Page 65 of All Wrong
Later that night,Corinne and Brett were sitting on the patio, sipping cold beer and enjoying the warmsummer evening. Crickets and frogs provided pleasant background music. The expertly grilled steak and fresh salad were delicious, and being with Brett was comfortable and easy.
They’d talked about a lot of things over the course of the afternoon and evening. He told her about some of the places he’d lived and worked. She told him about growing up in Pine Ridge and how she’d spent her whole life there.
“Never wanted to travel?” he asked.
“Not really. Not until recently anyway.”
“What changed?”
The fatigue, full belly, and slight buzz made her talkative. “I don’t know. It’s not any one thing, more like a bunch of little things. Subtle hints reminding me that maybe I need to adjust my goals to something more realistic while I’m still young enough to do so.”
“You don’t seem like the type to have unrealistic goals.”
Maybe the things she wanted wouldn’t be unrealistic for someone else. A loving partner. A job where she was appreciated. A sense of purpose.
“Let me guess,” Brett continued. “A billion-dollar yacht? A Maybach in the garage? A home on every continent?”
“Nothing so grand,” she said, waving her hand. She didn’t want to talk about herself and the increasing sense of restlessness plaguing her these days. “Don’t mind me. I’m probably just experiencing an early-onset midlife crisis. What about you? Did you always want to be a teacher?”
“Not exactly. My plan involved an NFL contract, a couple of mansions, and hordes of gorgeous women knocking on my door.” He laughed softly and took a drink of his beer. “Things didn’t work out that way.”
“What happened?”
“Life had other plans,” he said simply. “All in all, I think things turned out for the best. Who needs money and fame when I can deal with hormonal teenagers and irate parents every day?”
“You’re aglass is half fullkind of guy, aren’t you?”
“I suppose I am. I try to focus on the positive. You, for example.”
“Me?”
He nodded. “Yes. You’re definitely one of my favorite things about Pine Ridge.”
Corinne didn’t know what to say to that. She struggled to find something, anything, to defuse the suddenly awkward tension.
“I made things weird, didn’t I?” he said with asigh. “Don’t overanalyze, okay? I like spending time with you. It’s as simple as that. Doesn’t have to be anything more than movies and hikes and occasional meals. No pressure, no expectations, remember?”
“Right,” she said, sitting back in her Adirondack chair.
A companionable silence ensued.
“Can I ask you something?” he said finally.
“Sure, as long as I retain the right not to answer.”
“Fair. How are you still single?”
She didn’t have to think too hard about that one. “I guess I just haven’t found someone I want to spend the rest of my life with.” Or more accurately, she’d created her ideal around one man in particular, and now, it was time to rethink things.
“High standards, huh?”
“Unrealistic,” she reminded him. “What about you?”
“The same, I guess.” His brown eyes shone with a golden glow under the string of single-bulb patio lights.
“Lacie said you were married.”
“I was. Didn’t work out.”
