Page 87 of The One I Left Behind

Brooks and Jude both scrunch their eyebrows at me, maybe hearing something in my tone.

“Why? You want a reunion with him?” Brooks asks.

“Fuck no. I was just wondering.” I shrug, trying to play it off.

Brooks relaxes, but Jude’s appraising eye says he knows I’m hung up about something.

“I don’t know. He was walking out, so he must’ve gotten off.” Brooks’s eyes light up. “He did ask about you, though. Saw that segment on TV. Probably rubbed him the wrong way. He was always so jealous of you.”

“He asked about me?” The hair on the back of my neck stands up.

“About you being back. Asked if you and Gillian are back together.”

I lift my cowboy hat and run my hand through my hair. This isn’t good. “What did you tell him?”

“I said you’re back and you and Gillian are as hot and heavy as ever.”

A nauseous feeling runs through my stomach, and bile rises up my throat.

“You okay, Ben?” Jude asks.

I open my mouth to say I’m good.

“Laurel just texted. They’ve parked and are on their way up the hill in the UTV,” Lottie shouts loudly enough so the whole room can hear her.

I leave Brooks and Jude and head to the open area to wait. I force myself to put the Waylon thing out of my mind so I can put all my attention on Gillian tonight.

Everyone stares at the door. It’s not her birthday, so we’re not going to turn off the lights and say surprise. Hopefully she doesn’t kill me for planning this big party. Gillian isn’t a flashy or braggy person, but this is a celebration of her accomplishments, which took a lot of fucking work on her part. I’m so proud of her.

“Clay.” I wave him over to join me.

“Clayton,” he clarifies.

I’m not sure if and when this kid will come around.

The doors open, and Laurel and Gillian step in.

“Congratulations!” everyone screams.

Gillian covers her mouth. She’s wearing another sundress, a simple one that goes down to her ankles, and I half wonder if she knew where she was going tonight. I walk toward her, and she wraps her arms around me.

“You knew?” I whisper.

“No.”

I draw back, and the truth is all over her face. She knew.

“How are those lungs?” she asks, rising to kiss me.

“Turns out Romy’s got a helium tank.”

She laughs and sees Clayton behind me. “Clay!”

She leaves me and goes to him.

“I didn’t do anything. He did it all.” Clayton thumbs in my direction.

Gillian exhales a deep breath and looks over her shoulder at me. I guess I should’ve asked him to help, but I didn’t think about it. Maybe it’s not only Clayton who’s holding us back from coming together.

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