She was even more beautiful in her element. That fact alone was exhilarating.
We both sat, opened new beers, and then she asked me, “So how do you like Wynne so far?”
I was glad she asked me a question, because then it opened up an opportunity for me to ask a few of my own.
“I like it. It’s always a little strange in a new place, but so far I’m glad I took a chance on it.” It was my turn. I decided to start small. “Have you dated anyone in town?”
Subtle, Vaughn. Real subtle. But I had to know what I was strolling into. I’d, obviously, had a recent relationship. It was only natural to wonder if she’d had one, too.
She laughed and said, “Back to this?” Then she kicked my foot on purpose as she crossed her legs.
“No. Not really. I mean in high school I dated a few town guys, but nothing serious. I’ve never been a real relationship kind of person.” She took a drink, and I watched her face in the firelight, the sun having completely disappeared. “Not that I wouldn’t, I’ve just never been in one. You know? It’s just kind of worked out that way.”
“I get that.”
“At first, I thought all of the guys in town were scared of my dad. Then I thought maybe I was just too much of a tomboy to hit anybody’s radar. But eventually, I realized I really didn’t see anything I couldn’t live without walking around here either. Then I got used to it.”
However, she looked uncomfortable talking about it, not looking me in the face as she spoke, and that wasn’t my intention, so I changed the subject. “Do you have a boat?”
Immediately, she lit up.
“I do. I have a nice jon boat I troll around in—it’s at home in my shed—but last summer I bought a Rinker and I’m excited for it to warm up and take it out. It’s fun down here on the weekends. There are a few sandbars just south of here and people congregate there. Cook out. Socialize. Have a few drinks. It’s a good time. You’ll have to come out with me.”
“I think I’ll take you up on that.”
The conversation with her was great all night. She talked about how she’d always dreamed of opening her own bait and tackle shop with her own lures, which I thought was cool. In turn, I told her about how I got into dentistry because of my crazy awful childhood overbite.
The beers tasted good, but I wasn’t concerned with drinking much. I needed to remember what she was telling me and to say things the right way.
I wanted to kiss her, without any doubt in her mind it was because I’d had too much to drink. She’d slowed down too and the conversation, up until then, had been pretty light.
“So what does the town really think about what happened with Rachelle and me? I know they’re all talking because the ladies in the office keep looking at me like I’m some sad, lost puppy dog or something.”
“You’ll get used to that. Small towns are good for lots of things, but the flip side of that is having everyone know—or think they know—all of your business. Sometimes before you do.”
“So what do they think?”
She looked at me hesitantly, like she didn’t want to admit what they were saying. Like she wanted to spare my feelings, not knowing what was true and what was false.
I didn’t care what everyone else thought. I only cared that she knew the truth. I didn’t want her hearing something and thinking it was true, if it wasn’t.
“Out with it. How bad is it?”
“Okay,” she said and sat up to face me head on. “There are lots of people speculating, but what it boils down to is, you had a girlfriend who was planning on coming, and then she didn’t. But I’m not sure I’m buying all of that. I think something else happened. You don’t seem like you’re terribly heartbroken, or like you’re missing her or you know … upset. Sorry if that sounds bad. It’s not my business, but I’ve been around you, in your house. I just figured that when—or if—you wanted to talk to me—or anyone—you would.”
“Well, some of that is close.” Vague, but close. I think she was sparing my feelings not telling me all of the juiciest gossip.
“We don’t have to talk about it,” she admitted.
Only we did.
I wanted her to know that she was right about a lot of what she said and I wanted her to know why.
“No. It’s fine. You’re right. I’m not that broken up about it. Not now. I was when everything first happened, but after some thinking, it was all for the best.
“Rachelle and I started dating about two years ago. It was fun because we hung out in the same circle. We got along great. About a year after we were dating, we went golfing with another couple, Brad and Cami. And as things sometimes go, Rachelle and Brad got along well. Too well.”
I ran a hand down the back of my neck and squeezed it, catching my breath and giving her time to let it all sink in before I went on.