Page 9 of Tumbleweed Temptation
“We’ll get you transitioned back in.” Beck guided Austin to a picnic table they’d set up with a tablecloth and paper plates, decorated with a cake and a few flowers.
“Sounds like a cult,” Austin muttered, only to have his breath knocked out of him as Poppy charged forward to hug him. He wrapped his arms around her briefly, even though, when she released him, she stayed within arm’s reach.
Con McKay stepped forward, and offered his hand. Austin considered a moment, because damn, Con’s dad had caused him a lot of hurt, and Con hadn’t defended him, thought they’d been friends. But he was going to have to be here for seven years so he may as make it as pleasant as possible. His grip was brief as he turned to greet Javi and Sofia.
Ginny Scott hung back, though. The two of them hadn’t been close as kids, had been rivals in fact. Even though they’d played different instruments, they’d both been in the woodwind section, and had competed privately to make first chair of their respective instruments. And though she was younger, she’d been in the accelerated classes with him, and they’d vied for top grades.
She had lost weight since high school, but her face was the same, dark blue eyes under dark brows, smooth cheeks
But the memory he’d never forget was her pulling up to his house after his mother died to help him pack away her things, with Poppy, Lacey and Sofia. That was a kindness he would never forget.
He was actually really surprised to see her in town still, to be honest. She had been really smart, and he thought she’d hit the road as soon as she graduated and never look back. She’d gotten into Texas Tech, he thought he remembered. A scholarship. Had she gone, and come back?
Maybe she’d gotten married. His stomach tightened at that idea, and he glanced at her left hand, but she didn't wear a ring. What was she still doing in this tiny town?
But before he could ask her, Poppy guided him to a group of picnic tables and reintroduced him to people he’d known his whole life, Lacey’s dad, Alex Davila, Beck’s mom, Catherine Conover, Mrs. Lopez from the grocery store, Mr. Nazareth and his son Zach, Sheriff—no, Mr. Talamantez and his daughter Maria. Austin was actually surprised at how many people came out for him.
But maybe they just had nothing better to do on a Saturday night in Broken Wheel.
Austin found himself relaxing, kind of falling back into the memories before the accident, the camaraderie. Most of the girls had been younger, but the group of them had been close, riding over an hour every day on the bus. They’d been the Broken Wheel kids, a small group in the larger high school in Kimmel. He didn't know what he had in common with them anymore, except that they were all here, and all happy to see him. For now, he’d let that be enough.
Lacey arrived then, and Austin’s defenses softened. Lacey, more than all of them, had made an effort to keep in contact, one he had trouble matching, but she had tried. She looked so cute now with her pregnant belly that gave him a bit of a twinge. He hadn’t really thought about a relationship, but if he did, Lacey would be the person he wanted in his life.
When she threw herself into his arms, he held on, lowering his head to her shoulder. When she pulled back, he touched his fingertips to the mound of her belly over her loose-fitting cotton halter top.
“When did this happen?” He looked past her, met Beck’s gaze. “Is this yours?”
“No, ah. No.” Lacey disentangled herself from him. “It’s a long story. I’ll tell you about it later.”
“Am I going to be delivering it?”
“Not if I can help it,” she laughed. “We’ll talk later.”
He touched her face. “You look amazing, Lace.”
“You look pretty great yourself. Not the same at all.”
“Yeah, well. I could hardly get worse.”
She hugged him again. “I’ve missed you.”
“Yeah, Lace, I’ve missed you, too.”
She was as easy to talk to as ever, even more, actually, since she had gone into the medical field as well. He was glad that he’d be able to get some of his information about his patients’ histories from his friend.
“So what’s going on here?” he asked once they sat at one of the picnic tables reserved for the party, touching her tummy again.
“Really, I don't want to talk too much about it, but I’m expecting at Halloween. And I would rather you not be the one to deliver, if you can understand that.”
“I guess I can,” he said, though there was a little twinge. He figured she probably trusted him, but that was too much intimacy. He supposed he understood. “So what are you doing? Going to the city?”
“That’s the current plan, yes.”
“Do I get to meet the father?”
“Nope. He’s not around. We’ll talk later. Today is a happy day. Go make yourself a plate, why don't you?”
“I’ll take your word for it,” he said, rising slowly.
