Page 37 of You're the Reason

“I thought that was you.” Nate walked toward him across the square as he tucked a book under his arm.

“You told me earlier you were going out tonight. Are you just tired of feeding me?” Seth nudged his shoulder in humor, but there was a fair amount of truth to it. The last thing he needed was to become a burden to his friend.

“Never.” Nate shook his head and stopped next to Otis, who lay on the sidewalk a few feet away. Same place as when he’d nearly tripped Seth while running the other morning. “Olivia wasn’t feeling the best, so I’m picking up a book for her and takeout from Donny’s for me.”

“It’s nice having a library again.” Seth surveyed the square. The one-room schoolhouse really changed the whole look. It went from a set from A Nightmare on Elm Street to Little House on the Prairie. “But I’m not sure I will ever get used to the old houses being gone. This is about the spot where I’d break into one of the back windows to escape the cold.”

When he’d found out they’d burned, he had wanted to both celebrate and weep at the same time.

As if reading his mind, Nate turned toward him. “Sometimes we have to burn down what is holding us to our past to make room for something new and beautiful. Sometimes those things are buildings. Sometimes those things are lies.”

“Lies?”

Nate pointed at Otis, then took a seat and waited for Seth to do the same.

When Seth finally sat on the brass back, Nate turned toward him. “Lies that you don’t belong here. Lies that no one wants you here. Lies that you’ll never be more than what you’ve done.”

Seth shook his head. “You and Jon talk too much.”

“He’s worried about you. And he cares. We all do.” Nate’s phone chimed and he stood and pulled it from his pocket. “My food is ready. See you tomorrow? I think Zane and Jimmy are going to join us again.”

Seth nodded as Nate hurried over to the diner.

Lies.

Seth leaned back on the hippo, letting his gaze travel to the night sky. But were they lies? Just because Nate and Jon refused to see it didn’t make it not true.

“What are you doing here?”

Seth’s head jerked up and he practically jumped to a stand. Mr. and Mrs. Howell walked toward him from the other side of the square, daggers shooting from their eyes.

“I’m working?—”

“You should be in jail.” If possible, her look was steelier than her tone.

Evidently, they weren’t looking for actual answers. He straightened his shoulders and waited for more barbs to come.

“Does Officer Hammond know you’re in town?”

“I’ve seen him. Twice actually.” He wouldn’t mention the circumstances. But why did they seem so shocked? Surely Grace would have mentioned him being at the studio.

“You need to leave.” Mrs. Howell was almost hissing at him now.

“I’ll be gone by the end of the summer.”

“End of the summer?” Her eyes narrowed on him as she took a step closer. “Oh no. You will be gone long before that. I will see to it.”

They hurried off into the darkness, her heels clicking on the sidewalk as she went.

They were definitely not lies. A job and a few pieces of furniture were nice, but that didn’t change the fact this place wasn’t for him.

Maybe the burger hadn’t been worth it after all.

It was already Monday, which meant her audition that was in just twelve days would be a complete waste of time if she couldn’t get this move. Grace placed a hand on the barre and lifted her foot. But as soon as she removed her hand from the barre, she swayed to the left.

Grace dropped her foot and peered at Mallory through the screen of her phone propped up a few feet away. “See, it’s not working.”

“It’s calleda supported adagiofor a reason. You need support.” Mallory’s voice held a touch of annoyance as if she were tired of repeating herself. She probably was.

---