Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
Alex
When I get downstairs, Mom’s standing at the kitchen sink, washing out the hot chocolate pot.
“Alex,” she says, in surprise, “I thought you’d gone to bed.”
I give her a sheepish look. “I mostly said that because I could tell Finley was exhausted, and she’s too nice to go to bed without me.”
She gives me a warm smile. “That was thoughtful.”
Her high opinion of me doesn’t sit right. “Thanks,” I thumb toward the back door. “I’m going to go for a run.”
She looks me up and down. “You’re going for a run this late?”
“I’m used to working out late.”
“Are you sure it’s safe?”
“Hollybrook is probably the safest place on earth.” But I know that’s not what she means. “I’ll be careful.”
She studies me for a beat then drops her gaze to the pot as she rinses it. “You have your phone, though, right?”
I pat my side pocket. “Right here.”
“Okay, I’ll see you in the morning,” she says. “I love you, Alex. Thank you for coming home. I’ve missed you.”
I pull her into a hug, holding her for several seconds as I smell her floral shampoo. It’s the same one she used when I was a kid. Nostalgia hits me full-force, and I wish for things to be like they were before everything changed. Before—
No, I can’t go there.
“I love you too, Mom,” I say, softly, then kiss the top of her head. “Sorry I’ve been gone so long.”
She gives me a sad smile. “My prodigal son.”
The word tightens the guilt in my chest. “Yeah, I’m here.”
If she knew what I’d done, she wouldn’t look at me like this.
I take a step back, then leave through the kitchen door and into the cold air.
My breath puffs white as I stretch in the driveway, then head toward the street in a slow jog.
Once my muscles loosen, I pick up my pace and run the route I used as a teenager home from college.
Some houses and yards have changed, but mostly it’s the same, and an ache for this place I shouldn’t feel settles under my ribs.
By the time I hit downtown, it’s close to eleven. Everything is closed, but the neon sign for the St. Nick Tavern still buzzes on the corner—the kind of place that’s outlasted half the town. I figure a drink might warm me up and kill some time before I curl up in the chair.
Except I didn’t bring my wallet.
I stomp my feet at the door and go inside anyway, holding up my phone as I slide onto a barstool. “Do you take contactless payment?”
“Yeah, sure, man,” the bartender says, nodding. “What’ll it be?”
I start to order a whiskey or a Manhattan, but there’s that damn nostalgia again, and I order a Coors Light. I crack a peanut from the bowl, pop it into my mouth.
The bartender hands me the bottle and brings the cardless reader over. “Want to start a tab?”
“Yeah, sure,” I say, holding my phone up to the device.
He walks over to another customer, and I take a long pull, memories of high school washing over me. I’m halfway through my beer when I hear a familiar voice.
“Alex King. Is that you?”
I turn, a grin spreading across my face. Curtis Cunningham, my best friend from high school, is about ten feet away with a couple of guys I don’t recognize. He’s grinning ear to ear as he walks over to me. “How have you been, man? You look—” He looks me up and down.
“Yeah, don’t finish that sentence,” I cut in, holding up a hand. “It’s been a rough day.”
He gestures to the stool next to me with a questioning look.
“Please,” I say enthusiastically. “I’d love to catch up.”
He waves to his friends and tells them he’s going to stick around a little longer. They head out the door as he slides onto the stool.
“On a date?” I ask, my brow lifted.
He laughs. “Two guys would be a little ambitious for me. No, just a few friends.”
Phil, the bartender, walks over. “You want something else, Curt?”
“Yeah,” Curtis glances at the bottle in my hand. “Thanks, Phil. I’ll have what he’s having.”
“Sure thing,” Phil says, heading for the cooler.
“Put it on my tab,” I call after him.
Curtis makes a face. “You don’t have to do that, Alex.”
“Yeah, I know,” I say. “Think of it as me buying your company.”
He gives me a curious look. “Are you used to buying people’s company?”
I laugh. “I suppose I deserve that. No, it’s just—for all I know, you had other plans with your friends, and I’m making you stay longer.”
“We’re good,” Curtis says. “I’ve missed you, man.” He pauses and his voice softens. “It sucks we haven’t talked in years.”
He doesn’t outright say I’ve sucked as a friend, but he doesn’t have to. He’s been the one who’s made all the efforts to keep in contact. I’m the one who’s turned away everyone here in Hollybrook. Including him.
“I’m sorry, Curtis. It’s not personal. Life just keeps me busy.” Before he can call me on my bullshit, I say, “So, how’ve you been, man? What have you been up to?”
“Believe it or not, I’m teaching high school now,” he says with a laugh.
My eyes go wide. “You’re kidding! So now you wrangle the same terrorist students we used to be.”
