Page 36 of Small Town Boy

“I was trying to make conversation, that’s all.” She holds up her hands in surrender. “I was warned that you’re notoriously secretive.”

“So you’ve been talking about me?”

“Ah, er…no.” She shakes her head, flustered, her cheeks turning pink. Busted.

“I’m not secretive. But like I told you last night, I don’t feel the need to kiss and tell.”

With the mention of last night, the pink in her cheeks deepens. It’s adorable, and I wonder what else I can say to make that happen.

“And speaking of last night,” I continue. Her eyes go wide and she swallows hard, letting me know exactly where her mind went. The same place mine hung out all night long. But that’s not what this is about. “You didn’t drink.”

“I had a Diet Coke.”

“That you brought with you and then nursed all night. You also had lemonade last week at Pour Decisions. Are you not a beer gal, or…”

She’s silent for a moment, her face turning serious. I give her the space she needs, not wanting to push her for an answer.

“I don’t drink.”

“At all? Ever?”

“Water. Tea. Life elixir. But not alcohol.”

“Noted.”

“Not going to ask why?”

“Do you want to share why?”

“You did say we were being nosy. And when most people find out, that’s immediately their next question.”

“I’m not most people.”

Bronwyn sighs, her whole body relaxing as she leans back against the booth. “No kidding, Noel Keller.” She pauses, then looks up at me, her eyes locking with mine. “I told you that I lost my parents in a car accident. Well, that’s how. They were killed by a drunk driver.”

My heart sinks, my stomach rolling. Her voice is steady, but the pain is as clear as day in her body language. I try and find the words to say, but sorry doesn’t seem like enough. It’s a pain I can’t imagine, and I won’t pretend like I can.

“I wasn’t there, and it wasn’t as if alcohol had caused them to crash, but…every time I had a drink after that, it was all I could think about.”

“Then no more drinking.”

“Oh, no. I don’t mind if others want to. I just choose to not.”

“Honey, when we’re together, if you’re not drinking, I’m not drinking.”

“I don’t understand you at all.”

“It’s called respect. And being a gentleman. Which also means, I’m picking up the tab.”

I wink at her, earning me another giggle. She sits back again, watching me as I signal to Dolly, who brings us our bill and clears our plates. As much as I want to spend the rest of the day sitting here talking to Bronwyn, I know I can’t. I’m sure she has things to do. Just like I do.

Still, I’m going to try to drag this out a little longer.

“Where did you park? I’ll walk you to your car,” I say as we exit Dolly’s.

“I walked. It wasn’t that far.”

“Then I’ll walk you home.”