Page 74 of Small Town Boy

“It’s none of my business, but…know what I think?”

“Of course. And if it has to do with me and my life, it’s absolutely your business, Honey.”

“I think you should keep the…the formula, or whatever you call it, for yourself. Don’t sell to Gus.”

I take a step back, surprised by her answer. Not because I thought she’d automatically side with Hayes, but because I didn’t think she’d care at all. The fact that she has an opinion at all has my interest piqued though.

“Hear me out,” she says, rushing to explain. “Yes, I’m sure the offer from Gus is a good one. A damn good one. Like, life changing good. I haven’t been at Hayes all that long, but I’ve been there long enough to know that’s how it would work. And that the Hayes family loves and respects this town and its people so they wouldn’t do anything to screw anyone. And I’m sure that money would be great to have. But…”

She trails off, like she’s afraid she’s already said too much.

“But…”

“But…you talk about how your dream is the family business. Businesses. How you want to grow both the nursery and the landscaping side of things. Pass it on to the next generation of Kellers. And…I just think this spray is your way of doing that. Of having something to pass on. Something other than money.”

Her words hit home, my heart squeezing at her sentiment. I have talked about that. Lots. About wanting all that and more.

“This…” she continues, “this is your something. Keep it for the Kellers. So that generations of Kellers can use it to maintain this town that you love and help the people in it. And, if you ever want to develop it to make it a commercial product, you can, but then it’s still yours.”

“I figured out the basics, but I don’t think I could it do on a mass level.”

“Camden is a chemistry guy, isn’t he? Could always ask him.”

She has a point. After all, Camden secretly developed a poop-eating kitty litter and sold that formula for millions of dollars. He could easily help us with this.

“And not to be too presumptuous here, but you do also have a branding and marketing expert in your back pocket to help with a name and all that. We could call it Keller Weed, instead of killer weed and⁠—”

Wrapping an arm around her, I yank her into me and kiss her hard. She whimpers, my efforts catching her off guard.

“Be as presumptuous as you like, Honey. I already told you, we’re in this together,” I say, holding back the part that I have every intention of making her a Keller. I’m not quite ready to say those words out loud—no matter how often I think them. Bronwyn’s also not quite ready to hear them.

“Then my vote is not selling. Just don’t tell Gus that was my vote.”

“Secret’s safe with me.”

I kiss her again, dragging it out, getting lost in her. She surprises me every day, making me fall harder and harder. I have no idea what I did to get so lucky.

Snuggling into me more, Bronwyn sighs. I can’t tell if it’s because she’s cold, or if she’s just after those cuddles she negotiated for earlier. Ones she’s certainly earned.

“About time I got you home. I got something to show you there too.”

Giggling, she pulls back, taking my hand and starting us back on our journey. “I believe you also promised that I’d be screaming your name.”

“Oh, you will be.”

21

BRONWYN

The buzz in my back pocket does little to distract me from my purpose as I speedwalk into Hickory Hills drugstore. I am on a mission.

I’m already running behind, since my meeting with Ewan went a lot longer than expected. I’m positive that if I look at my phone, I’ll find a barrage of messages in the group text I’ve been added to, asking about my whereabouts. All I have to do is run this one errand—one that shouldn’t take that long—and then I can meet the girls over at Oh, My Lard!

Another series of rapid-fire buzzing stops me in the middle of the cold and flu aisle though. I whip out my phone, shocked to see 27 new messages. Goodness. I don’t bother scrolling all the way up, focusing on the last one from Willa.

Willa

You are still coming right?