Sticks and Stones by Kerrie Dubrock Page B

okay?”
              Chase rose when
Grace entered the room. “Hi Grace, I promise not to keep you long.”
              She grinned,
“No problem. Sorry for my appearance. I wasn’t expecting to meet with clients
today.” She waved a hand over her holey jeans and paint speckled t-shirt.
              “I wanted to
tell you, in person, how much I like your ideas for the subdivision. I can see
you’ve put a lot of thought into the sketches.”
              “I only
designed what I would like, if it were my home.”
              He nodded
thoughtfully. “My wife and I are having a little get-together with clients at
our home. I’d like for you to come, if you can, and meet Emily. I think the two
of you could put some of the furniture in her antique shop to good use. Maybe
brainstorm together?”
              “Sure, I’d love
to! When?”
              “Saturday and
here’s our address and my cell number, in case you get lost on the way.”
     
    *        *        *
     
              Chase rapped
against the door of Rick’s condo with a bottle of Jameson. “Oh Ricochet…come
out and play,” he called in a sing-song voice. When the door opened Chase
wrinkled his nose. “Dude, you sick?”
              “Nah, just
taking a nap. What brings you to my happy abode?” he asked, waving Chase
inside.
              Chase shrugged.
“Happened to be in the neighborhood, thought I’d stop and say hi.” He glanced
at the glass coffee table and back at Rick. “Really dude? Fifty Shades ?”
              Rick placed two
crystal glasses on the table and scowled. “Nah. Grace was reading it and I
wondered what all the hoopla was and why she had so many pages dog-eared.”
              “Ah! So things
are progressing then!” Chase replied after downing a shot.
              “Pfft. Hardly.
I haven’t been to her house in weeks. I think she’s back with her ex.” He
chugged a shot and handed the empty glass to Chase.
              “And why do you
think that?”
              Rick sighed.
“Because I went to her house and she opened the door with messy hair, in a robe
and he was searching for his cuff link.”
              “Ouch,” Chase
murmured into the glass.
              “Yeah.” Rick
raked a hand through his unruly hair. “I told her I wanted to be friends, but I
don’t think I can do that. I saw her the other day and basically ignored her.
She chased me out to the elevator and called me out on it.” He took a sip from
his glass and continued. “She seemed hurt that I didn’t stop to talk to her.”
              “You said you
wanted to be her friend, so be her friend. Weasel your way into her life. Show
her who you are, man.” Chase sat up straighter and cleared his throat. “ ‘Never
confuse a single defeat with a final defeat.’”
              “ You’re quoting Fitzgerald now?” Rick laughed.
              Chase shrugged.
“Hey, it was the perfect line for the moment!”
              Rick lifted his
index finger. “Yeah, but, there are only the pursued, the pursuing and the
tired. And I’m tired of pursuing.”
              “Wow, dude, you
give up too easily. I, personally, think she’s worth the chase, but hey, to
each their own. Now, onto another topic entirely, did Em call you about our
party Saturday?”
              “Yeah and so
did Danny. We’re going to ride the Harley’s down and meet up with Denny on the
way.”
              “Didn’t your
coach give you shit about riding motorcycles?”
              Rick shrugged,
“Yeah, but I’m a rebel. I promised him I’d drive safely. Besides, this will be
the first time I’ve ridden since last summer.”
              Chase wrinkled
his nose. “Em says they’re dangerous. Doesn’t want me to ride anymore.”