Page 64 of Blue Jeans in Low Beams

Looking as proud as ever, Jack Keller stands tall, smiling brightly as he leans back against the table, hands buried in his apron. “Auggie told us you graduated with honors from pharmacy school. Congratulations.”

“Thank you,” I say again, unable to stop my cheeks from heating up this time. “I’m just happy school’s done with.”

“I’m sure I’m only the hundredth person who’s asked, and no pressure, but…any idea what’s next?”

Before I can answer, Milo is pulling me back into him, same as he did while we were talking with Anton. However, this time it feels different. Before it was protective. Like he was putting himself between me and any more projectiles. Now it feels…possessive, yet casual. Like he’s staking his claim, but that it’s one that everyone already knows about and no one is about to challenge. And based on the look on Mr. Keller’s face, that’s exactly what’s happening. He’s not questioning this at all.

So I don’t either.

“I have a couple of possibilities. I actually heard from this company based out of Savannah that my advisor put me in touch with yesterday, so we’ll see what happens. Have to pass the boards first.”

Milo flinches slightly, but doesn’t say anything. A pang hits me, and this time I know it’s guilt. He’s asked about whether or not I’ve heard from The Well Nest a couple of times since I first mentioned them after graduation, so it would have made sense to say something after getting the email. All my mixed feelings about it, though, left me so unsure about what to say that saying nothing seemed to be the best option.

“You’ve got this! You’ve always been a smart cookie, understanding how it all came together. I remember when you were really little, couldn’t have been more than three or four, we had a shipment of manure delivered from the Russell horse farm to spread in the flower beds, and you asked in your cute little kid voice why we had all this horse poop.”

Mr. Keller starts to laugh, pausing to catch his breath. His pause gives me a moment to realize where he’s taking this, fear rising in me. Oh shit—literally. Please don’t let him tell this story. Not in front of Milo.

“And we explained that it helped fertilize. Well, you put two and two together really quick and went right out to where we had just planted the camellias, pulled down your drawers, and⁠—”

“Oh, sorry, Mr. Keller, but it’s getting late and Milo’s gotta go open the bar!” I shout, panic pouring out of me like water out of Niagara Falls.

I grab Milo’s hand, dragging him away from the Kellers’ booth, not giving his father’s best friend a chance to elaborate any more. I take back what I said about thinking that maybe staying in Hickory Hills is a good idea. Right now, getting as far away from the people who have known me since I was young enough to do embarrassing things like personally fertilize the camellias seems like a really great idea.

“Whoa there, killer,” Milo says, slowing us down as we reach the parking lot between the library and church. The lot is packed, half the town and then some having squeezed their cars in here, giving us the perfect place to hide while I ride out my horror. “There a bee in your bonnet?”

“Ha ha,” I sneer. “I can’t believe he went there.”

Milo chuckles, looping an arm around my waist and tugging me into him until my torso is flush with his. I relax into him, slipping my arms around his neck, choosing to focus on what he’s making me feel rather than what I was running from. Because goodness knows, nothing compares to this.

Absolutely nothing.

“I was actually there for that story, so I got to witness that firsthand.”

Uggggh…

“You’re not making this any better…”

Tightening his grip, he leans in, dipping his head so that his lips are so close to mine that his breath tickles my skin. He’s a whisper away, yet so far that I want to scream.

“That’s not even close to the worst story Jack Keller could tell. Pretty sure he’s got some about me that might make you reconsider even talking to me.”

Doubtful…

“Yeah, right…”

“Maybe I’ll tell you sometime. But for now…” he trails off, leaning in a little more. Everything in me screams for him to continue to lean in, to close the gap completely, to give me exactly what I want. “I think I’ll just do this.”

Firm but gentle lips press against mine, taking over the moment. I swoon, my knees wobbling as I return the kiss, wanting nothing more than to get lost in him. I savor the uniquely spicy taste that is Milo. The one that I know will linger on my tongue for the rest of the day, leaving me wanting more. Wanting him.

I try to deepen the kiss, but Milo pulls back. My heart stops, but only for a second as I realize why. His phone is ringing.

Milo looks down, sucking in a hard breath through his teeth. That can only mean one thing.

Brandt’s calling.

Nice timing, big brother…

“I’ll call him back.” Hitting the ignore button, Milo slides his phone back in his pocket. “Now, where were we?”