The Talk of the Town

Chapter Twenty-Five

Halle walked through the halls of Peachtree Cove Middle School with her fingers mentally crossed and dozens of silent prayers that everything had gone according to plan. It was the day that Khris Simmons toured the school with the superintendent and mayor. All a part of their plan to show him just why Peachtree Cove was the best small town.

She didn’t understand why the school needed to be featured in a travel magazine, but wouldn’t complain about bringing attention to the work they did at the school. The mayor wanted to present everything that was good about Peachtree Cove, and Halle was more than ready to show them how the staff at Peachtree Cove Middle School was an essential part of this community.

“And that’s pretty much everything about the middle school,” Halle said when they were back at the front office. Thankfully, the HVAC system hadn’t rattled, the leak in hall three had been repaired and no kids loitered in the hallway. It was as if the stars had aligned and understood the school’s best foot needed to be put forward today.

“Thank you, Halle,” Miriam said, clasping her hands. Delight about the smooth visit visible in her eyes. “I told Mr. Simmons that you were one of our best principals and that you’ve done a lot to improve things at the school.”

Halle beamed; she always enjoyed praise for the work they did at the school. “I want to see every child succeed. High school is important, but you start laying a foundation for a kid’s future here in middle school.”

Khris scribbled notes in a small notepad and nodded. “I remember middle school being rough for me. Always a trying time. It’s a good thing these kids have such an understanding principal.”

Halle raised a brow. “You struggled in middle school?”

“I did, puberty and whatnot. Trying to figure out my way,” he said with a grin that would appear charming if Halle hadn’t known how he treated Quinton in school.

“We deal with a lot of bullying here,” Halle said. “Kids struggling to find their way often take out their problems on other kids who are less fortunate. Our goal is to show each child that they are important. Find out why the bully is picking on others and provide the kid who’s being bullied with whatever support they need.”

His eyes met hers and his smile curved even more. “Hurt people hurt people, am I right?”

Halle hated the condescension in his voice. “Unfortunately, yes.”

Miriam checked her watch. “You’re about to have lunch, right? I added lunch here at the school on the itinerary before we head to the high school. Then tonight Khris will attend the Business Guild meeting and some of our local businesses tomorrow.”

Halle was more than ready to be rid of Khris and his fake smiles, but she nodded. “Sure, let’s go to the cafeteria.”

They arrived just as sixth grade was finishing lunch and seventh was preparing to come in. They went through the line where Khris was nothing but charm and graciousness as he talked with the cafeteria staff and made everyone laugh about how he’d traded French fries for extra pizza at lunch in middle school. Based on the way he acted, Halle couldn’t imagine him bullying anyone enough to break their leg. She didn’t doubt Quinton, which only made her more leery of Khris.

They were settled around a table when the seventh grade students began to pile in. Halle noticed one of the teachers she needed to talk with and excused herself. When she returned several minutes later, she hoped they were closer to being done and she could end this meal.

Khris turned to her when she sat down. He spoke so that only she could hear. “Are you and Quinton dating?”

She frowned, thrown off by the unexpected question. “What?”

He pressed a hand to his chest. His face a mask of congeniality. “I’m sorry, we’re old friends and when I found out that you two had a kid, I was curious.”

Halle kept her expression neutral even though she wanted to roll her eyes. “Have you had the chance to catch up with him since you’ve been in town?”

“No, apparently he’s very busy. Almost as if he’s avoiding me.” He let out a self-deprecating chuckle.

She raised a brow. “Based on the way he described your friendship, I can understand why.”

Khris paused then nodded slowly. The not-quite-charming smile back on his face. “Remember what you said about bullies earlier?”

“I do.”

“Well, it’s true. I found out something in middle school and I didn’t know how to handle it.”

“And you took it out on Quinton?”

He looked her in the eye. “I did.”

His admission surprised her. She waited for him to pair the admission with an excuse or justification. “Why?”

“Because I didn’t have anyone else I could take it out on.” He shrugged. “I’m older now. There are things we need to talk about. Things that he needs to know. Will you ask him to talk to me?”

She didn’t want to do any type of favor for Khris, but she also was caught off guard by his candidness. Quinton didn’t owe Khris his forgiveness, but did he need to hear the full story? “He won’t listen to me.”

“I think he will.”

Dr. Watts interrupted them. “Khris, are you ready for the next stop?”

Khris nodded. “I am.” He looked back at Halle with a pleading look. “Principal Parker has been very helpful. I hope she continues to be.”

