trevor, even when I tried to in order to make myself feel better about my choices.

Chance had showed me love and what it was like to actually make love. He would never force me, or hurt me and I appreciated him so much.

“Why didn’t you just tell your father that you wanted to go somewhere else?” He asked.

“Because ever since he got this stupid membership he’s been hell bent on spending every second here,” I explained. “Besides, it was a long time ago. I don’t care anymore.”

We started to get out of the car. “Was it with the dick head?” He asked.

“Yes!” I held my head down, trying to not think about him. “It was horrible, Chance. I wish I had just waited for you. You have no idea how much I wish that.”

Chance stroked my cheek and smiled. “He can’t hurt you now, Hope. I will never let him touch you again. I may not have been your first, but I damn sure want to be your last.” Chance smiled when he said it, sending a wave of butterflies throughout my body. He could do that to me, where no one else ever had before.

My father and Buffy approached us and we all toddled inside together. We appeared as a family. I guess a really messed up one at that. Apparently, my father had reserved us a table ahead of time, so we didn’t have to sit in a more common area of the restaurant. Our table was circular, and since Buffy slid in right next to my dad, Chance and I were able to sit together. He and I were able to touch legs the whole time. It may not have been much, in fact, it was seemingly innocent, but it was enough for me to feel connected to him.

Once we ordered our food, my father started talking to Chance about the town he worked in. He even had the nerve to ask him if he’d met anyone special. I felt Chance’s leg start rubbing against mine as he answered. “There is nothing there that I want. I go to work and then head back to the motel. It’s lonely, and I feel like it just drains the life out of me.”

“I’m sorry that it isn’t working out for you, Chance. I know Buffy hates that you’re so unhappy. Perhaps it is time for you to come home.” Before Chance could reply or I could scream, my dad started talking again. “I would have one condition if you came back though, Chance.”

Whatever it is, just take it…

“I don’t know what you said, or how you managed to do it, but you convinced my daughter to enroll in college.” He looked over at me. “Buffy told me all about it.” Then he looked back to Chance. “Thank you for that. I want so much for her and I could not be prouder. Therefore, my condition would be that you mentor her and help her get through any hard classes. I know how smart you are. College is tough. She can use the guidance.”

I could tell that Chance felt ecstatic. He still didn’t care for my father’s actions, but he could finally come home and I was so happy. We could be together, and still have animosity toward my dad. After all, he was a complete douche.

Was this really happening? Was I being asked to come home and spend time with Hope? I didn’t waste any time accepting his offer. “Of course I’ll help Hope. I plan on enrolling there myself next semester anyway.”

Mark held up his drink. “Well since we’re celebrating, Buffy and I have another announcement.”

He turned to my sister, and I half expected her to yell out that she was pregnant, but instead she just gave him a smile. “We decided to get married on New Year’s Day,” Buffy announced.

A rush of relief went through me and I know it was the same for Hope. It wasn’t that neither of us wanted Buffy to have children, we just needed to be able to reveal our relationship first. “That’s great news,” I replied.

“Mark and I are going to have the wedding here with just a few close friends, and we want you both to stand up for us,” she said in an excited voice. Buffy started clapping and had a huge smile on her face.

“Sounds great, guys.” I said as I took another swig of my beer. I focused my attention to my girlfriend’s leg. Being this close to her was becoming difficult to remain calm. I wanted nothing more than to take her home and celebrate the fact that I wasn’t going anywhere.

When our food finally came everyone got quiet and started eating. Halfway through, Hope asked me to scoot out so that she could use the ladies room. I hadn’t noticed a change in her demeanor, but I couldn’t help get this feeling that something was wrong. The last thing I needed was to draw attention to how concerned I was about her in front of her father. All of my plans on coming home would be ruined, and I’d be back to living hundreds of miles away from her again.

After about two minutes I noticed Mr. Thomas heading to our table. I cleared my throat as he approached and fought with myself to put on a smile.

“Hey there. I didn’t know you’d be here tonight,” he said.

“Ah, Greg, we’re celebrating Chance coming home, and setting a date for the wedding,” Mark explained.

“Well congrats on both. Why don’t you all join us at our table for drinks?” Greg suggested.

Once he’d received a few reluctant glares, he saw we were going to say no. “Aw, come on. Are you really going to pass up on free booze, Mark?” He pressured.

As Mark and Buffy signaled the waiter as to what we were doing, I still hadn’t noticed Hope. When we stood up to move to the table in the other room with Mr. Thomas, I noticed why Hope had gotten upset. Sitting there at the table was Trevor and he wasn’t alone. I remembered the slender darkly tanned girl from the bar, and pictures in Hope’s room. He was with Rylee and they were all over each other.

Not wasting any time on a missed opportunity, I turned to Mark. “I am going to go find Hope and tell her where we’re going.”

Mark gave me a nod, right before realizing how bad of an idea this really was. His face turned pale even as I toddled past him. He’s lucky I didn’t jack his ass up for being so selfish. Obviously his daughter wouldn’t want to be near Trevor. He belonged in jail.