Page 29 of Out to Get Her
“Thanks. Really, I mean it. Talk to you later.”
She ended the call just as Trey approached and held the cafe door open for her.
“Thanks,” she said. “I’d forgotten how much everyone here is into the whole chivalry thing.”
“It’s more courtesy than chivalry. And a bit of a reflex now. I’m pretty sure my mom would pop up from around a random corner if she caught me not holding a door for someone.”
“Your mom is still here in town?”
“Yeah.” He gestured for Erin to pick a table. Lots of options as the lunch rush was clearing out. “She and my dad became ride or die for this town. They both love the horses and cane fields and fresh air. Mom works at the parish hospital, and Dad opened a mechanic shop on the property.”
“Out of curiosity, why areyoustill here? Most people I went to school with got out or got stuck.”
They took seats across from each other at a small table.
“I had some health issues,” Trey said. “So I guess I’m in the got stuck group. I’m taking online classes. Maybe one day I’ll change groups.”
The server placed two menus and two glasses of water in front of them.
“What are you studying?”
“Library science.”
“Huh,” she said with mild amusement. “I didn’t peg you for the librarian type.”
“Books kept me sane most of my childhood. Gave me hope and all that, no matter where we were.” He shrugged. “Now I want to get the right books in kids’ hands. Let every kid see themselves and a way out. Stock shelves for all kinds of kids… especially queer kids.”
She definitely respected that. But it took an extra second for the implication at the end of his statement to sink in. “Oh!”
He chuckled softly. “Keep it low.”
“Sure. Of course.”
“Your reputation preceding you and all, I figured you’d be cool knowing.”
“Yeah, that’s one reputation that’s actually accurate,” she said. “Thanks for sharing that. Your secret is safe with me as long as you want it to stay that way.”
“Thanks.” He hesitated, then said, “I’ve got enough red flags pinned to me for now. Not that itshouldbe a red flag, but I’m tired of proving myself to people. Besides, no one needs to know my business unless I want them to.”
“That’s fair.” She wanted to know what red flags he was referring to, but she didn’t want to pry too much yet. She knew it couldn’t be easy being a black man in a small town, much less a queer black man, but she got the feeling he was referencing something else.
“How much have you heard about me?” he asked.
“I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I don’t have a whole lot of pals to hear things from.”
He laughed. “I’m serious.”
With a shrug, she said, “Zach heard you were in some kind of accident a while back. Said you maybe went to the hospital and there was gossip, but he knows as well as I do not to put much stock in any of that.”
“I have a feeling some of the rumors aboutyouare true, though,” he said with a sly grin.
“Oh, definitely.”
He laughed again. It was a deep, relaxed laugh. One she got the impression he didn’t let out very often.
“So you know how I said earlier that I had some health issues?” When she nodded, he said, “The accident Zach mentioned was my first manic episode. I don’t know how fast I was going, but I flipped the car. Thankfully, I didn’t hurt anyone else and was just banged up a bit myself. That hospital stay was inpatient at a mental hospital.”
“Oh. Wow. I’m glad you were okay.” She scrambled to find the right words to say next. She didn’t want to come across like an asshole, but she wasn’t usually great at not coming across that way. “For the record, I don’t think having a mental illness is a red flag at all. Not even a yellow one.”
