"So, Kyle, tell me about Hick-lam." I don't mean to emphasize the 'hick' part, but as we're driving through nowhere, it seems to fit.
"I think you mean Hick-lame. That's what we like to call it. I can never figure out why people want to come here. I've spent my whole life trying to get out."
"Why didn't you?"
He shrugs. "My two best friends are Grayson and Drew. Not to mention Joe." He says those names like they're supposed to mean something to me.
"And?"
"Well, Grayson's got the theater. He left for a while, sort of, but was always coming back. I think I knew he'd never leave The Edison. Joe's family owns the autobody shop in town. And Drew's dad is the police chief, so you know he's never going to go anywhere. Plus Drew and Tina are getting married at the end of summer. Ain't never gonna leave now."
"And?" I'm still failing to make the connection.
"Where would I go? What would I do? Who would I do it with? Us four have been together since we were little. I can't split up the band."
Though I realize he's talking in metaphors, I know what happens when the actual band—who are the only family you've ever really had—splits up. "Yeah, I get it. How do you think I ended up with her?" I catch Kyle's eyes in the rearview mirror as I nod toward Paisley. "The band breaks up, and suddenly you're mooing at cows in the middle of nowhere."
His ears turn bright red as his gaze drops back to the road.
I decide to let him off the hook. "The theater's good, though. Right?"
Please say right.
He shrugs again. "I guess some people like that sort of thing. It keeps the town afloat. Plus, there's always new faces floating through. It's the only thing that makes Hicklam bearable. Every summer, there's a hot new cast, as well as people in town for the shows. Keeps me busy." He looks at me in the rearview mirror and waggles his eyebrows.
Is he coming on to me? Um, he's so not my type. Or what used to be my type. Do I even have a type anymore?
Australian.
"Oh, uh, yeah. So, tell me everything you know about Henderson. I mean I know he's Australian and …" I trail off before I can add something mortifying like "a generous lover" to that statement.
"Yeah, he doesn't really like me. I try to steer clear."
"Why doesn't he like you?" I wonder if Kyle swooped in and stole his woman or something interesting like that.
Kyle lets out a long sigh. "The man is all work and no play."
I wouldn't saynoplay.
"You think?" I try to keep my face even. Never too early to work on those acting skills I'm gonna need soon.
"Totally. He eats, sleeps, and breathes The Edison when he's here. He never has any fun. And he certainly doesn't appreciate that I do, if you know what I mean."
If Kyle were any more blunt, he'd be a Mack truck.
"I think he's jealous that the ladies like me."
"I thought Henderson didn't date people he works with."
"Yeah, that's what he says, but he's just afraid of striking out. The man has a complex or something. So he plays it off. Truth is, he probably couldn't land any of the cast if he tried. He's got no game. Not that it matters anyway. Henderson has laser-like focus. And he'll never stray away from his position that work and play don't mix."
We'll see about that.
Chapter 24: Henderson
"Y
ou sentKyleto pick her up?" Bloody hell.
