Page 37 of Where Roads Lead

“I got a C in science, but we can definitely try.” He grinned.

“I’ll look forward to it,” I told him with a solemn nod. “Nice to meet you.”

“Yeah, you too,” he returned enthusiastically. “I guess I’ll see you around?”

“Seems unavoidable, since we’re neighbors and all.”

He laughed, and I felt like an utterly normal person again, engaging in slightly flirtatious banner with a cute, friendly guy.

This was the whole reason I had to leave home. I couldn’t have this type of anonymity there. Here, I was free. No labels. No lingering looks of sympathy from everyone who knew my business.

It was a relief.

“Hopefully you won’t try,” he said and then turned to Ava. “Bye, Aves.”

“Bye, Theo,” she said, smiling wide.

“He’s cute, huh?” Ava said, eyeing me with a look of comaraderie.

I nodded, because he was and because it seemed she so badly wanted me to agree, and I really needed a friend in town.

“I think you guys would really hit it off.”

The idea excited her so much, I couldn’t help but agree.

And somehow, that was all it took to smoothe over whatever unspoken barrier existed between us.

Who knew, I thought with a smile, that the way to Ava’s heart was through flirting with random men?

Chapter Eleven

Will

Theo Barnes was a decent enough guy.

We got together on weekends, drank some beer, went camping every once in a while. And he was one of the few people in town who didn’t feel obligated to fill a beat of silence with nonsensical chatter.

So, I guess by extension, it meant he was my ‘best friend.’ I didn’t really like labels. I wasn’t eight. But that was the role he filled in my life, for all intents and purposes.

Which meant, when we were kicking back on the couch, watching the game and drinking Budweiser, he usually didn’t say anything to piss me off.

But there was a first time for everything.

“Hey, did you know there’s a new girl in town?”

I sat up straighter, taking a long sip of my beer.

“Yeah,” I said, and then, realizing he needed more than a syllable, added, “I’ve run into her a few times.”

He was focused on the television, but I was suddenly alert.

“Why?”

“What?” he said, still attuned to the game.

“Why are you asking about her?”

“I ran into her at the hardware store today,” he said casually, still not looking at me. “With Ava of all people.”