Page 6 of The One I Left Behind

I peek to see her biting the inside of her cheek. “I already knew he knew. I mean, why is that damn prom picture posted in that glass case at the high school anyway?”

“Because it’s a Ben Noughton shrine. I’m surprised they haven’t erected a brass statue in the town square.” She rolls her eyes. “Regardless, you need to talk to him before someone in town spreads false information.”

“I know. Tonight.”

Her hand lands on my knee and pats it a few times. “It’s better if it comes from you.”

I nod, although I’m not sure I want him to know exactly how it all went down. There are some things I wish Clayton didn’t have to know. The situation with his dad is bad enough. It’s like he’s nine and I’m telling him there’s not really a Santa all over again.

The bell rings on the door, and I groan, not wanting to see anyone from town right now.

“Oh my god, I completely forgot,” Laurel murmurs and stands. “Let me go grab it, Mr. Noughton.”

I tense up at the name.

“Gillian.” Bruce Noughton smiles at me as if it’s a regular day. “Just saw your boy. He sprang up fast, huh?”

“Hi, Mr. Noughton. Yeah, he towers over me now.”

He sits on the stool next to me. His big build never made me nervous, but that’s probably because he’s always been polite and shied away from the topic of Ben. But today, something in his face tells me I’m not going to be so lucky. “That’s a good thing.”

“Definitely.” For the first time, I’m forcing a smile with Ben’s dad.

He glances out the window, and I glance toward the kitchen, wondering what’s taking Laurel so long.

“Hey, we’re having a welcome home party… at the ranch… you should come.” Bruce takes off his cowboy hat and runs his hands through his hair before putting it back on.

Emmett takes after their mom, at least from the pictures I’ve seen of her, but Ben and Jude are practically spitting images of Bruce. In the first years after Ben left, it was hard to look at Bruce. And if I saw Jude walking down the street, I’d think for a moment that it was Ben returning.

“Oh, I would love to, but I can’t.” Normally, for anyone else, I would make up some excuse, but Bruce isn’t stupid. His invitation was polite, but we both know I shouldn’t be anywhere near the ranch these days.

“Next time.” He winks. The Bruce Noughton charm that everyone talks about shines.

“Definitely.”

“Here you go.” Laurel comes out, holding a huge white box. She sets it on the table, and Bruce rises to his feet.

I don’t have the heart to read the words that I’m positive are inscribed on one of Laurel’s delicious cakes.

“Looks great as always.” Bruce pulls out cash to pay for the cake.

As Laurel checks him out, her gaze keeps diverting in my direction. Because we both know she could’ve warned me about this.

“Thanks again. See you two around.” Bruce nods, his eyes lingering on me a little longer than Laurel.

I hurriedly rush to open the door for him.

“Thanks, Gillian.” He nods.

I continue holding the door open, watching him walk toward the mass of people at the end of the parade.

My gut twists at who is in the center of that crowd. I can’t see him, but I know it’s him. Signing autographs with that smile that causes my heart to pick up pace. I’m sure he’ll be gone soon. And if he isn’t, I will be.

Chapter Three

Ben

I’m going to kill my dad. After sitting like fucking Santa Claus on a float in the Thanksgiving Day parade for the past twenty minutes waving to the residents of Willowbrook, I now have to sign autographs and shake hands.

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