Page 41 of Off the Beaten Path

“No,” I say, walking down the hall toward the bar again, Wren at my heels. “There’s a stomach bug going around her class. Her teacher emailed about it a few days ago.”

“So it wasn’t the sweets?” Finley asks, her voice ringing with relief.

I shake my head even though she can’t see me. “No, it wasn’t the sweets, although you know she’s not supposed to have much. I’ll be right there.”

Hanging up, I grab my coat from where I left it draped over the chair at the table and pull out a couple of bills from my wallet to drop on the table.

When I spin around to head for the door, Wren is there. Guilt slams through me, because I had almost forgotten about her with everything going on with June. I just made out with her in the bathroom hallway at Matty’s, and I was going to bail without even a goodbye.

Thisis why I don’t date. Not because I’ll compromise where it comes to June, but because Iwon’tcompromise, and there’s no room for anyone else. I’ve made it so there’s no room for anyone else.

“Is June okay?” Wren asks, worry etched in every line of her face. In the brighter lights of the main room of the bar, she looks even more disheveled. Her corduroy skirt is twisted, hiked up higher on her thighs than it was before we disappeared down the hall, and there’s a rip in her tights, where my fingers dug into them. Her usually wild curls are even wilder, mussed from my hands, and her lips look thoroughly…kissed.

“She’s got a stomach bug,” I say, clearing my throat. It’s hard to look at her like this, knowing how she tasted and felt against me. Seeing the clear evidence of my mouth and hands on her body.

Knowing I can’t do it again.

Not after I almost walked out of here without even acknowledging what we did, June not only my first priority, but myonlypriority. No one deserves that, especially not Wren. She’s too good for the shattered remains of my heart. All that’s left is only able to care for one little girl who is too young to know the grip she has on it.

“Oh no,” Wren breathes. “Do you need anything for her? Ginger ale, saltines?”

My heart crumples a little more in my chest, grating into fine dust sure to blow away on the next big breeze, because I don’t know what I did to earn Wren’s concern. I don’t deserve it.

Palming the back of my neck, I say, “No, we’re good. I’ve got to go, though.”

Wren moves out of the way, motioning toward the door. “Yeah, of course. Go. I’ll talk to you later?”

I nod, backing in the direction of the door. “Yeah, Wren, I’ll talk to you later.”

I’mtoowiredtogo home, my heart still ratcheting in my chest, my skin still tingling in all the places Holden’s calluses scraped against. Despite Holden saying he and June didn’t need anything, I could see that he was frazzled, focused on getting her home, and so I decide to load up on supplies and take them over there anyway.

My phone rings as I make my way out of town, toward one of the bigger suburbs, since everything in Fontana Ridge shuts down after sunset.

It’s Rae, and I smile as I swipe it open. “Hey, Rae. It’s been a while.”

My sister lets out a long sigh. “Too long. We’ve been crazy busy around here. How are things in the Ridge?”

“Quiet,” I say, turning on my blinker to merge onto the highway.

“Are you out driving? It’s after nine there. Everything but Matty’s is closed.”

I hadn’t realized how long Holden and I had been at Matty’s after we finished dinner, sitting at that little table in the corner, talking about everything under the sun. I don’t even let myself contemplate how long we were in that hallway, how many town busybodies could have come down there looking for the bathroom. If they did, I don’t think either of us would have noticed.

“Yeah,” I say, clearing my throat, trying to get the images of Holden Blankenship kissing a line down my throat out of my head. “I was at Matty’s. I’m heading to Smithville to go to the store.”

“You’re driving all the way to Smithville to go to the store?” Leland asks. Rae must have me on speaker.

“Hi, Leland.”

“Hi, Wren.” His voice sounds louder now. I can imagine him leaning into Rae on their tiny couch to position himself closer to the phone. My heart aches a little at the thought, just like it always does when I think of them so far away but never alone since they have each other.

“So why are you driving to Smithville, baby?” Rae asks.

I hesitate, unsure how much I want to share. This thing between Holden and me feels precious, fragile, but if there was anyone to tell, it would be my sister and brother-in-law, hundreds of miles away. It’s not like they’re going to show up at Smokey the Beans tomorrow and share the news over coffee with Myra and Melissa.

“I was out with Holden,” I say slowly.

There’s a rustling on the other end, like Rae is sitting up straighter. “Your neighbor Holden?”

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