Page 99 of Small Town Sizzle

Maya

I’m standing in the kitchen, the silence thick and suffocating as I stare at Garrett. My arms are crossed over my chest, fingers gripping tightly at the fabric of my shirt as I wait—practically beg—for him to say something. Anything. But when he finally does, his words cut through the tension like a knife.

“It’s not possible,” he says, shaking his head as his eyes bore into mine as he stands up quickly. “How did I look that kid in the eye and not know he’s mine?”

My heart skips a beat, then drops like a stone into my stomach. “Don’t…you can’t focus on that.”

He exhales sharply, running a hand through his hair. “I’m trying to wrap my head around all of it. I…remember you saying he’s fourteen and a freshman, but it didn’t click. It didn’t even make sense that it could be possible. If Megan said I am, then, I know she was telling the truth.”

I cock my head to the side, my brows pulling together in confusion. “It’s a lot to take in.”

His shoulders slump slightly, and he lets out a heavy breath before sitting down at the kitchen table. He stares at the surface like it holds the answers he’s desperately trying to find.

“Fourteen,” he mutters to himself. His hands scrub over his face, and when he looks up at me again, I can see the vulnerability in his eyes. “I don’t know where to start,” he says, his voice breaking just slightly. “I don’t even know what to do. What if… what if he hates me? What if he hates Megan? What if—”

“Garrett,” I interrupt, stepping closer to him. I reach out and place my hand over his, squeezing gently until his fingers relax under mine. “We start with the truth. That’s all we can do.”

He stares at me for a long moment, his throat working as he swallows hard. “The truth,” he repeats, almost like he’s testing the weight of the word.

I nod, kneeling down beside him so I can look him in the eye. “Tomorrow, I’ll ask my parents to keep Jaz a little longer, and we’ll sit down with Alex together. If that’s okay with you.”

He hesitates, his jaw tightening, but then he nods. “Yeah. Yeah, that’s okay.”

I squeeze his hand again. “I’ll tell Alex what I told you, and we’ll go from there. One step at a time.”

He lets out a shaky laugh, but it’s laced with something bitter. “And what if he wants nothing to do with me?” he asks, his voice cracking. “What if I’ve missed too much, and it’s too late? What if—”

“Stop,” I say firmly, cutting off his spiral. “You’re not going to think like that. Alex deserves to know the truth, and so do you. That’s where we start. The rest… we’ll figure it out together, okay?”

He doesn’t look convinced, but he nods again, his hand tightening around mine like it’s the only thing keeping him grounded.

“I know that he’s got a great arm, that he’s a natural on the field, and has an instinct to protect, but what else can you tell me about him?” Garrett asks after a moment, his voice quieter now, like he’s afraid of the answer.

A soft smile touches my lips as I think about Alex. “He’s amazing,” I say, and I mean it with every fiber of my being. “He’s got this way of lighting up a room without even trying. He’s kind and funny. Smart, too—sometimes too smart for his own good.”

He huffs out a laugh, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Sounds like Megan.”

I nod. “Yeah, he’s got a lot of her in him. But he’s his own person, too. I mean, you’ve seen him now. He had to grow up faster than most kids should, but he’s handled it all so well. He’s really mature and has this incredible heart. He cares about people, you know? He just… he wants to make the world a better place. He’s so good with Jaz and…any of the kids that come through the system. He’s just, he’s such a good kid.”

He leans back in his chair, his eyes glassy as he processes everything. “I’ve seen that. I was so impressed with how he was so patient and kind to the kids at the center. He’s incredible.”

“He is,” I say softly. “And I think this will go well. I really do. But whatever happens, I’m here for both of you. Okay? We’ll figure this out together.”

His eyes meet mine, and for a moment, the vulnerability in them makes my chest ache. “Thank you,” he says quietly, his voice filled with more emotion than I think he intended.

Before I can respond, he stands abruptly, pulling me up with him. His hands cup my face, his thumbs brushing away the tears I didn’t even realize were still there, and then his lips are on mine. The kiss is soft but desperate, like he’s trying to anchor himself in the chaos. I melt into him, my hands gripping the front of his shirt as I let him hold me.

When we finally pull apart, his forehead rests against mine, and he whispers, “Can I stay with you tonight?”

“You want to stay with me?”

“Yeah, if…if you’re not comfortable.”

I pull him to me, throwing my arms around his neck and holding on to him for dear life.

“I thought…this doesn’t change things between us?”

He shakes his head. “I wanted to stay with you tonight before you told me this, and it doesn’t change how I feel about you. I understand if it changes things for you, but I hope that it doesn’t. I…can’t see my life without you in it.”

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