Page 20 of New River Gorge(ous)
Logan’s girlfriend pops up off his lap. “I have to go to the bathroom,” she announces before she giggles and pulls Logan in for a lengthy kiss.
Ben makes a retching sound, and I stare at the table, trying to block them out. When she finally scampers off, I look up.
“You two are the worst best friends in the entire world.”
“Naw. Don’t say that,” Ben says as he crams a mouthful of fries.
“Hey.” Logan flicks a fry at Ben. “It wasyouridea.”
Ben sighs before he presses his palms down on the table. “Listen, man. I just… You never want to meet anyone. And weworry about you. You don’t have fun unless we tell you to come with us, and you don’t have any of your … personality anymore.”
I bristle.
“C’mon, Beck,” Logan interjects. “You know it’s true. It’s been years since Addie, and we want you to come back. We miss the Beck from before.”
I stiffen as the waitress puts my burger in front of me.
“Thank you,” I growl.
The waitress glares at me before walking away.
“Some things cannot be changed. And some things cannot go back to the way they were before.”
“Beck.” Ben frowns. “You need to figure something out because … Addie’s coming home.”
Ben would know. He’s Addie’s older brother.
I don’t say a word, just calmly take a bite of my burger, chew, and swallow. Reach into my pocket and extract my wallet. Fish out a twenty and throw it on the table. Shove my chair out and walk with tingling nerves and all the calmness I can muster back to Billy’s door. Inside, my body is combusting.
The aggression has to go somewhere, so I yank the handle toward me and stumble when someone collapses into me.
Instinctively, I reach out to steady them, and my eyes skate over this person’s body for signs of injury.
All that is forgotten when I meet the pretty blue eyes of the blonde woman with pink streaks in her hair who’s taken up residence in my neighborhood and somehow my heart.
11
Brooke
Meemaw insisted I drive her ancient Buick to Billy’s and grab her a cheeseburger. I could have made one at home, but I was too tired to argue. When I tried to make her promise she wouldn’t get into any trouble while I was gone, she practically guffawed.
“Brooke, you need to get into some trouble. I won’t get into anyif you promise you will.”
I don’t know what to do with that statement. But that’s fine. As long as Meemaw’s behaving, I’ll be at her beck and call.
Ugh,Beck.
Why does that word have such a different meaning now? Why does this have to bring to mind Meemaw’s hot doctor neighbor who asked me out because Meemaw told him to? Was that some type of weird mountain man etiquette? Or did he actually want to take me on a date? I didn’t really help by insisting I’m not a charity case, but what was I supposed to do? If you’re interested in me, justsayso. And maybe not only becauseMeemaw told you what to do. Andmaybe, justmaybe, if you aren’t interested in me, say that too.
Would itkillour generation to be direct? Sure would clear up a lot of confusion, and probably result in a lot less heartbreak and heartache.
My phone rings with a video call as I put the car in park.
“Hey, Lizzy,” I say to my younger sister.
“Hi, Brooke!” She’s breathless and flushed. “Guess what?”
“What?”
