Page 46 of Hometown Touchdown
“She believes she’s spiritually connected to Titanic Jack,” Cam says, deadpan. “I didn’t even get to sing my song.”
“What was your song?” I ask.
“‘No Scrubs.’ Had the whole intro memorized.”
I laugh. “You should marry her. Wait—did she ask you to meditate in a parking lot?”
“No, but she did text me the next morning to thank me for ‘opening her third eye.’”
Ty loses it, snorting into his napkin. I laugh too, and for a second, it’s good. The kind of easy night I used to look forward to— good company, good jokes.
Then Ty drops it. “Speaking of strange energy—I saw that ex of yours here yesterday. Brynn? During lunch.”
My grip on the glass tightens. “Yeah?”
He shrugs. “At the counter waiting on food. Talking to some guy. Tall, real peppy. She laughed at something he said. Seemed flirty.”
Cam shifts beside me, the table going quiet.
“Did she leave with him?” I ask before I can stop myself.
Ty shakes his head. “Nah. But she agreed to a date before she left. One of those green smoothie types. Probably counts almonds before bed.”
Cam leans back. “Smoothie guy?”
“Good for her,” I say, low and clipped.
Cam watches me. “You sure?”
“I said good for her.” The words taste like rust.
He eyes me. “Which explains why you look like someone just stole your cookie.”
I toss my napkin on the table and stand.
Cam grabs his shake. “Knox—”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not. Don’t be an idiot.”
“I’m not—” But I don’t finish. Just head for the door, jaw tight.
Ty calls after me, “Are you guys always this dramatic?”
Cam doesn’t miss a beat. “Only when ex-girlfriends are involved.”
By the time I’m in the duplex driveway, my fingers are tight around the wheel. The glow from Brynn’s living room window taunts me like she’s right there, happy, unaware that her existence is screwing up my ability to think straight.
I could walk to my side, open my door, watch film. Let it go. Instead, I’m on her porch, knocking—hard. Loud.
The door swings open. She’s barefoot, in tiny pajama shorts and an oversized hoodie that swallows her frame. Hair damp like she just showered. She blinks, clearly not expecting company.
“Knox?”
I shove my hands in my pockets. “So, you’re dating now?”
Her brow furrows. “What?”
