Page 30 of Small-Town Secrets
I'd never thought I'dactuallyever punch someone when Aaron showed me how it was done, and when my fist connected with my cousin's skin, I wasn't sure who of us was more surprised.
Gregory stared at me. As if he couldn'tbelievewhat had just happened.
I couldn't believe it either.
Several beats passed. And then, Gregoryhowled.
12
Aaron
Afew hoursearlier
"Get it!" I yelled, throwing a stick for my dog in the backyard. Sarge barked and tore after it on his small legs. I'd hoped that playing with my dog would distract me from the events of the week, but it wasn't working.
The image of Laurence peering out the window in my family room wouldn't leave my head. He'd looked so lost.
I'd kind of wanted to kiss him. But that wasn't what he'd come to me for. He'd come to me to learn how to protect himself from the alphas in his life who’d caused him harm. How could I make a move on him in a situation like that?
It was bad enough that I'd roped him into dinner as if we were having a date.
No wonder he'd fled.
Although I still couldn't quite pinpoint what I'd said to upset him.
Was it really so bad that I didn't want kids?
"Hey, neighbor!" A voice from across the yard pulled me out of my reverie. It was Jake and his dog, who came bounding toward us. Sarge barked and ran away from her, holding the stick between his teeth like a hard-won trophy he wasn't willing to share.
"You're not working today?" I asked as he approached, leaving the dogs to play together for a moment.
"Nah, I got the day off and wondered how you were doing. Haven't really heard from you since you torpedoed my tattoo plans."
"What plans?" I countered. "Wasn't it a spur of the moment thing? You should be grateful someone talked you out of it."
"You haven't fully talked me out of it. I might still get a tattoo one day."
"You know you're not going to impress Conner with that, right?" I asked, but my attention was on Sarge now, who'd come back to me to drop the stick at my feet. I picked it up and threw it again.
"What if I'm not doing it to impress Conner?"
I snorted. "Is there anything you do without that goal in mind?"
"It's not like my whole life revolves around him, okay?" A bitter note entered my friend's voice. Maybe I had gone a little too far in my teasing? "Even I realize we might never get back together again," he said.
"I'm sorry." I turned to him. "I know he means a lot to you." And the way they'd broken up... I was never sure exactly what had happened because Jake didn't like to talk about it, but he'd been depressed for months before pulling himself out of his hole.
Jake shook his head. "I should never have proposed," he said on a sigh.
"You proposed?" Nowthatwas news.
"Forget about it. It was a very badly timed and inappropriate proposal." He gave me a forced smile. "I still wish he'd just said yes, though."
"Yeah, I bet." I rested a hand on my friend's shoulder. "I hope things work out for you."
"Me too." There was something wistful in his voice as he said that, but then he straightened, dug his thumbs in his pockets and changed the topic on me. "Enough about my love life. Tell me what's going on with you and Laurence."
"Nothing."