Quinton accepted the beer from Cyril. He sat at the corner seat in A Couple of Beersand despite the hum of conversation in the bar, the noise still seemed quieter than his house.

“Your parents still in town?” Cyril asked.

“Yeah, still here.” He took a sip of the beer.

“How long are they here for?”

Quinton shrugged. “I don’t know. They’re retired and don’t have any reason to rush back home. My sister can work remotely so she’s good.”

Cyril cocked a brow. “Wait, they didn’t tell you how long they plan to visit?”

Quinton shook his head. “They usually show up, stay a few days and then leave. I don’t ever ask how long because I’m always happy to see them.” Because they were enamored with Shania, he didn’t expect them to leave anytime soon.

“You not happy this time?”

“I am, but I damn sure miss having the house to myself. I’m used to living alone. I miss my privacy.”

Cyril chuckled and leaned a hip on the bar. “After living with my dad when we moved to Peachtree Cove, I can understand. I’m just glad he stayed out of my business.”

The door of the bar opened and Brian entered. He spotted the two of them and came over. “What’s up, fellas?”

“Nothing much,” Cyril answered, slapping Brian’s hand over the counter. “Just talking about privacy.”

Brian raised his brows. “Who needs privacy?” He looked at Quinton and realization dawned. “Your parents still here?”

Quinton responded, “Yep.” He sipped his beer.

Brian sat at the stool next to Quinton. “You live like a monk. What you need privacy for?”

“I just need to hear my thoughts,” Quinton said. He wasn’t ready to admit that he’d slept with Halle. That quick stolen moment in his bed that Saturday made him want his privacy even more. The way he could have turned that into an afternoon of lovemaking if his parents weren’t there. Instead, they’d had to dress quickly and then pretend as if nothing happened when everyone returned not long after they’d ended.

Brian frowned. “What thoughts you need to hear? Spill ’em. That’s what we’re here for.”

Cyril nodded. “Everything good with you, Halle and Shania?” He poured Brian’s usual into a glass.

Quinton lifted one shoulder. “We’re figuring this thing out. Shania is great.”

Brian accepted the beer from Cyril. “How are things on the team now that everyone knows?” he asked.

“They’ve mellowed out. I don’t do favorites and even with her as my daughter I’ve kept it that way. Some coaches are still watching me and waiting, but we both know that.”

Brian gave him a questioning stare. “Halle letting you have any say so in Shania’s life?”

“She’s getting there. I’m worried my parents are going to give her a heart attack. They want to spend so much time with Shania to make up for the lost years. That’s going to be hard for Halle.”

“I can see that,” Cyril said. “Halle likes to be in control and that’s Imani’s words not just mine. But from what Imani has said, I think she’s learning to handle it.”

“As long as I keep my parents in check then that will be good.”

“What about you and Halle?” Brian asked slyly. “You two getting along?”

The memory of sliding deep inside Halle. The way her heat squeezed around him. Watching her eyes roll to the back of her head as she’d said his name on a sigh before climaxing, filled his brain. “Yeah, we’re getting along.”

Brian cocked his head to the side. “Hold up. You smiling a little hard there.”

“Yes, he is,” Cyril said, grinning.

Quinton quickly wiped the smile off his face. He was not the kind of guy to act love-struck. “I’m just saying. We’re getting along.”

“Man, you’ve been into Halle since before you found out about Shania. Admit it. You taking your chance now?” Cyril asked.

“I’m not against seeing what happens,” he said casually.

“What about Shania?” Brian asked. “I thought you said she wasn’t into you all getting together.”

“Which is why we’re just waiting to see what happens before we make a big deal out of it,” Quinton said. “No need to upset Shania if we don’t work out.”

“But you two are trying to see if you can make something work?”

“Yeah, if we can get some time together. Getting her alone is the hard part.” Quinton realized he was grumbling.

“Aaah, now the privacy thing makes more sense. Can’t be alone with her if your family is all up in your space.”

“Exactly. Outside of seeing Shania I don’t have a reason to be alone with her without tipping off everyone that we’re seeing each other.”

Brian halted mid sip. He and Cyril exchanged glances before he looked at Quinton with wide, curious eyes. “Wait, you are seeing each other?”

“We’re just chilling right now. One day at a time, but damn, can I get a day?”

The three laughed and the conversation moved to the woman Brian was seeing. Brian didn’t date women in Peachtree Cove because he didn’t want the entire town in his business. He also didn’t date seriously. Just a fling here or there.

