Read Online Hey Sunshine by Tia Giacalone - Free Book Online Page A

okay?” Heather’s sleepy voice had an edge of concern.
    I glanced at the clock. “Shit. I’m sorry. Go back to sleep.”
    “I’m awake, I’m awake. I just wasn’t expecting deep thoughts after eleven, so you caught me a little off guard.” Heather yawned, and I could hear her rustling around on the other end of the line, most likely arranging the multitude of pillows on her immaculate white duvet set. “Where is all this coming from?”
    “We went out tonight. He’s handsome and charming and pretty much everything I should want but…”
    “You don’t,” Heather said matter-of-factly.
    “I didn’t say that!” I exclaimed.
    “You didn’t have to. Listen, Avery. You know I’m not Chase’s biggest fan. I think he’s selfish, arrogant, pretentious, and nowhere near good enough for you. But I can overlook all of those things if he treats you well and you’re happy.” She paused. “Truly happy. Deliriously, can’t-live-without-him happy.”
    I hesitated.
    “Are you?” she pressed.
    I shook my head.
    “Are you shaking your head right now?” Heather laughed.
    “Yes?”
    “Oh, sweetheart,” she said, her voice sad. “Shouldn’t he be on his best behavior, pulling out all the stops for your fresh start? If it’s not rainbows now, imagine how you’ll feel in a few months.”
    “Am I expecting too much, though? Any girl in this town would love to have Chase Dempsey pay attention to them. What if it’s just me?” I slumped down into a kitchen chair and rested my chin on my hand dejectedly.
    “That’s my point, Avery. It is you, and your life, and Annabelle’s, and you deserve whatever it is you have your heart set on.”
    “I’m not sure what my heart wants anymore,” I admitted. My mind quickly jumped to Fox and how he looked standing in the sunlight in front of the diner, before I shook my head to clear the image away.
    “You’d better figure it out, girl. Before whatever it is passes you by.” Heather yawned. “I love you. Call me in the morning, I’ll bring donuts.”
    “Love you too. Goodnight.” I flopped back onto my bed, my head echoing Heather’s advice to figure out what my heart wanted. When I finally closed my eyes, my dreams were full of green eyes and hot coffee.
    * * *
    Chase called me early the next morning on his way to work. Annabelle and I were having a leisurely breakfast in front of the TV, where I was using a cartoon marathon to mask my guilt over her sugary cereal and my late night.
    “Hey babe,” he said, his voice somewhat distorted by his car’s bluetooth connection. “I’m sorry about last night. Are you mad? You know I’m not trying to push you, right?”
    That was the thing about Chase. Every time he disappointed me, he’d follow up with exactly what I wanted to hear to reel me back in. I remembered it well from our high school days.
    “I appreciate that,” I said slowly, swirling the remnants of my soggy cereal in the bowl.
    “Anyway, I know it’s last minute, but I wanted to see if you were free for dinner tonight.” His voice was almost apologetic, like he was already expecting me to protest.
    “Chase, I can’t go out again tonight. I don’t have a babysitter and besides, I don’t want to leave Annabelle two nights in a row.” I explained, wishing he could really understand.
    “I knew you would say that, babe. But I want it to be the three of us. One of the customers at the lot got us a reservation at a great steakhouse in Odessa.”
    “The three of us?” I echoed uncertainly.
    “Me, you, and Annabelle. What do you think?”
    I took a deep breath. If our relationship were to progress, nights like this were essential. “Okay. Sounds great. Where should we meet you?”
    “Meet me?” he asked, puzzled.
    “You don’t have a car seat, Chase,” I reminded him gently. And when I mentioned you might need one, you turned as pale as a ghost and expressed deep concern for your car’s custom leather interior. I sighed, remembering that