Page 86 of Small Town Boy

Bronwyn huffs—half laugh, half scoff—shaking her head. “Not so beautiful at the moment.”

“You are to me.”

That earns me a smile. And a playful shove.

“Smooth.”

“It’s the truth, Honey.”

She scoff-laughs again, turning her gaze to our laps and hanging her head. I slip a finger under her chin, lifting it up until our eyes meet, and press a soft kiss to her lips. She sighs—this time I hear it loud and clear—her shoulders slumping, hands gripping into my arms.

“Your family isn’t going to be offended, right?” she asks, her fingers moving to the buttons on my shirt.

“We’re a little more worried that we offended you.”

Shaking her head, she looks down again, watching her finger circle a button. “It was a weird day.”

“How so?”

“I told the girls about Marie.” The words tumble out of her so fast they’re almost hard to process. Looking up at me, she swallows hard, and all I can think is holy shit. I keep that comment to myself though, letting her continue, everything starting to flow even faster now. “I didn’t plan on it. The conversation just…devolved. And I still kind of feel like I hijacked the moment, because it was supposed to be about Kenzie and picking out her wedding cake and there I am spilling my guts about why I don’t trust people and how I feel about you and how I was freaking out inside. And after what Mrs. Burch and Mrs. Chamberlain said and⁠—”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” I cut her off, hands gripping her hips and sliding her closer. “What you do you mean ‘after what Mrs. Burch and Mrs. Chamberlain said’?”

Tears reappear in Bronwyn’s eyes, her harsh, ragged intake slicing through the air. I can already feel my pulse starting to rise, and not in a good way, and she hasn’t even told me yet. But I know those two and I can only imagine.

“I had to run into the pharmacy to pick up a prescription, and I overheard them chatting with Mr. Hovland behind the counter. Talking about us.”

“Us…”

Bronwyn nods. “Yeah. About how I’m not who they really saw you with. That you needed someone who would understand you better. Someone southern. Someone like Brenna Rawlins.”

“Brenna Rawlins? I haven’t see her in…” I think for a moment, trying to remember the last time I saw Brenna. It’s been so fucking long that I couldn’t even tell you. “In I don’t know how long. Years. Many, many years.”

“Apparently she’s back, whoever she is. Or coming back soon. And that’s who they see you with. So they are hoping that you get me out of your system soon, so you can find a nice southern girl to have babies with.”

A nice southern girl to have babies with…for Christ’s sake…

I take a deep breath, trying not to let this get to me. I shouldn’t be surprised—and frankly, I’m not. That’s exactly the kind of conversation one would expect from the co-captains of the town’s rumor mill. They’ve been talking like that about all of us for years. And our parents before us. I’m used to it. I learned to ignore all that nonsense years ago. Bronwyn, however, is new to small-town politics and gossip. That’s not something she ever should have had to hear.

“Honey, I don’t want Brenna Rawlins. I want you.”

Sucking in her lips again, she returns her focus to the button on my shirt, her nerves clearly needing something to fidget with.

“But that’s what you want—maybe not Brenna specifically, but that whole deal. Nice southern girl, settle down, babies…you told me all that.”

I nod. Sure, that’s the dream, but there are a few points Bronwyn has wrong.

“First off, I said a nice girl, nothin’ about her having to be southern. Just like I told you I already found her. Sure ’nuff, she happens to be a Yankee. Bit of a surprise, I’ll admit, but nothing I can’t handle.” Bronwyn smiles, lighting up my insides. “And she and I will get to the settling down part. I’m sure of it. That was kinda what I was hoping tonight was the start of, with introducing her to the whole family.”

“And babies?”

“If said nice girl and I decide they’re in our future, then yes. Hell yes, actually. But if we decide they aren’t, then I’ll be perfectly happy knowing that she’s by my side. Being my best friend, lover, and partner, helping me take over the world, one landscaped yard at a time.”

“You make it sound so easy.”

“It is easy. You and me, that’s it. No one else matters. Just us. Ride or die.”

“Yeah, I’m not really a ride or die kind of gal. I have questions. Usually concerning snacks and bathroom breaks.”