Page 81 of Teach Me How

He won’t move. I always knew that to be the case. There is an alternative. Another option. I could pass on the job. Stay in Silver Bend with him.

I try to picture it. We’d fix up the home place. Join the alumni association. I’d give him a few sons so that he can pass that double-edged sword on to the next generation. It’s a life that would come at a cost, but I’d also get to wake up next to him every morning.

His gentle voice breaks into my thoughts. “You should take that job, Reese.”

Maybe he could tell what I was thinking. It feels like a rebuff. A gentle one, but a rebuff, nonetheless.

Pasting on a smile that is only skin deep, I put my phone back into his line of view. A snapshot of Leah smiles up at us. “And you should give her a chance.”

“Fine.” I sigh. “Not her, though.”

“Give me one good reason.”

“We told her we were dating.”

“Oh. Right.”

54.

Skyler

I only agreed to the date with Eliana as a favor to Reese.

And as messed up as this request is, I’d probably do damn near whatever Reese asked of me.

I’m not in love with Reese.

But I’m notnotin love with her, either.

My head’s a damn mess. I’ve never been good at knowing what I want. It’s always been easier to come up with excuses for why I don’t deserve it, or why it would never work out.

I don’t need to come up with an excuse for why I can’t have Reese. She’s supplied me with one.

Boulder.

A big fucking boulder.

I’m not really in the headspace to be dating. My dress shirt feels too stiff and the quiet restaurant is too intimate. I’d rather be at home. Or better yet, I’d rather be at Tia’s Place in Silver Bend, yelling at the basketball game with Reese beside me.

It’s not fair to Eliana, though she gets extra points for her valiant effort. Because no matter how hard she tries to drag the conversation along, my thoughts circle back to Reese.

And how much I liked driving up those mountain roads, Reese riding shotgun.

“What do you think?”

I shake myself, turning my attention back to Eliana. She’s holding the dessert menu and both she and the waitress are looking at me with varying degrees of pity.

At least, I think that’s pity.

It could be revulsion.

I clear my throat, smiling sheepishly. “Whatever you want, Darlin’.”

Her smile softens into something more genuine as she orders us a slice of cake to share and some coffee.

Reese said Eliana was just my type. I hate how accurate she was. Eliana is long-legged and slim. She’s got one of those elegant faces and hair that hangs over her shoulders like a glass waterfall.

She’s interesting and well-traveled. On paper, we make a great match. It’s entirely possible that it could work out.

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