AllFreeNovel
Share Us
There’s already a notable difference from when I first arrived, the lawn neatly trimmed and the pile of old shingles gone. Kyle finished clearing them after we got back from urgent care despite me telling him it was a bad idea. At least he remembered to wear both gloves to avoid further injury.
“Piper?”
“Yeah?” I glance over.
“You look really nice.”
My heartbeat thunders in my ears as our eyes connect and the compliment registers, the truck’s cab too small to contain the awareness humming between us.
I swallow, then clear my throat. “Thanks.”
The radio plays quietly as Kyle drives down the road.
It’s not one of his songs—or at least, I don’t think it is. I was surprised I recognized his song when it came on the radio on our way home from Wagon Wheel. For years, I’d done an excellent job at avoiding anything related to him. Since I arrived, I’ve been tempted more than once to listen to some of his music. I thought it might give me some needed insight into his career. Into him. But I haven’t, and I’m not really sure why.
I guess, at a certain point, I unconsciously decided I wanted to learn anything about Kyle directlyfromhim.
Oak Grove’s town website boasted this fair asthe event of the summer, and I’m not disappointed. It’s a spectacle; hundreds of cars are parked in rows as Kyle turns off the road onto flattened grass.
And this is the turnout early in the evening.
Dusk is only just beginning to darken the sky.
We follow the crowds through the front gates and emerge into even more chaos. Running kids, sauntering teenagers, ambling adults.
I trail after Kyle since he seems reasonably certain of where he’s going. Sure enough, I spot the group of his friends up ahead by one of the many food trucks. The smell of buttered popcorn and fried dough wafts through the air as we walk.
Everyone greets me warmly, although not as enthusiastically as they welcome Kyle. Julia and Ella give me hugs, and Tommy tips the cowboy hat he’s wearing my way. But I don’t miss the few curious looks getting tossed around that suggest they’re all surprised I’m here. That I’mstillhere.
And the surprise is mutual when they all move on quickly, leaving me and Kyle standing alone.
“I thought they liked me alittlemore than that,” I say, attempting to cover up my uncertainty with humor.
“It’s not you; it’s me,” he replies. “I told everyone I wanted some time alone before performing. Been a minute since I was up onstage.”
“Oh.” I glance around, trying to figure out where I should go. “Got it. I’ll just—”
“I didn’t mean you.”
I nod slowly, not sure what to say.Thanks?
I settle on, “This is…fun.” I go to shove my hands in my pockets, then realize my dress doesn’t have pockets and end up awkwardly patting cotton.
One corner of Kyle’s mouth lifts in what couldalmostbe considered a smile.
It’s soft and slow, and it wreaks havoc on my insides. I’m also immensely relieved to see it.
The quiet, introspective mood he’s in is throwing me off. I thought we’d broken through a little of the barrier. That we were making progress. That we were friends-adjacent—or at least past having uncomfortable moments around each other. His serious expression and detachment feels like two steps back from any progress.
“Glad you’re enjoying yourself.”
I blame Carl’s call for the next sentence that comes out of my mouth.
“Would be even better if you signed the new contract.”
Kyle’s jaw flexes. I catch the movement out of the corner of my eye, and something twists and tightens in my stomach in response to his reaction.
I’m sure he has reasons for leaving music. Good ones, according to Mabel. But it isn’t my job to care what those are. And it’s feeling more and more necessary to remind myself exactly why I’m here. The more time I spend around Kyle, the easier it is to pretend I’m in Texas for reasons that have nothing to do with my job.
