Page 21 of The One I Left Behind

She grabs the glass and fills it for him without a word.

“Last week, someone said the Crawfords won the lottery and have piles of cash buried on their property because they don’t want to deposit it for fear everyone in town will know and have their hands out,” Brooks says.

“Why can’t these people learn to leave people alone?” I sip my beer.

“Hey, hotshot, not all of us were in San Francisco, living it up with celebrities and models.” Brooks puts up his fingers for two more shots and looks at Melvin, but he shakes his head. “Two.”

“I don’t need any more,” I say, finishing my beer.

“You sure about that?” The bartender, whom I don’t know and isn’t wearing a name tag, looks past me toward the door that leads outside.

I feel it the minute she draws attention to it.

Brooks turns first and laughs, slapping his hand on the bar. “Looks like your queen just arrived.”

It’s hard as hell not to look, but I fight the urge to get another glimpse of her. Over the years, I would google Gillian only to see the one public picture on her private social media. It was never enough, and some years went by with the same picture. Now I only live miles away from her, but it might as well be like I’m back in San Francisco.

“Laurel!” I look over at my cousins and see Romy waving. “Gillian!”

“I guess that seals the deal. We won’t be sitting with your cousins tonight.” Brooks stares into his plastic beer cup.

“Is something going on with you and Lottie?” I ask, picking up on the fact that Brooks hasn’t gone a minute without looking their way and now appears depressed because my ex just joined them.

“What? No.”

Melvin diverts all eye contact, definitely giving me the feeling that Brooks has poured his heart out to Melvin at some point.

“That’s not very convincing,” I say.

“I stop in at the store when I’m on shift to grab a coffee or lunch.” He shrugs. “She’s always there and acts like I’m inconveniencing her. We’re sparking up a friendship.”

“I don’t think so,” the blonde bartender says.

“I’m sorry, we haven’t met yet. I’m Ben.” I stick out my hand.

“I know.” She moves over to help someone else.

“Why do I feel like a stranger in this town?” I grumble.

Brooks slaps me on the shoulder. “There’ve been some transplants in the last fourteen years.” Someone comes over and talks to Melvin, so Brooks slides off the stool. “See ya, Mel.”

We wave goodbye, and the guy slides onto the stool Brooks was on.

“What’s going on with you?” I ask on our way to an empty picnic table a little too close to the girls.

My eyes can’t stop veering in Gillian’s direction. She looks way too young and too good to have a freshman in high school. I hate the fact she changed out of her yoga pants and T-shirt into a pair of cutoff jeans and a tighter shirt that’s snug across her tits. Her hair isn’t pulled back but curled into ringlets, and her face is covered in makeup. She looks hot as hell, and if she knew I was going to be here, it’s definitely a “look what you gave up” look. But I still prefer her the way she was at the library.

Brooks clears his throat, pulling my attention back to him.

“Sorry, what’s new with you?” I ask.

His eyes divert to the table with my cousins and back to me. “Tipped some cows the other day.”

I shake my head. “I’m guessing not at Plain Daisy Ranch since Jude would kick your ass.”

“I’m not a fifteen-year-old jackass anymore. Learned that the first time your dad caught me.”

I laugh and smack the table. “I remember that. Made you work the farm for a month. And now you’re the sheriff.”

---