They’d also had more time with their mother before she died from colon cancer when Scarlett was only four. Kandace Jones had fought hard to win her battle with the deadly disease, but it was too much for her. There were days when her memories of her mother were so strong it was as if she were sitting right there with her, and other days it was like she couldn’t remember a thing and would be devastated.
Either way, her father had struggled to raise four kids on his own and apparently it was easier to treat them all equally–like boys–rather than figuring out that Scarlett wanted nothing more than to be treated like a girl.
Something she still struggled with.
Maybe that was another reason why she couldn’t seem to find anyone she was interested in dating. It was hard to find the balance between being the girly-girl she longed to be and the tough-as-nails mechanic she presented to the world.
A damn dilemma indeed.
Although if anyone dared to look in her closet who didn’t know anything about her, they’d only see the girly stuff.
Way too much of it.
“Hey,” Courtney said with a growing smile. “Just when you thought there were no new faces in the crowd…”
Scarlett turned her head and tried to see who her friend was talking about. “Who are you looking at?”
“I don’t think I’ve seen him here before. I mean…I suppose it’s possible, but I always heard he tended to hit bars and restaurants out of town–especially since we graduated.”
Frowning, Scarlett continued to scan the crowd. “So it’s someone we know?”
“Oh, good lord. I think he got even better looking…”
Now her curiosity was seriously piqued. Still, not one face in the crowd looked familiar and with a huff of frustration, she faced Courtney again. “Who the hell are you talking about?”
“Mason Bishop,” she replied before taking a sip of her beer. “He’s a little too pretty for my taste, but still, you have to appreciate a fine looking man.” Putting her drink down, she looked at Scarlett. “What’s with the face?”
Doing her best to put a relaxed smile on her face, she replied, “What do you mean?”
“You were practically scowling. Why?”
With a shrug, Scarlett reached for her own drink and wished it was alcohol. “I really wasn’t.”
“Yes, you were. Now spill it. What’s up?”
If there was one thing Scarlett was certain of, it was that Courtney would continue to badger her until she told her what was up.
So she did.
“Guys like him? Like Mason? They’re what’s wrong with the world!”
Courtney’s eyes went wide. “Um…what?”
Nodding, she looked over her shoulder and spotted him and glared briefly. When she turned back to Courtney, she explained. “Everything comes easy to guys like him. Like it’s not enough that he comes from one of the founding families here in town, but his folks are wealthy and successful, his sisters are both super nice and pretty, and he looks like a damn model!”
“Scarlett…”
“No, I’m serious! Do you remember what he was like in school?”
“Uh…yeah…”
“Mister Popularity! Captain of the baseball team, student body president, homecoming king, prom king…ugh! It was enough to make me sick!”
“Okay, if I didn’t know him, I’d agree with you. All those things combined are a bit much. But Mason was always a nice guy, so…” She shrugged. “It’s just who he is, Scar. What’s the big deal?”
Rolling her eyes, she was about to go off on a rant when their server returned with their food. With a muttered thanks, she opted to reach for her burger and take a huge bite instead.
And damn…as far as distractions went, this was the best one yet. It was almost enough for her to forget what they were talking about.
“You should probably get to know him before you get so judgy,” Courtney said as she picked up her own burger. “I bet if you spent some time talking to him…”
“Oh, I know him, Court. Back in middle school we were lab partners for a short time. He was semi-decent and kind of nice, but once high school hit, it was like he didn’t even know me. So…I stand by my earlier opinion, thank you very much.”
“Look, I get you have issues with people you think lead a privileged life…
“You have no idea.”
Courtney gave her a hard stare before she continued. “However, sometimes you have to remember that looks can be deceiving and you have no idea what goes on behind closed doors.”
Doing her best to appear bored, she reached for an onion ring. “And sometimes it’s all exactly as it seemed. Sometimes shiny happy people are exactly that–shiny happy people with no substance.”
“Well damn.”
With a shrug, Scarlett took another bite of her burger and pushed all thoughts of Mason Bishop completely out of her mind.
* * *
IN CASE YOU DIDN’T KNOW is available now!
https://www.chasing-romance.com/in-case-you-didnt-know
Also by Samantha Chase
The Magnolia Sound Series:
* * *
Sunkissed Days
Remind Me
A Girl Like You
In Case You Didn’t Know
All the Befores
And Then One Day
Can’t Help Falling in Love
Last Beautiful Girl
The Way the Story Goes
Since You’ve Been Gone
Nobody Does It Better
* * *
Meet Me at the Altar:
* * *
The Engagement Embargo
With this Cake
You May Kiss the Groomsman
* * *
The Enchanted Bridal Series:
* * *
The Wedding Season
Friday Night Brides
The Bridal Squad
Glam Squad & Groomsmen
Bride & Seek
* * *
The RoadTripping Series:
* * *
Drive Me Crazy
Wrong Turn
Test Drive
Head Over Wheels
* * *
The Montgomery Brothers Series:
* * *
Wait for Me
Trust in Me
Stay with Me
More of Me
Return to You
Meant for You
I’ll Be There
Until There Was Us
Suddenly Mine
A Dash of Christmas
* * *
The Shaughnessy Brothers Series:
* * *
Made for Us
Love Walks In
Always My Girl
This is Our Song
Sky Full of Stars
Holiday Spice
Tangled Up in You
* * *