Page 10 of The One I Left Behind

“Don’t you all have businesses to run?” I ask the group.

They laugh, and some of my family walks back into the house, while others head around to the circle of chairs set up around the fire pit.

Now this is something I missed. A relaxing night with my family, talking shit.

A short time later, I have a beer in my hand, and my cousin Romy approaches me. “So, did you see her? Rumor has it she was hiding out with Laurel at the bakery.”

My cousin is a romantic at heart, which is probably why she works at The Knotted Barn, the barn that’s been converted into a wedding chapel and reception venue. She’s single and hasn’t found her one yet, but she’s always looking. So, I’m not surprised she wants to talk about Gillian. To her, it’s probably a reunion written in the stars. But our history was penned a long time ago, and I don’t see a reprint ever happening.

Chapter Four

Gillian

I open the screen door. “Thanks, Ned.”

He gives me the pizza, and I hand him money. Usually, the man is quick to rush off and deliver his next pizza, but tonight he hems and haws under the star-filled Nebraska sky.

“Did I not give you enough?” I ask. My mind hasn’t been where it should be today.

“No, you did. I was just wondering if you were okay.”

Oh, for fuck’s sake. Not Ned, my shy pizza delivery guy who usually takes the money and is off my porch before I even shut the door.

“I’m good.” I put on my best smile.

“Okay,” he mumbles and turns to head off the porch.

“Thank you for asking, though.” I rush out the words before he gets too far away. The politeness my mother taught me at a young age before she passed is still ingrained.

I love Willowbrook, but sometimes everyone being in everyone’s business is too much.

“Finally. I’m starved.” Clayton takes the pizza from me, then lifts his hand. “Hey, Ned.”

Ned nods and climbs into his truck.

“Why doesn’t he talk much?” Clayton asks, walking into the kitchen.

I shut the door and follow him. “He’s been like that since high school. I hate to use the word shy because I’ve known him since I was in kindergarten, but he still doesn’t say a lot.”

“Really? He never got comfortable with you?”

I shrug. “I guess not.”

I reach into the cabinet to grab two plates while Clayton pours himself a pop and gets me a bottle of water.

Opening the box, Clayton leans forward and inhales the smell of the cheeseburger pizza. “You should’ve gotten two.” He places two slices on his plate and grabs his pop, heading toward the family room.

“I thought maybe we could eat at the table tonight.”

He stops and circles around. “Why? It’s summer break.”

I’m not sure what summer break has to do with why he shouldn’t have to sit at the table for dinner, but I gave up trying to read a teenager’s mind a long time ago.

I place my slices on my plate and shake my head. “I just thought it would be nice.”

He walks over to the small kitchen table that seats four, with no room for more. We don’t get a lot of guests except for Laurel and Drew. After my dad passed, we had my brother and sister here for a while, but Koa and Briar were able to attend college thanks to my dad’s life insurance money, so they don’t live here anymore.

Pulling out the chair, he positions himself so he can still watch the television from his seat. I turn off the television and sit across from him.

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