11. Reese #3
“Yeah, well, seems that protection you offered me ran out.” It’s meant to be a joke.
A reminder that Weston was the only reason Carey stopped harassing me when we were teenagers.
But there’s a heaviness that settles around us, telling me he took it as a whole lot more.
“I just mean, when we were kids, he left me alone because of you.”
“He’ll leave you alone now,” he says, then runs a hand over the back of his neck. “How is your mom?”
“Fine. I didn’t find any pills in her house, and I’ve been monitoring her pill organizer just in case she is forgetful. But I haven’t seen anything. Her energy seems to have perked up, too. She mentioned this morning that she hasn’t felt this clear-headed in a while.”
“Is it possible the test was wrong?”
I shrug. “I’m going to keep an eye on her, but as of right now, I have no answers.”
He nods.
“I’m surprised to see you here.”
“Why is that?”
“When we were young, you’d only come so you could bring Violet or me.”
Something dark flashes over his expression, but thanks to the fading light, I can’t quite make out what it is. The mention of his sister, maybe? “So.”
“So why are you here now?”
“Garrison wouldn’t drop it.”
I smile, imagining the other man dragging the one in front of me out of his hidey hole. Which is what Tessa said Weston’s cabin has become. Then there’s the fact that Tessa did the exact same thing to me, and I can’t help but laugh.
“Something funny?” Weston asks.
When I meet his gaze and see the half-smile on his face, I can’t help myself. The laughter bubbles up until I literally cannot breathe. It hits me out of nowhere, the absolute craziness of this night.
Of the fact that I was confronted by my old bully, who still seems absolutely terrified of my ex-husband.
“Sorry, I think I’m just tired.” I snort, which makes me laugh even harder.
All while Weston looks at me like I’m slowly losing my mind. Who knows, maybe I am. Maybe everything has finally caught up to me and I’m going to find myself locked away in a windowless room.
“Did you actually say something funny and I missed it?”
I look up at Garrison, who is holding a baby and standing beside a beautiful blonde woman.
“Sorry. No.” Choking down my laughter, I wipe the tears from my eyes. “Sorry, it’s been a long day.”
Garrison grins as Weston shifts nervously from one foot to the other. “I can understand that. Reese, this is my wife, Katelyn.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Katelyn says, offering her hand.
“You, too. And who is this little one?” I ask, reaching forward to gently rub the baby’s back. It makes my chest ache, but I can’t help myself. I always wanted to be a mom.
“This is Grace,” he says.
“Grace,” I repeat. “A beautiful name for a beautiful girl.” My gaze shifts to Weston momentarily, to find that he’s looking anywhere but at me. Does it make his heart hurt, too? Knowing that we were so close to having a child of our own?
“Thank you,” Katelyn says with a loving smile at her husband. “Our son is around here somewhere, too, though I imagine we won’t be seeing him until curfew.”
Garrison nods. “He has his first girlfriend,” he says.
“Aww yes. First relationships can be all-consuming.” I quickly glance at Weston, who is still working hard to avoid looking in my direction.
Boy, do I know that truth, though. I’ve been consumed by my first relationship since I was fourteen years old.
“Well, I think I’m going to head out. If you see Tessa, can you let her know? I was with them before Carey stopped me. She might be worried, and I just realized that I don’t have her phone number.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to stay? You can hang with us,” Katelyn offers.
“I’m sure, but thanks for the offer. It was so nice to meet you both.” With a smile, I move past them and toward the sidewalk.
“I’ll walk you to your car,” Weston says, continuing along with me without waiting for an invitation.
“You don’t have to do that.”
“Carey and his buddies may be lingering near the street. I want to make sure they don’t hassle you.” He says it very matter-of-factly, not giving any room for argument. And because I would really appreciate not having another run-in with Carey or his ridiculously immature posse, I don’t push back.
“Thanks.”
“Yeah.”
Side-by-side, we move down the crowded street, two strangers who once knew each other better than anyone. The farther out of town we get, the more the crowd thins, until just ahead, the lot where my car is parked comes into view.
“Have you talked to Weston since?” Tessa’s words come flooding back, and my stomach churns.
Should I try again?
Or will he just throw it back in my face all over again?
We reach my car, so I unlock the door, then turn to face Weston. “I wasn’t expecting Lyle to kiss me. We were just friends.”
“Who?”
“Lyle Winslow. The guy in the suit you saw, who dropped me off outside my apartment in Charleston. I smiled at him because I was trying to let him down easy. I just wanted you to know that.”
Weston nods. “Have a good night, Reese.”
“You, too. Thanks again.”
He offers me a half wave, then shoves both hands into his pockets before heading off into the dark—in the opposite direction of the festival.