Page 101 of Where Roads Lead

“I’d like my kid,” he said gruffly. “That’s all that matters.”

“You would have a kid?” I asked, nearly giggling at the idea. “I can’t picture that.”

He stared at me in offense.

“Why not?”

“Well,” I shifted till I was sitting on my knees, “you just like being alone so much. And you don’t seem to like people very much.”

“Once again, I’d like my people.”

“Your people?” I inquired noisily.

“Yeah,” he said uncomfortably. “My wife and my kids…” He trailed off, returning his attention to the television.

Will’s wife, I mused, what on earth type of woman would that be?

And why did I already resent the image that my mind conjured up at the thought?

I opened my mouth to offer some deflective comment, attempting to distract myself from whatever the strange feeling arising in me was, when a decidedly real knock at the door stole my attention.

“I’ll get it!” I called, grabbing the bowl of candy hastily enough to let a few pieces spill out the sides.

I threw open the door, revealing not only an orange sky and rapidly setting sun, but a mother and son duo waiting eagerly for just what I’d hoped.

“Trick or treat,” greeted the little cowboy through a lispy voice.

“Happy Halloween!” I held out the candy bowl toward his eager hands, knowing I’d let him take every last piece on account of how adorable he was.

“Just one, Luca,” his mother warned, before smiling warmly in my direction. “Hi, we haven’t met yet, but I heard someone had rented Mr. Briggs’s house.”

“It’s nice to meet you. I’m—”

“Will?” The mother looked just over my shoulder, eyes widening in recognition at the man who stood beside me.

“Oh, hey, Kris,” he said, equally surprised to see her there.

“You two know each other?” I asked stupidly, staring between them.

Of course they do. I scolded myself. Unless they somehow both possess the gift of telepathy that allowed them to silently introduce themselves to each other.

“We went to high school together,” Will filled me in.

“And middle school…and elementary school…and pre-school…” She trailed off before holding a hand up as if to confer with me in confidence. “I used to have a huge crush on him.”

Of course she did, I thought, remembering the way I myself had nearly fawned over him not even a half hour earlier. Apparently, no one was immune to the grumpy charms of Will Hughes and his stupid forearms.

I forced my face to remain neutral before turning to see his reaction. When I noticed only a grimace, as if the attention embarrassed him, I breathed an internal sigh of relief.

“Sorry.” Kris laughed. “I hope you don’t take offense to it. It was a long time ago, and from what I hear, you guys are really happy together. I’m really happy for you, Will,” she said with an air of genuinity that made me feel stupid for a momentary burst of jealousy over her high-school crush.

“Oh, we’re not—” I started before Will’s comment made me pause.

“Give it up,” he whispered, only to me. “It’s what the entire town already thinks.”

I shut my mouth, agreeing it was pointless to reason away a rumor that the entire town was hellbent on believing.

“Anyway, it was good to see you. And nice to meet you…” She trailed off, realizing she hadn’t caught my name.