Page 26 of Whiskey and Wildfire

“It’s more what didn’t happen,” I sighed. “We grew up together. He’s a couple years older than me, but we knew each other in school. It’s a small town, so everyone did.” I took a moment to gather my thoughts and my courage. “Let’s just say people knew who I was pretty young. There was no doubt about what kind of people I wanted to date, and that meant people were pretty cruel to me. And a lot of the people that made fun of me were Beau’s friends.”

Lucas nodded, knowing full well where I was going.

“And he never stuck up for me. He just stood there and let them terrorize me. And I… well, I figured he was just as bad as them.”

Lucas listened intently, his green eyes softening with understanding. “I see,” he said quietly. “That must have been really tough for you.”

I nodded, swallowing hard. “It was. And I guess... I’ve been holding onto that anger all these years. When you two got together, it just brought all those old feelings back up. I… I never thought I’d have to see him again.”

Lucas reached out and placed a hand on my shoulder. “Logan, I’m so sorry you went through that. No one deserves to be treated that way. You and I… well, we didn’t get a chance to hide who we were, so it feels sort of unfair that other people gotto live normal lives while we were made fun of and ridiculed.” He leaned in close, his voice soft. “But I think that’s the illusion. Those people, the ones like Beau, had to live in fear of anyone finding out who they truly were. We had it rough, but I think people like him had it rough too. It’s not fair to any of us.”

I nodded, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside me. “Yeah… you’re right.” I felt shame well up inside me. “I know it’s not fair to hold it against Beau now, but...”

“But it’s not always easy to let go of the past,” Lucas finished for me.

“Yeah,” I agreed, looking down at my hands in guilt.

Just then, Dolly returned with our food, setting down steaming plates in front of us. The aroma of fried chicken and grilled beef filled the air.

“Here you go, boys,” she said with a wink. “Enjoy!”

As she bustled away, Lucas and I fell into a comfortable silence, both of us digging into our meals. The food at Dolly’s was always good, but today it tasted especially comforting.

After a few bites, Lucas set down his fork and looked at me seriously. “Logan, I want you to know something. Beau... he’s not the same person he was back then. He’s grown a lot.”

I nodded slowly, chewing thoughtfully. “I’m starting to see that.”

“So, is this why you’ve been so distant?” Lucas prodded. “And why you’ve been ignoring my texts?”

My cheeks went warm again. “Yeah. A bit. And other stuff.”

“Other stuff?”

I let out a long sigh. I went into this lunch knowing it was going to be a tough one. But now that I was laying all my worries and emotions out on the table, I was starting to realize how exhausting it was to come clean.

“I’m having a hard time adjusting to living in Sagebrush again,” I said at last. “This is the last place I ever expected to end up again.”

Lucas nodded sympathetically. “I can imagine. It’s a big change, coming back to this small town after being away.”

“It’s not just that,” I said, pushing my half-eaten burger away. “It’s... everything. The memories, the people, the way nothing seems to have changed. And yet, everything has changed.”

Lucas stayed quiet, letting me continue.

“When I left Sagebrush, I thought I was leaving all this behind. The small-town gossip, the judging looks, the feeling of being trapped. But now I’m back, and it’s like I never left. Except now, my best friend is dating the guy I used to resent, and I’m...” I trailed off, not sure how to finish.

“You’re what?” Lucas prompted gently.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “I’m lost, I guess. I don’t have a job, a direction, or any idea of where to go, really. Caroline wants to start her own business, and she’s asked me to help, but it’s not mine, you know? I want something just for me. And then there’s Dakota…”

“Dakota?” Lucas asked, his eyebrows arched. “Your ranch hand?”

“Yeah.”

“What’s wrong with him? Beau seemed to think he was a great help on the drive.”

“He is great,” I nodded. “That’s the problem. The man is practically perfect in every way, and he wants nothing to do with me.”

“Sounds like Mary Poppins to me,” Lucas grinned. “So, you’ve got the hots for him I take it?”

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