Page 119 of Small Town, Big Storm

Another piece, smaller and quieter (though louder inthismoment) wants to broach the silence we’ve worked in.

Wants to find a way to connect.

I’m going to be here.

We need to coexist.

I open my mouth?—

“I’m gonna miss those posters from your room,” he says lightly.

“Me too,” I say.“Fuck, those swimsuit models were hot.”At least I had good taste as a horny teenager.

Of course, I’m no less horny at this moment, my thoughts drifting toward Poppy and that bikini…and her confession from a few days before.

She still has it.

Christ, what I wouldn’t give to see it.

Rain laughs then leans back.“Pop’s feeling okay?”

I crawl out from under the sink.“Yeah.She’s tough”—and stubborn, so stubborn I’ll have to make sure she doesn’t overdo it—“and used to being busy.It practically killed her to just supervise me putting the liquor order away today.”

“I have no doubt she’ll be back behind the bar at Sully’s tonight.”

I have no doubt about that either.

Convincing her to rest andnotwork the last couple of nights has been challenging to say the least.

Still, I’ll make sure if sheismanning the shaker, it’s only for a short time.

“You’re not wrong,” I mutter.

He grins and brushes his hands together.

I grin back, climb to my feet.

And…cue silence.

Cue both of us standing in the bathroom, staring at each other, the quiet growing heavy.

And awkward.

Then he clears his throat and looks away.“Well, stubborn or not, it’ll be a lot easier to keep her away from Sully’s once I get this place done for you.”

Something coils tight in my chest.“It’s your house too.”

He exhales, stares down at his feet.“I’ve got my apartment in town.I don’t need this place.”

It’s there in his voice—the same shit I’m feeling: the hurt, the pain, thememories—and I want to make it better.

Want to make it so he’s not hurting too.

“We could just sell the house?—”

His head whips up, anger rippling through his expression.“Jesus Christ, Storm.This again?I thought you were done with the running shit.Don’t you dare put Poppy and Holly through?—”

My fury snaps right back into place, and I step toward him, hands fisting.“Look, asshole,” I grit out.“I’m trying to be considerate here.I’m paid millions of dollars a year, so I can afford to buy another house, and I don’t have to deal with the shit this place brings up.I don’t know how much you make, but I’m guessing it’s less than me so the profit you’d get from selling this place would be helpful.”