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This time it didn’t bother me, though. It gave me a chance to watch Maddix perform. God, but he could sing.
A hand touched my shoulder. “Troy? Troy Hutchinson?”
The guy didn’t look familiar, more than likely because a beard covered half his face, though the way he said my name meant he recognized me.
“It’s me. Kevin Letterman.”
“No way.” Laughing, I embraced the guy. He felt like a big, cuddly bear. Kevin and I had been on the debate team. He was the man for rebuttals. “You beefed up.”
“You too.” He grinned. “I hit my growth spurt in college. Almost scared me, but then I realized guys liked me this big.”
“Guys? You’re gay?” We’d spent a lot of time together in high school, and I’d never suspected.
He nodded. “Figured it out two years into my marriage to my wife.”
“Ouch.”
“It’s okay. We’re friends now, and she’s happily married to her soulmate. What about you?”
Kevin and I moved to an empty table and sat. Time faded away as we caught up, sharing stories and experiences we’d had over the last ten years.
“We should meet up before you leave,” Kevin said. “Why don’t we take my boat out, and we go sailing?”
“Hey, you’re missing all the fun.” Maddix appeared and sank in the seat next to us. He didn’t look too happy despite the way the crowd had been responding to his performance. I’d been paying attention, even while talking to Kevin.
“I needed a break,” I said. “You remember Kevin, right? He and I were on the debate team together.”
“We had some fun times.” Kevin flicked his finger between me and Maddix. “Wait a minute. You two talk?”
“We came here together,” Maddix said. “What of it?”
“Oh shit. Really?” Kevin laughed. “Isn’t this ironic?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing. Just that you—”
“It’s fine, Kevin.” I placed my hand on his arm. “We’ve moved past all that.”
“That’s very big of you,” Kevin said. “But then again, it’s not so hard to do when you escaped this town and made a name for yourself.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Maddix scowled. “He couldn’t have made a name for himself here? What’s wrong with Rosewood Pines?”
“I don’t mean there’s anything wrong with this town.” Kevin leaned in closer to Maddix. “You wouldn’t get it. Just that this guy’s a fucking big deal, but you’re a mechanic. What would you understand?”
“I’m not that big of a deal.” I frowned, not liking the way Kevin addressed Maddix.
“According to everything you just told me? Hell yes, you are. You’re just coming from a fucking conference in Madrid, where you were a presenter. He’s never even been outside of Minnesota.”
Maddix’s nostrils flared, and he curled his hands into fists. He pushed away from the table and strode off.
“Maddix!”
But he kept walking.
“What the hell, man?” I rounded in on Kevin.
“What? Just giving the prick a taste of his own medicine. Remember the way he used to ridicule you?”
