Page 86 of The One I Left Behind

He blows out a breath. “When’s everyone else getting here?”

“You mean, when is Lottie getting here?” I pat his shoulder. “What’s up with you two?”

“Since I don’t know if she’s going to be here, nothing.”

“But you want something to happen?”

His eyes veer left.

“Left!” I shout, pointing at him.

Brooks used to tell everyone that someone is lying if they look left when asked a question.

He shakes his head as if I’m not right.

“She’s going to love it!” a woman’s voice says, and Brooks is saved by Betsy, her family, and Clayton. Betsy walks over and hugs me. “You did a great job.”

Romy raises her hand. “He didn’t do anything but cut a check.”

“And invites. And if Gillian asks, I blew up the balloons.”

“You have helium in those lungs?” Betsy asks.

“I don’t want to know your kinky shit.” Romy climbs down from the ladder. “Sorry, Clayton.”

He eyes me for a second, then Drew nudges Clayton, and they go out to the balcony that looks out over the small vineyard.

“He’ll get there.” Betsy pats me on the shoulder.

Next, my dad and Emmett, along with Lottie, walk in. I glance at Brooks.

“Fuck off,” Brooks says under his breath.

Soon the room fills with more people, and I grow more anxious for Gillian to get here.

My cousin Jenson cooks amazing food, and his appetizers are going as if these people haven’t eaten in a month. He brings in another tray from The Getaway Lodge where his big kitchen is.

“Thanks, Jenson,” I say, stealing a cheese puff. I’m starving myself.

“It was crazy, right? I mean, Waylon Knight.” Brooks is off to the side, talking to Jude. When I look over, Brooks is shaking his head.

My body goes rigid. Jenson places the tray on the appetizer table, and I eavesdrop on Brooks’s conversation with Jude.

“Last I heard, he spent all the money his grandma left him. After she died, he dug little holes all over her yard to see if she’d buried more.” Jude shakes his head and tips his beer to his lips.

“He didn’t even recognize me. I get that I was in my sheriff’s uniform, but?—”

“What did you say?” I ask. “About Waylon?”

“Shit, remember the crap you two gave each other?” Brooks slaps me on the back.

“He was such an asshole,” Jude says. “I hate the idea he’s only a few towns away.”

“Only a few towns?” I ask, needing clarity on exactly how close he is.

“Yeah, I was down at the county courthouse,” Brooks says. “Guess he got a ticket for driving without a license. The guy was always fucking up.”

“So, he’s in jail then?”

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