Page 66 of The Scout

Rather than tell her we could talk while I drove her home, I pulled into the small vacant lot and parked the car. “Do you want to go for a walk?”

“That’d be great.”

We got out, walked toward the dirt path that we’d been on more times than I could count, and began our trek. Our hands brushed as they swung in the air.

“Remember when we came here after homecoming?”

“The bonfire party. How could I forget spin the bottle? I hadn’t played that since the seventh grade.”

“Right. All the girls wanted the bottle to point at you.”

“Too bad I just wanted to kiss one person that night.”

“Yes, I remember. Tori Landon. I think the entire male student body cried when she moved to Alabama.”

“Not me.”

“No, you were too cool for school.”

“Funny lady.” I playfully nudged her. Tori was beautiful. Light-blonde hair, blue eyes, tall, she was very pretty, just not my type. The only girl I liked was Hannah, even though, at that time, we were just friends. “She wasn’t the one I wanted to kiss that night. The girl I liked chose not to play. Claimed she wasn’t feeling good.”

Her eyes met mine. “You remember that?”

“I remember everything about you.”

“We were just friends.”

“Didn’t matter. Want to know something?”

“Hmm?”

We made our way to a large rock and sat down. Bringing my legs up, I leaned on my bent knees. “I was glad when you said you faked your illness.”

“Why?”

“Because I didn’t want anyone else to kiss you.”

She opened her mouth, then closed it, then opened it once again but didn’t say anything.

“Saved me from having to punch someone.”

She rolled her eyes.

“It’s true.”

“Well, I’m glad you only kissed Tori on the cheek.”

“Me too.” I leveled my gaze on her. “I’m really sorry about the house thing today. I got ahead of myself. It feels like I have a lot to make up for.”

“You’re here now, and that’s all that matters. Jimmy couldn’t be happier.”

“And you? What about you, Hannah? Are you happier? And please don’t say you are because Jimmy is. I get that. I do. I feel it too. At practice, during games, any time that kid feels joy, my heart fills. For a minute, think about yourself. I know I keep asking, but tell me. Are you happier with me here?”

She took a deep breath, seeming to gather her thoughts before answering. I couldn’t help but notice the way she looked at me, as though searching for something beneath the surface. Being at the park brought back memories of our time together. Hell, this entire town did.

Finally she broke the silence. “I’ve come to learn that my happiness isn’t dependent on others, but rather how I feel when I’m around them. Take Mia, for instance. That girl makes me laugh and just knows how to lighten a situation, but more importantly, she listens and is honest. That makes me happy. When it comes to you being here, it’s a bit more complicated.”

I took her hand in mine, linking our fingers. “Complicated good or complicated bad?”

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