Page 28 of The Light We Lost

“I interned for an agency in New York over the summer. I’m hoping to have a full-time position next month,” I told her, not wanting to lie. As long as Nolan didn’t know the truth, I didn’t care. “What about you? What do you do?”

“I’m the PE teacher at the high school. But I coach the girls soccer team too.” That didn’t surprise me; Lisa had always been one of the top female athletes in our class. “Except it’s not looking too hot for next year. The school districtis making budget changes, and unfortunately sports programs aren’t high on their list.”

“That sucks,” I said honestly. Not only because budget cuts were the reason I wasn’t sure I had a job or not, but I knew firsthand how sports could be a lifeline for someone. “Can’t the community do something? Maybe raise some money to fund another year?”

“Maybe.” She seemed to consider the idea, and I glanced over her shoulder, finding Nolan talking to a man behind the bar. I perked up, recognizing the bartender’s tattooed arms and hard, grim smile. Wanting to say hello to Heath, I stepped away, then stopped as she said, “I actually wanted to ask you: while you’re in town, would you mind stopping by the school and talking to a few of my classes? Maybe even my team?”

“For what?” I wasn’t an athlete. As a kid, I could never stay interested in anything long enough to get good at it. When I’d danced, it was self-taught, and I hadn’t done that in years.

“Small towns are great. I love them. But sometimes they make it hard to see what’s out there, and I think it would be a positive experience for my students to see it’s okay to dream bigger than our little world.” She raised one shoulder in a shrug. “You didn’t happen to bring one of your clients with you, did you? The kids would lose their minds if they got to talk to a professional athlete.”

“I didn’t, sorry.” I didn’t bother to tell her the likelihood of me getting one of the agency’s clients down here was slim. Despite how they might be perceived, agents couldn’t tell clients what to do. And I wasn’t even an agent. “I have to go to New York for a few days, but when I’m back maybe we could plan something for your students?”

“That would be awesome—” She stopped short as a blonde stopped beside her, slipping her arm over her shoulder. “Hey, Bethany. You remember, Indy, right?”

“Who could ever forget Indy?” Bethany crooned, bringing a glass of whiskey to her lips. Her hair was pulled back in a clip, blonde tendrils framing her face. She wore a lace tank top, dark jeans flaring around a pair of tan pointed boots. “I was wondering if you’d stop by again. Wasn’t so sure my daddy would let you out from behind bars.”

I forced a smile. I wouldn’t be surprised if Bethany had called the sheriff’s department two nights ago. With her dad being the sheriff, it was a miracle I hadn’t been arrested as a teenager. “It’s nice to see you too, Beth. You’ll have to tell your dad thank you for the big welcome home.”

She hummed as her brown gaze flicked over me, and I fought the urge to shrink. “You always did like attention.”

I flinched, taken off guard by the ache her words inflicted. Besides working next to Eli at the agency, it had been a while since I’d been around this petty bullshit. Even then, Eli’s words never had any real bite behind them. He was a pest, one I didn’t have time to be distracted by.

Before I could form a response, Bethany asked, “So, did you come back to finish the job?”

I shared a wary glance with Lisa, not understanding. “What do you mean?”

She ran her finger around the rim of her glass. “Figured you were here to pick off whatever scraps you left from when you ruined Nolan’s life.”

Behind me, I thought someone might have laughed, but I didn’t turn, not wanting to break Bethany’s gaze. Her smile was small, innocent, as she watched me, waiting for me to react. Before, I would’ve picked a fight or planned some elaborate prank as revenge. But the longer I stood there as her words settled in, the more exhausted I felt. All I wanted to do was go home.

And I couldn’t even do that.

“I’m going to get a drink. If you guys get a chance, swing by the diner. It’d be nice to catch up.” With that, I slipped past them, ignoring the sympathetic smile Lisa shot my way. I didn’t deserve her sympathy, and I wasn’t sure Bethany was entirely out of line.

“Hey, Heath.” I slid up onto a barstool, grateful when he gave me a polite smile instead of making a big deal about me being back. I eyed the shelves of alcohol behind him, considering ordering a drink, when I noticed the pictures hung on the wall. There were photos of folks around town, snippets of Fourth of July parades, sports teams, and graduations from over the years. My stomachtwisted as I saw a photo of Nolan standing on the pitcher’s mound. Mouth suddenly sour, I returned my gaze to Heath. “Can I get a club soda?”

“You want me to put something stronger in that?” He leaned a tan, tattooed arm against the counter and tipped his head to where Nolan had wandered back to the pool table, taking turns hitting the ball with his friends.

I shook my head, unable to look away as Nolan tipped his head back in a carefree laugh. Envy laced through me, and not for the first time, I wished I was like him. Both of us had suffered great loss and made mistakes, but it seemed like I was still paying the price.

Felt like I always would be.

Heath slid my glass across the counter. “Never thought I’d say it, but it’s nice seeing you and Nolan here again. Makes me want to do one last dance competition for old times’ sake before I close.”

I scrunched my nose, recoiling at the thought of dancing. “You’re closing down?”

“Nothing’s set in stone—I got a few offers. But here soon, a new owner will take over.”

“Oh.” My gut sank, and I blamed it on not eating dinner yet. “Well, I’m glad I got to see you before you close.”

He tapped his knuckles against the counter. “Hang in there, Indy. It gets better.”

Taking his words to heart, I grabbed my drink and started back to the pool table when I heard Bethany’s voice. “I’m just saying, we need to have Nolan’s back. He might’ve left Indy with no strings attached before, but she might try and change that.”

Lisa rolled her eyes. “You’re overthinking it. She’s here to help her parents.”

“Right. Since when has Indy helped anyone but herself?” Bethany snorted, earning a few nods from the people surrounding her. “You really don’t think it’s suspicious she pops into town when Nolan’s business is taking off and he’s buying the bar?” She ran a hand down his arm, and my stomach plummeted. “I bet anything she’s here to get a piece of it.”

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