“I’m not looking for anything serious,” he’d said once. “I did the marriage thing and that didn’t work out. Not going down that road again.”

They were wrapping up their drinks and getting ready to call it a night when Khris entered the bar. Quinton’s stomach clenched. He hated that he still had a visceral reaction whenever he saw Khris. Life would be easier if he could push the trauma of the years under Khris’s bullying out the window and ignore it for the rest of his life.

Quinton stood. “Time for me to go, fellas.”

“Let me finish this and we can leave together,” Brian said, pointing to the beer in front of him.

He wanted to say no, but he also hated the urge to flee the building. He was not going to give Khris that kind of power over him. “I’ll wait.”

Khris spotted him and quickly made a beeline to Quinton and his friends. “Quinton, I was hoping to run into you.”

“I’m just about to leave,” Quinton said. He gave Brian and his beer a pointed look. His friend, thankfully, didn’t play dumb and lifted the glass to his mouth.

“You still don’t want to sit down and chat with an old friend?” Khris said, trying to sound wounded.

“We’re not old friends,” Quinton said firmly. “The mayor isn’t here or anyone else that I need to play nice in front of. Let’s stop playing around.”

The smile left Khris’s face. Good, he needed to drop the act, too. “Look, Quinton, I was an asshole as a kid. I get that. I’ve worked through my issues. You know, therapy is beneficial.”

“Good for you.” Quinton did not care at all about Khris’s journey to enlightenment.

“But part of my growth is to face what I did in the past. I want to apologize for the way I treated you back in school.”

Quinton looked back at Khris. Not feeling an ounce of forgiveness inside him for the guy who’d made his life a living hell, but also not wanting to drag this out longer than it needed to be. “Apology accepted. Now we can both move on.”

“Can’t we talk?”

“About what? You apologized, I accepted. End of story. We’re never going to be friends, Khris.”

“Why not? I said I’m sorry. That was a long time ago.”

“You broke my damn leg.” Quinton scowled. “Your friends held me down and you stomped on me until my leg broke. I can accept your apology, but it doesn’t mean we have to be friends.”

Brian and Cyril both stiffened with Quinton’s words. He hadn’t spoken loud enough for the rest of the bar to hear. He understood Khris was there to give the town something it wanted, but he wasn’t going to pretend in front of his friends. Khris had been more than an asshole; he’d been a bully and an abuser. Quinton wasn’t going to act like that never happened.

“Look, I was jealous. I had a lot going on.”

“Jealous? That’s your excuse?” Quinton shook his head and waved off his words.

“My dad kept comparing me to you,” Khris said quickly. “I didn’t know how to take it. Especially after—”

Quinton held up a hand. “Look, I don’t care about whatever you got going on with your dad. That was your issue. You decided to take it out on me. Now we’re adults. I’m not going to bother you about that because you’re here to judge the town. Not to reconcile or bury your demons with me. Let’s just keep it at that.”

“But—”

Quinton looked at Brian. “You ready?”

His friend hadn’t finished his beer, but he stood. “Yeah. Let’s go.”

Quinton nodded and brushed past Khris. Brian walked out with him. Once they were outside, Brian stopped Quinton.

“What you said in there? Was it true?”

“I wish it wasn’t.” Quinton shifted from foot to foot. Frustration and anger coursed through him. He’d let Khris get to him. He stopped moving and took a deep breath.

“He broke your leg?”

“He tormented me since eighth grade.”

“And no one did anything?” Brian looked ready to go back in the bar and confront Khris.

Quinton put a hand on Brian’s shoulder before he could move. “My family didn’t have money and his did. Story of kids all over this damn world.”

Brian pointed over his shoulder. “What are you going to do about him?”

“Nothing. He’s only here for a short time. After tonight, he shouldn’t have anything else to do with me. I’m good.”

“You sure?” Brian’s tone and questioning expression said he was ready to handle Khris if Quinton wanted him to.

Quinton was human enough to admit he was tempted to go off on Khris with the backing of his two best friends, but he wouldn’t. He’d gotten what he needed to say off his chest. He just hadn’t expected to feel so exposed. Raw. His leg ached with the phantom pain of the break years ago, and his heart felt stomped on just as it had when the school said they were just “playing around” and hadn’t pressed charges against Khris. He appreciated his friend’s concern, but right now he needed a moment to regroup.

So he gave his friend a confident smile and lied. “I’m good.”