Page 65 of Bet on It

“Look, I don’t want to keep you any longer.” Benny spoke quietly after a long pause. He sniffled, and Walker wondered if he was crying. The thought made his heart contract. “Just… just know that I love you, boy. More than anything. And I’m sorry. I live with my guilt and my shame every day, but that pales in comparison to the pain and trouble I’ve caused you. You didn’t deserve it. You deserved better than me and your mama both. But I’m… I’m doin’ well, have been for a while. And I’d like you to see me like this. So, if you’d be willin’ to talk when I come into town, it would mean a lot to your old man. I… I love you. Hopefully I’ll talk to you soon. Bye.”

Benny hung up almost as soon as he got the last word out of his mouth. It wasn’t until he heard silence on the other end that Walker was able to pull the phone away from his face. He stared at it. Eyes bleary and searching, as if the ridiculous little device he was so attached to had answers to the questions swirling around in his brain.

A bird flew overhead, the flapping of its wings breaking the silence, making Walker jump back into reality. He tucked the phone into his pocket, intending to continue his hike. But he only made it a few steps before he lost interest. It wasn’t going to be easy to keep his mind off this anymore. Not when things were becoming more complicated by the second.

He didn’t need a distraction. He needed… he needed a fucking bright spot. Something happy. Something that made him feel so good that his brain couldn’t help but provide him with relief.

Here, in this town, with these people, and his history—that wasn’t such an easy thing to come by. But it wasn’t impossible. Not when he knew someone whose mere name made him feel light. Not when he knew Aja Owens.

He pulled his phone out, finding her number in seconds and pressing the call button before he could convince himself to stop. Her voice was just as sweet as always when she answered. One word from her and his lips were already quirking up into a smile.

“Hey,” he responded, then cleared his throat. “Do you want to hang out today? I miss your face.”

He could practically hear Aja rolling her eyes, but he could also hear the smile in her voice when she answered. “I have a couple errands to run in town, if you want to cart me around,” she said. “But only because I don’t feel like driving.… Not because I miss your face or anything. Because that would be weird.”

The relief that enveloped him made his head fall back. He didn’t care if she wanted him to sit next to her while she watched paint dry—he’d do it happily. He just needed to see her. Anything. He’d do anything to be with her right now. “Give me an hour,” he said, already making his way back the way he came. “I’ll be there soon.”

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