Second Rate Chances by Holly Stephens Page A

head.
                  “He was walking around half naked in my kitchen, helping himself to coffee.”
                  “Oh my! Is he still ripped?”
                  “You have no idea.”
                  “Shut up! Are you serious? Man. I hate that I missed that show.”
                  How wrong was it of Lil to hope for a repeat performance? No. She would not go there. No more slumber parties with the ex-boyfriend.
                  “Did you talk to him? Don’t leave me in the dark. I’m dying, do you understand me? Zach had to tie me to the bed last night so I wouldn’t come spy on you.”
                  Lil relayed the conversation with Sam, the phone call with Chloe, and how they were going to shop for a Christmas tree on Wednesday night.
                  “You sure you’re ready to go back there? Did you tell him about Toby?”
                  “Are you kidding me? Of course I didn’t tell him. How does that conversation even begin? ‘So, um, Sam listen, I’m not really sure it’s the best idea that we go to Grayson’s. See, I sorta slept with Toby not long after you up and left me, and I really don’t want to run into him ag ain. Oh, you remember Toby. Mr. Grayson’s creepy great nephew? The one who walked around with his mud flap hat on? The same one that we were sure owned more flannel than Abe?’ Yeah, Ellie, not a topic I wanted to broach right then.”
                  “But if you see him there don’t you think it’ll be weird and that Sam will catch on? The guy had a sixth sense when it came to other guys checking you out.”
                  Lil remembered. Sam wasn’t the kind of person who started trouble if a guy looked at Lil like he wanted to test drive her, but he could sure pick up on them the instant their eyes roamed over her body. Toby Grayson was no exception.
                  “I’m doing what he’s asked of me. I told him I’d help and that’s what I’m going to do.”
                  Lil’s first plan of action in helping Sam was going to take place tomorrow. She knew where she could find Kane and Abe on a Sunday, a week before Christmas.
                  “Besides, I have my own idea on how to help him.”
                  “Lil,” Ellie said in a dead serious tone. “Opening up your bedroom door will not only help him; it’ll help you too.”
                  “Get off me and Sam having a sex for one second.” Lil shook her head. “Listen, I have a mission tomorrow.”
                  “Oh!” Ellie’s excitement spread through the phone. Lil herself was actually excited about tracking down the boys. “What is it? Can I help? Is it a mission that involves super tight black pants and shirts? I can really rock some black, Lil.”
                  “No,” Lil said laughing. “It’s a one woman job. Sorry. Besides, it’s something I need to do for me, just as much as I need to do it for Sam.”
                  “Uh-huh,” Ellie said. “I’m telling you, you’re going to get laid.”
    ~~~~
    Lil found herself at The Shoppes of the Village early Sunday morning, Fair Haven’s attempt at a shopping mall without being too commercial.
                  It was snowing outside and there was something old fashioned about walking down the cobblestone streets from boutique to boutique with the rest of the holiday revelers.
    The Shoppe’s were encased in a U shaped center. In the middle of it all was a giant twenty-foot Christmas tree decorated to the nines with ornaments and lights. Bows hung from the branches and a beautiful five-pointed star adorned the top.
                  The first place anyone passed as they entered the U, as the locals called the shopping village, was the coffee shop. Like everyone else out and