Love Never Dies (Book 2)

Chapter 16

"Good morning Bryn." Kasey and Dale chime as I walk in the garage.

I was texted as soon as I had got comfortable in my temporary office, that I was to work in the garages today. Mostly because Dale and Kasey needed someone to talk to. So here I was, sitting in a chair next to Dale and Kasey who are working to do something to or for the car.

"Why do I need to be here instead of my office?" I whine.

"We wanted someone to talk to." Kasey admits.

"Yeah Greg and Keith didn't want to stick around." Dale grumbles.

"But you're better than them." Kasey quickly states.

"Yeah, we just ummm...."

"We just didn't want to ask you first because we thought you'd want to work in your office. But then we realized it wasn't your real office so......"

"Are you kidding me. I'm back in Nascar don't hide me anymore. I'm glad you asked me to come sit with you guys." I laugh.

"Oh ok." They both say before going back to work.

After about 40 minutes of the two guys making and fixing something, someone walks in. My back was faced to the door, so I wasn't able to see who it was.

"Hey Dale. I'm finished. I was told I should come help you." The familiar voice spoke.

"Yeah sure, come join."

I continue typing my email, while the three guys start arguing over something and continue for a couple minutes.

"Stop! And act like your not Ava's age!"

They all mumble a sorry before going back to work. Half an hour later, they start talking more and must be done. I look up to see them already looking at me.

"Yes?" I question.

"Let's call it a day." Kasey suggests.

"Head back to my place." Dale continues.

"Yeah I guess."

I save the documents I was working on and shut down my laptop. I head bag to my temporary office and grab my bags. I told the guys I'd meet them at Dale's so I head out to my truck and hop in before making my way towards his house.

When I arrive all three trucks are already here. I jump out of the truck and make my way towards the door. The door is already unlocked when I walk in. I find the three men in the living area with the TV on and beers in hand.

"You guys couldn't have been here for more than 5 minutes and you're already half way through a beer?"

"Yes?"

I groan and turn into the kitchen grabbing a water. I sit in one of the arm chairs displayed in Dale's large living room. We sit around for a couple hours talking and catching up like we used to. Luckily Chase and I couldn't make it awkward.

"Hey guys I've got to get home, go see my baby." I smile already thinking of Ava.

"I'll walk you out." Chase smiles back.

As I went to grab the handle of the door Chase stopped me. "I'm glad we were able to get along."

"Me too."

"Um I was wondering if sometime this week I could get Ava after school and have dinner with her?"

"Yeah sure, what day is good for you?"

"Wednesday or I mean tomorrow." 

"Yeah, just have her back by 7 without sugar."

"Um well Bryn, what school does she go to."

For a split second I can't believe Chase forgot what school Ava went to, but then I remember he doesn't know about me moving her to a new school. I give him the name and the directions and he thanks me again.

"I'll see you later then." He smiles.

"Bye Chase."

"Bye Bryn." He sighs.

I hop in my truck and look back out the door, Chase was still standing where he was, watching me. I feel like this is a reoccurring picture, driving away as Chase stands still. watching me leave Just like what obviously happened in our marriage.

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"Bryn, can I get this." Ava asks sticking her bottom lip out.

I look in her hands to see a pair of goddess sandals. Ava might not biologically be my child, but our love interest for our shoes is almost the same. I nod at her, resulting in a large smile to form on her face.

When Ava turned five we wanted her to know Chase and I weren't her real parents. We took her to see her grandmother the day of her birthday and showed her pictures of the lovely couple, her parents were. After that we took her to the cemetery to see where her parents were buried. It seems like an awful thing to do to a five year old on their birthday, but I thought it was needed she knew who her real parents were. So we also asked her to call us Bryn and Chase, instead of mom and dad.

She drops the shoes into the shopping basket by my feet and scurries of to find another pair. One Tuesday every month Ava's school would have a day off for the students while teachers gathered together to talk academics. So this was the one day every month I would take Ava shopping. And her favorite part was the shoe stores.

"Bryn!"

"What Ava." I smile as the little girl looked excited, thinking she had found another pair of shoes.

"Guess who's here?"

"I don't know is it Mya?" I ask naming off her closest friend from schools names.

"Nope, it's Chase."

"Ahh, let me guess you want to say hi?"

"Please??!!"

"Yes Ava, go say hi." I laugh as she skips off to the mens section where I find the back of two very familiar heads.

I grab the box of shoes I had previously been checking out and toss them into the basket as well and walk over to the mens section to join Ava. When I make it to the section they were standing in, Chase had Ava in his arms and Ryan was tickling her.

"Did you run away from Bryn? Because I don't think you should be doing that." Chase starts to scold.

"No. No, Bryn said I could come say hi."

Ryan gives a questioning look and Chase smiles at Ava. "Well where is she then."

Ava turns her head to look in the direction we were just in and finds me standing a few feet away. Ava giggles before pointing at me. Making both guys to turn and look at me. Ryan was the first to run up and hug me.

"It has been to long with out a Bryn hug." Ryan engulfs me into a tight hug.

I hadn't seen Ryan since his birthday on New Years Eve, which has been a few months. He continues to hug me for a minute or so before letting go.

"Sorry I couldn't make time to see you last weekend at the race."

"No it's fine, you were just helping Ole' Clyde get a win." Ryan smirks.

Chase groans at the name Ryan had called him before asking Ava about a pair of shoes he was going to get. When Ava really got into her fashion and style around age three, she would have to look over whatever it was we were going to get before we got it.

"Bryn can I go with  Chase?"

"Well actually Ava, Chase was going to get you from school tomorrow and keep you for the night."

"Yes but have you two had lunch yet, because Uncle Ryan and I haven't, maybe we can all get lunch."

All three look at me waiting for the answer. We hadn't had lunch yet, so I agreed to go to lunch, nodding my head. As weird as it may seem to others, I'm glad Chase and I are becoming closer again. Maybe shutting myself out of everyones lives was best for me. I'll just wait to see where this life takes me.