He laughs wholeheartedly, and something in me goes hollow with homesickness. Curtis was the loyal one. The guy you could hang with, no drama. I realize I’ve missed him. Everything I’ve chased feels superficial. But Curtis is the same guy I’ve always known. He’s genuine and real.
Maybe that’s part of why I’m so drawn to Finley—she’s real too. No fronts, no artifice. What you see is what you get.
Curtis studies me, concern creasing his brow. “What just happened there? You look kind of sad.”
I blink. “What?”
He leans a little closer. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” I shrug. “It’s weird being home.”
“How long has it been since you’ve been back?” he asked. “I haven’t seen you in, what? Four years?”
“Yeah. The last time was when you came to see me in New York City.” Guilt edges back in. “It’s nothing personal, Curtis. I’ve been working on a tech start-up in Atlanta the last couple of years, and the hours are insane.”
Phil returns with Curtis’s beer and Curtis takes a sip. When he lowers the bottle, he says, “You haven’t been back to see your parents?”
“I was here for a couple of days for Christmas a few years ago, and for a day or two here and there. Other than that, they’ve come down to Atlanta to see me.”
“What about your brothers and Mallory?”
“I’ve seen them off and on too,” I say, tipping my bottle and shrugging. I drain the bottle and signal to Phil. “Another one, please.”
“Sure.” Phil disappears and comes back with a fresh bottle.
“So, a start-up? Sounds impressive,” Curtis says. “What’s it for?”
“A super-secret proprietary tech. We’re hoping to go live at the end of January, but it’s been a bitch getting all the investors in place. Thank God we’re almost to the finish line. It’s been pretty intense.”
Curtis makes a face. “Sounds awful, if you ask me.”
I can’t deny it. It has been awful, but if this takes off, the last two years will have been worth it.
“Teaching high school can’t be much better,” I say with a laugh, trying to steer the conversation away from me.
He makes a face and reaches for a peanut.
“You’d be surprised. I actually like it.
” He shrugs and cracks the shell. “I’m young enough to remember all the shit we pulled, so these kids think I’ve hidden cameras all over the school.
I catch them at everything they try to do.
” He pops the peanut into his mouth and laughs.
“I’m definitely not going to tell them that we tried it first.”
I laugh and lift my bottle. “Well, we got away with it.”
“Sure did.” He bumps his bottle against mine, then we drink.
We’re quiet for a moment, before Curtis looks right at me. “We’ve been through a lot, Alex. I know when you’re full of shit, and you’re up to your ears in it.” His eyes hold mine. “Why have you really been staying away?”
A cold sweat breaks out on the back of my neck. If I was going to tell anyone what happened, it would have been Curtis. But it’s been too long, and it feels too late to tell him now. Plus, I can’t handle seeing the disgust in his eyes when I confess.
“Nothing,” I say, squinting at him like he’s crazy. “You know how it is. You grow up. Move away. It’s the way of the world.”
“Is it?” Curtis asks, no sarcasm, just genuine curiosity.
“It is for me.” I take a big swig of beer to help swallow the lump in my throat.
Curtis studies me, and I know he doesn’t buy it. Still, he sits back and gives me a forgiving smile. “I really have missed you, Alex.”
“Me too,” I say. Seeing him in front of me makes me realize how much.
“When are you headed back?”
“New Year’s Day.”
His face brightens. “So, you’ll be here a bit. We need to get together. You can meet my new boyfriend.”
Some of my gloom fades and I beam at him then glance toward the exit. “Was one of those guys him?”
“Nah. Those guys are in my curling club, and Reggie hates curling.”
I snort. “You used to hate curling too.”
He shrugs with a grin. “Things change.”
I know firsthand that’s true. “Tell me about your new boyfriend. He has to be better than Shithead.”
Thankfully, Curtis laughs. He wasn’t too fond of the nickname I came up with for his boyfriend from college, but I’d told him if the shoe fits… “To be fair,” he says, his eyes bright, “that’s a pretty low bar.”
“True.”
“Let’s just say, I finally smartened up and kicked him out a couple years ago.”
“How long have you been with this new guy?” I ask. “Reggie?”
“Yeah, Reggie. And almost a year.” He pauses and his face softens. “It’s pretty serious. I’m going to propose after the first of the year.”
A rush of warmth fills my chest. “That’s amazing, Curtis. I’m so happy for you.”
His face flushes. “Yeah, he’s pretty great.”
“How’d you meet him?”
“At a teachers’ conference in Pittsburgh, believe it or not. We got drinks, then dinner, and it turns out he teaches over in Hollister.”
“That’s like fifteen miles from here,” I say in surprise.
He grins. “I know, right? It’s like it was meant to be.”
I lift my bottle and clink it against his. “Congrats, man,” I say, “You deserve the best and more.”