“Well, better figure it out quick,” Finn says.
“Why?”
“Before she goes to the premiere in a few weeks. For Road and Roses.”
“What and what?” I ask.
“Honestly,” Finn says, “my stalker game is so much stronger than yours. Your girl has a part in some big-time movie. Rumor says it’s a bit part, but she’s a total scene stealer.”
I stare at him.
He shrugs. “What? I read.”
“Labradoodles. Reading. So many surprises today,” Vaughn mutters.
I look at him. “Did you know about this?”
Vaughn looks guilty. “I may have done a little research of my own. To make sure she was on the up-and-up.”
“We all know she was on the down-and-down, at least with Shawn Bates,” Finn says.
“Shut the fuck up, man,” I say before I can think better of it.
They’re both silent. “Oh, hell,” Finn mutters. “It’s not just that you like her. You really like her.”
Maybe. But I didn’t even know she was in a movie, much less that she’d be attending a premiere.
“I need to get going,” I mumble, pulling out my wallet.
“To get back to your girl?” Finn asks.
“Shut up,” Vaughn mutters, sensing that I’m not in the mood.
Finn’s smile drops. “You okay, man? For real?”
“Yeah, I just…” I pull out a couple of bills. “I dunno. I’ll talk to you guys later.”
“Let me know what to do about the offer,” Vaughn says as I throw down enough money to cover my beer and theirs. They’ll probably kill each other after I leave, but that’s their problem.
“Hold her off,” I say. “I need to think.”
“Preston.” Vaughn stops me. “I know this thing with Yvonne is bullshit, but it’ll blow over. You’re not seriously thinking of dropping off the face of the earth and actually living all the way out there, right?”
Even Finn looks worried.
“I don’t know,” I say, pulling out my keys. “It’s starting to feel a lot less like running from something and a lot more like…home.”
Finn pulls out his phone. “I need to write that down. See if Ma will stick it on a quilt for me.”
I flip him the bird. “See you guys later.”
As I climb into the truck, I pause before starting the engine, a little shaken by how eager I am to get back to the house.
No, not to the house.
To her.
Jenny