Page 27 of Lone Star Longing
“Britt?”
“She left after high school and never came back.”
Beck straightened. “I never thought that would happen.”
“Yeah, well, after all that happened that spring, hell, I would have left if I could, too.”
“But you’re still here.”
“It’s what I know.”
That kind of thinking was how people got to be bitter and old before their time, but Beck didn't know Con now well enough to say so.
He ordered a bock, Con did the same. The bartender looked vaguely familiar, and greeted Con, just nodded in Beck’s direction. Beck would ask later who he was. He was older than the two of them, but not much.
“You? You get married? Or come close? Or you just have all the girls now?”
“Not married, not close, and only a few of the girls,” Beck replied with a grin as he lifted the bottled bock to his lips. He wondered why at Con’s question, the face that popped into his head was Lacey’s.
“I guess why settle down when you’re seeing the world, right?”
He heard the envy in Con’s voice and didn't know how to address it. Sure, he’d been able to see the world, been able to escape Broken Wheel, had a college education. He wasn't sure Con ever got one. He knew Con’s guilt compelled him to stay, to make up to his father for not saving his sister’s life.Beck didn't want to see his friend old before his time, not the guy who who used to have a smile for everyone, was affable and cheerful. Beck wondered how much of that had been destroyed when Claudia died, how much of it had happened when he saw his future drifting out of his reach.
Beck wished he could turn back time for his friend.
“What about Marcus and Conrad? Sara?”
“Oh, yeah, they left town and never looked back. I don't think they’d even think about Broken Wheel if Mom didn't live here.”
“But they don't come visit?”
“She is not an easy woman to get along with.”
“And yet you’re living with her.”
Because fixing up the house would alleviate his guilt for leaving her here. He could leave town without feeling bad.
“Too bad this town was a place we wanted to leave,” Beck said with a sigh, folding his hands around his beer. “Whoever bought this place had the right idea—make it a place to enjoy, to gather. The only places I remember ever gathering were church and school. And high school wasn't even in Broken Wheel. Had to travel another half hour to there.”
“Yeah, this place does pretty good on the weekends. You’ll have to come see.”
“Who do you keep in touch with from back in the day?”
“Well, you know, some people leave, but Dwayne and Caleb got jobs in the basin, and Javi works for the highway patrol. Lacey is nursing, but I guess you know that. Sofia still runs the motel, though she has to be drowning in debt after her bastard ex talked her into renovating, then bailed and left her with the bills. Ginny is waiting tables at the diner, and word is Janine wants to retire and leave it to her. Poppy is an elementary school teacher, which I think is more odd than Javi being a cop, if you ask me. Your family left, Britt left, Debbie left, but most everyone else stayed.”
“I can’t believe Javi is a cop after all the shit we pulled growing up. I ran into Sheriff Talamantez the other day and he remembered me.”
Con laughed. “Yeah, he would. Seriously, man, I’m surprised you didn't become the race driver instead of Riley Foster.”
“Maybe if I’d grown up driving something besides that old truck, I would have.”
“So have you run into anyone else since you’ve been back?
“Yeah, I’ve seen Lacey. She’s looking after my mom.”
“That’s the perfect job for her. She likes to take care of people.”
“You know this guy she’s with? Air Force guy?” He didn't mention her pregnancy in case Con might not know yet.
