Page 55 of Lavender Lake
“Yeah, maybe we will,” I said, not wanting to promise anything.
“Any news on your dad?” Wade asked.
I shook my head. “We’re headed to Sweet Teeth, and then to the hospital.”
Nodding, it was clear Wade didn’t know what to say. He cleared his throat. “Give Muddy my best, will you?”
“I will.”
With a smile and wave, Wade headed toward the Copper Mule.
“Thisme Tarzan, you Janething has got to stop,” I said.
“Why?” he asked.
“Seriously?” I pushed against his chest, but this time he let me go. “You can’t be jealous of every man I talk to.”
“Not every man. Just familiar ones.”
I rolled my eyes. “How would you feel if I behaved the same way toward you and any woman who flirted with you?”
“Are you kidding? I’d be overjoyed.”
“Oh, you would not.” I laughed despite myself and began walking toward the Sweet Teeth line.
“Sure, I would. You don’t think men like knowing women want them?”
“Never going to happen, bull rider. I don’t get jealous.”
We stepped in line behind a couple I didn’t recognize. I wondered if they were new to Huckleberry Hill, or if they were from Silver Springs, the nearest town over.
Things changed, even in small towns. New faces, new places.
“So that was Hadley’s ex?” Bowman fished.
“Yeah. They dated all through high school.”
“What happened?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean why did they break up?”
“Aside from only being eighteen?” I quipped. “Well, I wanted to go to New York the moment we graduated and Hadley wasn’t going to let me go alone. She was afraid I’d get myself into trouble.”
“And did you? Get yourself into trouble.”
“So much trouble.” I looked at him and winked. “What about you?”
“You’re going to have to be more specific.”
I bit my lip. Bowman had sprinkled just enough information about his past that I was curious. But I didn’t want to seem too eager to know more.
“When did you join the circuit?” I clarified.
“I was seventeen,” he said. “I didn’t bother graduating high school. I didn’t see the point.”
“Ready to see the world, huh?”
