Page 107 of Blue Jeans in Low Beams

I was just very careful with my words…

“She did,” he clarifies. Reaching into his back pocket, he pulls out his phone, flipping to something, then turning to show me. It’s a picture of her and me, from the farmers’ market that morning, and my heart plummets. “I asked her about it, and she told me that this was nothing, Anton had thrown a peach at you.”

“That wasn’t a lie; he did.” Brandt glares at me. “But, it’s also what you think it is.” I own it. I need to. He deserves that.

“I planned on asking you too, but you stopped answering my calls.”

Yup, did that too. Mostly so I didn’t lie. I nod, acknowledging the fact that my actions don’t mean I’m not a jackass, just a different kind of one.

“Not my usual style, but in this case, avoidance was definitely easier.”

“You didn’t think you could tell me?” he asks. “Couldn’t have shot me a text being like dude, can we talk? Or even a taking your sister on a date!”

“Cause if I had sent you a text saying that I was taking your sister on a date, you would have just sent me a thumbs-up?”

Brandt casually lifts the shoulder closest to me. “I probably wouldn’t have taken it seriously.”

“Sneaking and hiding were never my intention. Ask anyone. This whole damn town has seen us. Truth be told, I’m a little surprised you only got the one picture.”

Hell, if I’m honest with myself, part of me thinks I was waiting on the legendary Hickory Hills rumor mill to tell him so I didn’t have to. Save me the trouble.

Then again, I was avoiding his calls…

“Clearly they’re falling down on the job. Someone better tell Hattie Burch.”

“Or not,” I correct him. “We all might be better off if this is the beginning of the end of the rumor mill.”

Silence falls over us, the rustle of the leaves from the late summer breeze filling the empty space. I’m not sure what else there is to say.

“You’re too old for her.”

“Yup.”

“And you suck at relationships.”

“She makes me want to be better at them. Also cliché, but still true.”

“And she has the whole world at her feet. The chance to go do whatever she wants and be successful and…and…”

“And you think I don’t know that?” I cut him off.

He’s making every point I’ve made all summer. If there’s anyone who knows these arguments, it’s me.

I pop up to my feet, starting to pace.

“You think that I haven’t been warring with myself over this? Brandt, the last thing I want is to be what holds her back.” He opens his mouth to argue with me, but I stop him. “Yes, I know I said I want to spend the rest of my life looking out for her. But part of that is looking out for her best interest. And not letting her make a choice that she is going to regret.”

He looks up at me, studying me. “I don’t want her to be⁠—”

“Bryce, I know. But I’d like to think I’m at least two steps up from Topher, thank you.”

That earns me a laugh. A real laugh.

“You are. More than two.”

“Good. And believe it or not, Brenna has a number of options for her future, including a real opportunity here in town. A really fucking good one from the sounds of it.”

“Seriously?”