Page 44 of Break My Heart
‘That’s a really personal question.’
‘Is it? I get asked that all the time. Doesn’t bother me.’
‘You get asked that all the time? By who?’
‘People in town. Usually old ladies. They think I’ll end up alone if I don’t hurry up and find a wife.’
‘But that’s not what you want.’
‘I do eventually, but not now.’ He notices my tapping foot. ‘Are you nervous talking about this?’
‘Yeah, kind of.’ I force my leg to stop moving. ‘I don’t like the idea of being that committed, having all that responsibility.’
‘Why? Did something—’
‘I just don’t. Can we leave it at that?’ I get up and walk over tothe metal bookshelf that’s along the wall, noticing a picture of Sawyer and his parents in front of the brewery, a grand opening sign hung above them. Next to it is a photo with some guys holding Kanfield Brewery beer mugs.
‘What are you looking at?’ Sawyer asks.
‘The pictures from your opening.’ I take one of them from the shelf. ‘Who are these guys holding the beer mugs?’
‘My cousins from Chicago.’ Sawyer comes over to me and points to the guys in the photo. ‘They’re all brothers. That’s Nash, the oldest. He’s getting married in October at the orchard. Next to him is Bryce, and that’s Jake, and the youngest one is Austin.’
‘Good-looking guys.’
‘We share the same genes, so yeah,’ he kids.
I set the photo down and point to the one next to it. ‘That’s a good one of you and your parents.’
Sawyer picks up the photo. ‘Right after this was taken my dad had his heart attack. Scared the shit out of me. I thought we were going to lose him.’
‘He seems okay now.’
‘He is. He just needs to watch his diet and not work so hard.’ Sawyer puts the photo back. ‘So did you and my mom talk before you came in the house today?’
‘Not really. She just asked why I was there. She’s really nice. I like her.’
‘She’s a little too into my personal life, but other than that, she’s great. And an awesome baker. She makes the best pastries you’ve ever had.’
‘Was she around when you were a kid?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Like did she work or was she at home?’
‘She was at home. She helped my dad with the orchard butmostly did mom stuff, like taking us to sports practice, being involved with our school.’
‘You’re lucky.’
‘Meaning what?’
‘Nothing. Forget it.’ I go over to the coffee table and pick up my glass. ‘Could I have another beer?’
Sawyer walks up to me, taking the glass from my hand. ‘First tell me what you meant just now. Why am I lucky?’
I shrug. ‘Having a mom. Mine died.’
‘Shit, sorry.’ He sets the glass down. ‘I didn’t know.’
