Page 65 of Small Town Boy

“You’ve never seen snow?” I almost choke on the bite I’m trying to swallow.

Noel shakes his head. “Not really. This is Georgia. It doesn’t snow here, at least not in this part of the state. North of Atlanta they might get a little every now and again, but even there the world shuts down since we don’t have the equipment to handle it. But here in Hickory Hills, I can’t remember ever getting any. Ice, now that we get. But snow…”

I sit back, my head reeling. I’ve never lived anywhere where it doesn’t snow, and in this moment, that’s a hard concept to wrap my head around. Truthfully, it should have registered—after all, it’s the middle of November and I still only need a light jacket outside. Yet, I didn’t put two and two together, and it never occurred to me that it wouldn’t snow down here. Talk about taking something for granted.

“I just blew your mind, didn’t I?” he asks.

“Kinda,” I admit. “When I took the job and committed to moving to Georgia, my thoughts were all about how hot the summers were going to be. I didn’t think about how hot the winters would be.”

“Don’t worry, it’ll be plenty cold. Maybe not cold like you’re used to, but still cold enough that you’ll need someone to keep you warm.”

“Know of anyone? Might be nice to get that nailed down. Thanksgiving is coming up, so I’m kinda running out of time.”

“I think I know a guy.” He winks, my insides going gooey. “He’s very interested in you. So much so, his mama would like to have you over for dinner.”

I gulp. The Kellers wants to have me over for dinner? Oh boy. This is a first. On many levels. I’ve never done the meet the parents thing—at least not as an adult. Sure, I’ve technically already met Mr. and Mrs. Keller at the farmers’ market, and seen them around town once or twice and said hello. But that’s different. That’s not family dinner.

“You went quiet.”

“I…I…” Sucking in a deep breath, I put my fork down and look Noel in the eyes. There’s nothing I can’t share with him, this included. “The idea of having dinner with your family as…well, it makes me kind of nervous, that’s all.”

“As…”

“You know.” I wave my hand around, a weird gesture for him to fill in the blank.

“As my girlfriend?”

Whoop—there it is. That word I’ve been avoiding, even in my head. We’ve spent time together pretty much every day since The Giddy Up, not to mention texted throughout the day, so using such a word would not be illogical. But we haven’t labeled anything, which on one level is nice. On another, it makes moments like this extra weird since there isn’t an agreed upon term.

“If that’s the word you want to use.”

“It’s the one I’ve been using.”

My heart stops. Well, fuck.

A goofy grin takes over, an unstoppable giggle bubbling up like I’m some thirteen-year-old who just met her favorite boy band. Apparently, that’s who I am now.

Regaining my composure—although only barely—I continue. “Then, yes, dinner with the family as your girlfriend makes me a bit nervous.”

“Exactly why you need to come over for dinner then, so that you’re not nervous. You’re part of the family.”

Part of the family.

I don’t know if Noel has any idea how much those words mean. That as someone who’s been on her own for so long, the idea of being part of a family sounds like heaven. I don’t want to bring that up now though, because it will only lead to tears.

“Just let me know what day then. It’s a bit of a busy week. With Thanksgiving and the Gobble Wobble next week, we have a bunch of last-minute planning. Plus, I finally got Ewan on my calendar to start talking about branding stuff. Which is going to be interesting, since he insists that the name The Booby Trap stays. I think it sounds like a strip club rather than a bait and tackle store.”

“Pretty sure that’s the joke.”

“I’m almost positive it is. Willa said it has to do with some girl…I can’t think of her name.”

“Maisey Phillips. Daughter of the Fire Chief, granddaughter of Mrs. Phillips. Cousin to Dolly.”

“Ohhhhhh.” Well, that adds a new layer to it. “Willa said there was a whole story, but she hasn’t told me yet.”

“There usually is a story. That’s how small towns work.”

“So I’m discovering.”