Page 33 of Bring me Back

“It’s not like he said it to my face. I heard them talking. It’s easy to sneak up on people when you’re quiet.” I was trying to make things light, but Daniel’s face looked like thunder. “They were drunk and stupid.”

“It’s rude. And not true.”

“It doesn’t matter. I should know better than to care about what people think.”

“And why’s that? Why is it your responsibility to take on this as well?”

I splayed my palms on the roughness of the wooden table. It surprised me that mean people annoyed him that much. He lived in Bluehaven for years now.

“I grew up here. I lived through enough…” I swallowed and shook my head. “I shouldn’t care. I never even tried to be like them. I could’ve tried.”

And not because I had aspirations of being as beautiful as them. I could’ve done it just to fit in. But I didn’t. I had no regrets, but I didn’t feel like a victim either.

“Good! You’re not supposed to change for people.”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re missing the point.”

Daniel crossed his arms over his chest. “Explain it to me then.”

“If I’m so adamant about being myself, I should take pride in it. It shouldn’t be so easy to shake it. I’m not saying they weren’t rude; I’m not defending anyone. But I can’t be a shaky house in the wind.”

That calmed him down, his expression softening. He dipped his chin, tapping quickly on the wood like someone who’s processing a thought.

“You’re right. I just told you the other day you have to stand up to Delilah. Still, I’m going to be annoyed when people are dicks.”

I smiled. “Ok. You can do that.”

“And you’ll start cursing them out, huh?”

“I won’t promise anything.” But I bit my cheek to hide my smile.

We lit the candles again. We wouldn’t be finished today, but I didn’t care how long it would take, I liked his company. I felt safe in his workshop even though it was still inside school grounds. One petal after the other, we worked in silence once more.

“Tell me about school now.”

I chuckled, shaking my head. “Why don’t we talk about you for a change?”

He shrugged. “I’m an open book. What do you want to know?”

Everything.

I arched my eyebrow at him instead of replying, he nodded and started. “I was born in a small town and dated the same girl since I was fifteen.”

I frowned at myself, but didn’t interrupt. Was he still dating her?

“We went to college in the city and then moved around a little more. Five years ago, she got a job in Bluehaven and we moved here.”

I swallowed dry, not sure if I was allowed to ask questions about this girl.

“Are you married?”

He flashed me a look. “Not anymore.”

I nodded. Of course, yes, I should’ve known that.

“Were you always a teacher?” I decided to stir the conversation away from his ex.

“No. I had a furniture shop, but I figured I couldn’t keep it up when I moved here.”

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