Page 56 of The Brave and the Reckless

“What you’ll do when summer’s over. Do you wantto go back to grad school? Maybe here? Or back home? Change your major?”

“Jesus, did Sanny talk to Mom?”

Zuri’s guilty expression was all the answer I needed. Of course. Sinan hadn’t actually been interested in spending more time with me. Monday-night dinners were just the Bravetown-friendly version of Mom’s Friday-night dinners. She’d probably planted the idea in his head.

Adriana had quietly put the drinks down on the counter in front of us, and I pushed three toward Zuri. “Take these back to the table. Talk to me when your entire life plan has gone up in flames, okay?”

Zuri didn’t fight me. She looked genuinely defeated as she carried the drinks back to the booth.

“So,” Adriana said, clearing her throat, “as someone whose entire life plan has actually gone up in flames, can I talk to you?”

“Sure,” I huffed and climbed on to the barstool across from her.

“Who’s the guy?” she asked, grinning widely.

“What?”

“Or girl.” She shrugged. “Who are you sleeping with?”

“Guy,” I said and shot a quick look over my shoulder to make sure nobody overheard. “How did you know? Is it that obvious?”

“Nah, you just have that exhausted glow of someone who got plowed in the backseat of an old jeep behind a Wendy’s. Takes one to know one. Meanwhile, Sinan and Zuri are all rainbows and unicorns. Totally oblivious.”

“That was very descriptive, thank you.” I laughed, my mood instantly lightening. Adriana was good at that. Ifigured that it did take one to know one. She knew what it was like when you wanted to leave shit in the past and move on.

“So? Who is it? I’m surprised I haven’t heard anything yet. I know for a fact it isn’t Lucas.” She narrowed her eyes at the room. “The gossip mill is running slow.”

“Excuse me?”

“What? Bart’s Mart is the only place in town to buy condoms. If someone was suddenly stocking up, the whole town would know.”

“That’s fucked up. You know that, right?” I groaned and dropped my head on my arms on the counter. “We haven’t gotten to that part yet.”

“Damn. If your skin glows like that just from…” She trailed off, eyes wandering over the people in the staff section. “Who plays guitar? Or maybe piano?” Her fingers strummed through the air to demonstrate why she thought someone with musical skills would also beotherwiseskilled. Really, she should have looked for muscles. Noah wrangling my body like I was his personal plaything was half the fun.

Instead of replying to her, I pulled my phone out and added a new item to my growing to-do list. I was more than happy to support local businesses, but not if doing so would air my sex life to the entire town.

Summer > Bravetown

To Do

Research horse noises

Buy Adriana’s album

Test new ankle braces for a whole day

Order new leggings

Start budget planner

Buy condoms (out of town!)

Appointments

Notes

Neigh (also whinny or bray) = normal horse sound, method of communication, mouth open Nicker= lower clucky sound, often used as greeting or in courting

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