Page 94 of Small Town Boy

I hold my breath, waiting for his answer. I know it, but still, the anticipation gnaws at me. I want to hear him say it.

Instead, he continues to rummage, letting it hang in the air. A long moment later, he grabs something, holding it up, then turns back to Mrs. Chamberlain.

“Yes, I do. Pretty sure you know that.”

“I do, I do. Which is why there is someone I want to introduce you to.”

Someone she wants to introduce him to? Who could that possibly be—there are fifty-seven people in this town, and they all know each other.

But that’s not the part that gets me. Nor is it the fact that I’ve stood here, in plain view, for this whole conversation, and neither of them have noticed me. Neither of those things are what reaches into me and rips my heart straight out. That comes when Noel nods, not seeming to care that the town’s math teacher is trying to set him up.

“Just let me get this to Dustin first.”

All the air disappears from the atmosphere, my lungs feeling like they’re going to collapse on themselves. I don’t care that I’m standing outside in a field; there’s no more oxygen. Nothing. Everything in me hurts. Most of all my heart. Because there’s no way I mean what I think—thought—I do to him if he’s so nonchalant about being introduced to someone else.

So much for ride or die.

I try to back away, but my feet are frozen. I can’t move. All I can do is stand here, tears slowly rolling down my face as it all falls apart around me.

I want to try and tell myself to stop being dramatic. That I need to be the strong woman that I am. But my heart hurts too much. It’s all too reminiscent of before. My work being credited to someone else. No one believing in me. No one willing to fight for me.

This is what I get for trusting again. The world had given me the lesson I needed in that area, and I didn’t listen. Shame on me. Getting burned again is what I deserve.

“Bronwyn.”

Noel’s voice is loud, clear, and full of concern. I blink, more tears spilling out as he rushes toward me. I still can’t move, so he reaches me in only a few steps, hands immediately grabbing ahold of my arms as he gives me a once-over.

“Are you hurt? What’s the matter?”

I look up at him, trying to articulate all the hurt I feel. It all feels so weird, like it’s not real and that I’m crazy for thinking it is.

“Everything.”

“Everything?”

“Everything.”

The crowd cheers, and the pop of the confetti cannon fills the air. The first runners are back. I should go see to that. Make sure that everything is flowing the way it should. I just need to push down the hurt.

“Bronwyn, tell me what’s going on,” Noel demands. “Did someone say something?”

“You…”

I stop myself, not knowing whether it’s hurt or anger that I want to let out. Sucking in a deep breath, I swipe away the tears, looking back at the man I love. Love. The switch flips in me and immediately I know—it’s hurt. It’s betrayal.

I shrug Noel off and turn away, finding my legs again. I hurry away, not able to have this conversation right now. I have a job to do. That’s why I moved here, and that’s what I need to focus on. Not some small-town boy.

“Bronwyn!” Noel catches up to me, running in front of me and stopping me. “Tell me what’s going on. Tell me what I did.”

“Do you really not know?” I snap.

“Clearly, if I’m asking!”

I stomp my foot, the anger overtaking the betrayal. “You were going to let the woman who is very clearly trying to break us up, set you up with someone else. While I stood there!”

“That’s not what happened.”

“Noel, I was there. I know what I saw. And now, I need to go.”