I put my hands on my hips and looked at Lolly.
“It can sit in my lap,” she said hesitantly.
“Tie her to the bumper,” Steve suggested, nodding toward Lolly with a straight face. “She can walk.”
I looked back at Aunt Lolly. “I think you need a new boyfriend,” I whispered before realizing he was referring to the goat.
“WHAT DID HE SAY?” Wanda asked from somewhere behind the balloons.
“The goat!” Steve said. “Tie the goat to the bumper.”
“Hey dude!” someone said from across the street. “You know you’ve got a flat tire, right?”
And that was how we came to arrive terribly late to the party on a tiny spare tire with a fluffy but surprisingly foul-smelling goat sitting on my great-aunt’s lap, and silver metallic balloons trailing tendrils of curly ribbon hanging out of the windows.
Bennett’s face was one giant “O” shape of surprise, Xander’s maniacal smile made me wonder if he’d gone back on the good pills, and Oz’s tiny American flag thong bathing suit looked downright tame, all things considered.
“We’re here,” I said, dropping the keys on the ground and heading straight for the nearest cooler of beer. I didn’t care if I wasn’t technically old enough to drink. I’d aged ten years since I’d left there that morning.
As soon as I passed through the crowd of friends, family, and townsfolk and plucked a cold bottle of beer out of the cooler, I twisted off the top and took a long swig. Cal walked up with a big smile. “Aww,” he said, reaching to pull me in his arms. “You look like you could use more than a beer. How about a hug?”
I laughed and clutched him back. “You have no idea. Next time I’m taking you up on the offer to come with me.”
As he held me tightly for a few beats, I spotted Zach’s truck parked at an odd angle in our driveway.
As if I’d summoned the man, he appeared in front of me a moment later. “Hey,” he said. I was still processing the fact that he was there, in front of me. My stupid heart leapt into my stupid throat as I drank in the sight of him. “I need to talk to you,” he blurted.
No how are you, no I’ve missed you, just another demand. The old me would have jumped at the opportunity, not caring about the delivery system. But I’d spent the better part of a week reliving that moment in his motel room where I’d said everything and he’d said nothing. I’d once again laid my soul open to him and he’d done nothing but dismiss me as if I were nothing but an annoying bug to be squashed under his foot. In that time he hadn’t bothered to call or text. But now he wanted to talk?
“I don’t think so,” I murmured. I turned away from him with the intent of seeking out the safety of my house.
“Lucky!” Zach bit out, clearly frustrated. Cal had moved off to the side and several people milling around us were discreetly trying to watch the show as they sipped their drinks.
I stopped and turned, then made my way back to him. “You really want to do this here?” I asked angrily. “It’s a small town, Zach. You sneeze and people at the hardware store say ‘God bless you.’ I said what I needed to say to you and you had every chance to respond.” I lowered my voice and added, “Don’t worry, I didn’t tell a single soul about us, so you’re in the clear. Walk away. It’s what you’re good at.” I sighed when I considered the harshness of my jab. “Just go, Zach. I’ll make sure people only thought you were drunk or something.”
I turned on my heel so I could make my escape before bursting into tears but came to a dead stop when I heard a familiar voice behind me shout, “Lucky Reed!”
I turned to see Zach climbing on top of one of the picnic tables nearby.
“What the hell?” I said to no one in particular.
“Lucky,” he continued, loudly enough for the entire world to hear him. “I have something to say to you.”
I turned around, looking at everyone who’d gathered for my family’s annual Fourth of July party. Everyone had stopped what they were doing to stare at the gruff Army Ranger standing above them on the table.
But the Ranger was only looking at me.
The sun shone down on him like a warm spotlight, illuminating the overgrowth of stubble and the bags under his eyes. I resisted the urge to go to him and wrap my arms around him.
But it wasn’t my place. He’d made that clear.
“Lucky,” he said again, this time his voice cracking. He cleared his throat. “A few years ago I told you I was sick of you always being right there. I…” He looked around as if realizing just how many people were there to witness my humiliation.