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“Itto ertip, and after a while, I said, “I hope you didn’t feel pressured to join in ere at the river”

“I didn’t That was a choice I o After Javier died, I was so angry at first, and I didn’t want to forgive hi on ift tothat pain and anger with me”

I whispered, “Ityou alone”

“His death brought up so many emotions in , but soht be unfair and irrational, but that’s how I felt It was one o of, because all that pain was rooting me in the past”

“The sy to ically resolve all of this for you,” I said, “so I want you to know I’ to listen, anytime you want to talk about Javier or your relationship He’s a part of who you are, just like this place is a part of who I am”

“I appreciate it, and you’re right that this wasn’t a ht direction, and that’s exactly what I needed”

“I’lad it helped”

He wrapped his arm around my shoulders, and I settled into his e this relationship at the wrong time, just because we’re both in transition—your career is taking off, just as I’o of the past and findis perfect We’re both beginning our second act, and we get to face whatever coether”

There was so about that

We spent the next day helping anize their shop, and I repainted the red and white sign that hung above the door, which had faded over the years Hopefully the improvements would help them take care of the it’d be until I landed another acting job and could go back to sending ular schedule

In the late afternoon, I stood behind the counter and adress we’d made Rows of tackle boxes had been dusted and nicely displayed, and colorful fishing lures hung fro the s My rab so their reaction when they returned

The little bell over the door jingled, and I frohen I saw a farade ahead of me in school, and one of my many bullies He was dumb and ister, he smirked and sauntered over

“What a surprise Not!” Apparently he thought it was 1992 I held his gaze steadily as he grinned at me and said, “I always knew you’d end up back here, Billy boy You thought you were soto run off to Hollywood and end up rich and famous But here you are, workin’ in your dad’s bait shop Serves you right”

“I never thought I was better than anyone, Jiood enough, but I still oals That had nothing to do with you, or this town It was just so I wanted forinIt’s a privilege to be here, helping ”

My gaze never wavered froeted as he tried to think of a co arht T-shirt put everyas he said, “Are you planning to buy so policy here at S to have to throw your sorry ass out of here”

Jione, I s me up”