AN: Happy 2024 everyone. Thank you for the reviews xD. Here's another chapter for you all to enjoy xD.

All morning, Haley, along with Brooke and Lucas, even Chris, were enjoying their time at the beach with the kids. Spending the day at the beach with her friends and her kids was definitely something Haley needed after being gone on tour for almost a year. It felt good to be home again. Haley couldn't help but giggle as she watched Chris playing in the water with Jamie and Lydia.

Chris isn't their father and he could never replace Nathan in their lives, just like Renee could never replace Haley in their lives even though Renee tries to which pisses Haley off even more. But Chris will never do that. He cares about Jamie and Lydia but he knows Nathan will always be their father and Chris respects that, unlike Renee.

"Hey, Hales. Can I ask you something without getting mad?" Brooke asked.

Haley snorted a little. "I can't make any promises. What's your question?"

"Why are you with him?" Brooke asked, glaring at Chris with so much hate and disgust. Out of all the men Haley could've dated, Brooke just couldn't understand why Haley would choose Chris Keller.

" Are you talking about Chris?" Haley asked with a snort.

" Duh! Who else would I be talking about?"

Haley sighs deeply for a moment." Brooke, after my marriage with Nathan ended. I was in a very dark place and Chris was there to bring me out of it. He has been there for me ever since Brooke, and I will admit Chris really isn't the type of guy that I would normally go for. But he always treated me with love and respect and I don't have to worry about him hurting me or cheating on me."

" But do you love him?"

Haley shrugs her shoulders a little." I don't know, I mean I guess I do."

" That to me sounds like you don't." Brooke said as she shrugs her shoulders.

" What makes you think that I don't?"

" Because you wouldn't have guessed it. You would've said yes you do love him. But it's very clear to me that you don't love him, and there's only one guy that you truly do love." Brooke said stating the facts.

" And let me guess the guy you're talking about is Nathan, right?" Haley asked with an exasperatedly sigh as she shook her head in disbelief.

" Of course I am talking about Nathan. You love him and I know he loves you, what I don't understand is why you two can't just work it out and get back together." Brooke said as she shrugs her shoulders. Brooke really isn't a fan of Renee for obvious reasons and Brooke just wishes the bitch would just go away.

Haley snorts a laugh as she shook her head." Brooke, Nathan and I are divorced and we have been for quite some time now. Besides Nathan is with Renee now, and I'm with Chris. There's really nothing for me and Nathan to work out on." She said as she shrugs her shoulders little.

Brooke threw her head back as she groaned in frustration." I give up. Would you talk some sense into your best friend's?" Brooke said to Lucas before she walked away and joined the kids in the water.

Haley sighed exasperatedly as she rolled her eyes. "Whatever you're about to say, Luke, please don't. I'm happy and Chris makes me happy. I just wish you guys could understand that." She said with a huff.

Lucas chuckled a little." Hey, I'm not going to say anything Hales. I mean it's your life and if you're truly happy with Chris. Then I'm happy for you."

" Well, thank you Lucas. It's nice to know that at least one of my friends happy for me. Unlike my other friends." Haley said as she glares at Brooke for a moment.

" Brooke means well and she's just looking out for you."

Haley sighs as she nods her head slightly." Yeah, I know. Let's talk about something else. How's your book going?"

" It's going good so far. Lindsey my editor still has some editing to do. But she believes the book should be ready in a month or two." Lindsey Strauss has been Lucas' editor for almost three years already. She edited and published his first book unkindess of ravens and she's already working on his second book.

Haley nods her head." When do you have to go back to New York?"

"Some time next month." Lucas answered, looking over and noticing everyone was getting out of the water and Jamie and Danielle running towards them; meanwhile, Brooke carried their daughter Sophia and Chris was carrying Lydia.

" Mama, we're hungry." Jamie said as soon as he grabbed a towel and started to dry off.

Haley nodded her head." How about we all head over to Karen's Cafe for lunch." She suggested, looking over at Lucas and Brooke, who nodded their heads in agreement.

" Well then, let's go." Haley said as she took Lydia from Chris and walked towards her car.

"Are you ready for the game?" Clay asked Nathan as they sat in Nathan's living room, watching a basketball game. Next week the Bobcats will have a basketball game against the Lakers again, but this time the Lakers are coming to Tree Hill.

Nathan nods his head as he took a sip of his beer." Of course, I'm ready."

" Do you think Renee is coming to the game this time?"

" Honestly, I have no idea. I mean she never really came to any of my games before. So why would she start now?" Nathan asked as he shrugs his shoulders. Every time Nathan tried to get Renee to any of his basketball games in the past but she never really wanted to go.

" True." Clay said with a chuckle. Where's Jamie and Lydia? Are they with Renee?"

Nathan shook his head as he took another drink of his beer." Actually, they are with their mother."

" Haley's home?" Clay asked

" Yep, she came home from tour yesterday."

" Wow, and I'm guessing Renee isn't too happy that your ex wife is back?"

Nathan snorted as he shook his head.

"Let's just say she's not letting me hear the end of it and she's been bitching about it since last night." All night Renee kept bitching about Haley being back home, and how Nathan had to sleep on the couch. Even this morning before Renee left with Nathan JR, she still wouldn't let it go.

" Does she think you might go back to Haley and the kids?"

Nathan heaves a heavy sigh as he nods his head." Yeah, but I told her that Haley and I are divorced and it's been two years. I love her, and she shouldn't feel threatened by Haley."

" Do you though?"

" Do I what?"

" Do you love Renee?"

" Are you seriously asking that question?"

"Why are you avoiding the question, Nate? It's a really simple answer: yes or no. Do you love Renee or not?"

Nathan sighed deeply as he shrugged his shoulders a little." Of course I love her." Nathan said, trying to convince himself more than his friend right now.

Clay couldn't help but snort a laugh." Whatever you say, man. I'm gonna get another beer. Want one?" He asked as he got up from the couch and headed towards Nathan's kitchen.

"Nah, I'm good." Nathan said as he shook his head. Nathan ran his hands down his face and sighed deeply before leaning back against the couch and looking up for a moment. He loves Renee, but now that Haley is back, he's not so sure anymore. In fact, Nathan isn't sure what he wants anymore.

AN 2: Nathan and Haley will start talking soon and who knows there might be spark between them again. As always leave reviews and let me know what you all think of this chapter xD.