Page 92 of Small Town Boy

My new home.

It still feels surreal to think that. Only a few months ago, my life seemed like it was on the verge of falling apart. Now it feels like it’s on the verge of taking off. In a good way.

The noise level picks up as more and more people start to arrive. A quick glance over to check-in assures me that Kenzie and Sylvie have everything covered, just as they said they would. The small stage behind them is almost set up for Dustin’s mini concert that he agreed to. A quick five songs to help drum up some extra donations and give the town some bragging rights about their homegrown star.

Noel catches my eye as he walks across the stage, winking at me. I smile, my cheeks heating up, the flirty little move giving me all the warm fuzzies. The fact that he’s mine is one more item for the surreal list. Jumping off the stage, he makes his way toward me, wrapping me in a bear hug and kissing me.

“Hi Honey,” he greets, still squeezing me. The warmth of his body is welcoming, and I rest my head against his chest. “You have nothing to worry about. This is gonna be great.”

“I’m fine,” I lie, keeping my cheek pressed against him. His hard chest combined with the softness of his Henley and strength of the arms enveloping me is a place I never want to leave. A salve I didn’t realize I needed.

“Liar. I can feel it in your cute little body pressed against me, and can hear it in your breathing.”

Damn it. Why does he have to know me so well?

I pull back, just enough to look to my left and right, and then back up at him. “What if something goes wrong?”

“Then we’ll deal with it.”

He’s so calm and confident, and I wish I could borrow some of that. Because my insides are the exact opposite. Leaning down, he kisses me again, this time for longer, letting it linger.

“Now, I need to go, because there is still some heavy lifting that needs to be done, and that’s what my girlfriend put me in charge of…the heavy lifting.”

I laugh. He’s not wrong, but the way he says it makes it so I can’t hold back. “I certainly wasn’t going to do the heavy lifting.”

Noel squeezes me tighter, an impish smile on his face. “Never again, Honey. Never again.”

Another quick kiss and he’s off, leaving me feeling like I’m walking on the clouds. At least until I turn around.

Suddenly, I feel like every eye in Hickory Hills is on me. Each and every one of them is judging me too. Especially Mrs. Burch, who isn’t bothering to hide her staring as she sips her coffee.

Where’s Camden? He’s on Mrs. Burch control, and I could really use him right about now.

“Ready? All my brothers are out at their checkpoints so that no one gets lost on the route,” Willa says, taking my hand. “Camden and Winston are all suited up to be the designated back of the bus sweep, which is good, because Winston is the laziest dog I’ve ever met, and a 5K is probably more exercise than he’s seen in years, so they will not be movin’ all that fast.”

I laugh, knowing she’s right. Sylvie and Camden’s dog is adorable, his bow tie always in order, but he is lazy. When Camden said he was going to bring Winston to walk the route with him, we were all a little surprised.

“Nash knows he’s on cone duty, right? I mean, I know he does; I reminded him again this morning, but I promised Chief Myers that the cones would be gone before nine.”

“If you reminded him, I’m sure he does, but I’ll make sure it’s clear. And don’t worry about Chief Myers. Hickory Hills does not become a bustling metropolis with major traffic concerns, just because it’s a holiday. The six extra cars in town aren’t going to be thrown by a few traffic cones.”

“Still…”

“I know. But Bronwyn, you have created the perfect event. The 5K, the breakfast spread from Dolly’s, a performance from Dustin—it’s everything this town loves. Take a minute and be proud of yourself. And I do just mean a minute, because that’s about all you’re gonna get once Daddy shoots that gun off. The boy cousins and their stupid long legs will be back here in a blink.”

I look over at the starting line and see all four of Kenzie’s cousins—Ezra, Atlas, Landon, and Zachary—stretching as if they’re about to run the Olympics. A crowd mills behind them, less intense looking, but also in various stages of prepping. Which means it’s go time.

Moments later, once we’ve ushered everyone to the starting line and given a quick welcome, Auggie Hayes fires the starting gun, and they’re off. As expected, a handful take off at full speed, ready to prove their dominance, while most everyone else moves at their more normal pace—or slower. Camden and Winston are walking so leisurely I start to wonder if they’ll finish the race at all.

I look down at my watch, figuring I have between fifteen and twenty minutes before the first participants are back. It doesn’t give me much time, but will allow for a refill of tea, so I head over to the coffee table.

“Bronwyn, how are you this morning?” Mrs. Burch asks as I rip open a new tea bag. She watches me carefully, no doubt making notes in her head about what she can share with her little crew. I can’t imagine how exciting my morning beverage habits are, but I’m sure she’ll find something. “What, no sugar for your tea?”

And there we are.

“I’m good. And nope, I prefer my tea to taste like tea.”

“No sweet tea…” she tsks, as if she’s adding it to my list of offenses. Which, let’s not lie, she probably is.